The Art of Becoming a Host, Master, and Teacher
“Because there are so many ways of creating a tea, and because the ceremony involves almost every aspect of Japanese life - architecture, history, food, craft, art - a student must bring to his or her training all the knowledge and skills learned and developed in everyday life as well as human qualities such as sensitivity, awareness, and skills of communication.” (Pettigrew 2)
Mastering the art of hosting a tea ceremony takes many years. There are many ways to learn the ritual of the ceremony including taking classes or joining clubs. Learning how to become a host was a high honor. The learning process was only transmitted from a master to his disciple, never through books (Statler 93). Schools and universities were dedicated to teaching this art and students strived to earn certificates for mastering each step of the ceremony. Each step is known as temae. While taking a class, students learn:
Becoming a master takes complete commitment. It is possible to learn enough basic movements and rituals to create a tea after three years of dedicated study. Mastery is a lifetime's work and training is never fully completed, but it is a rewarding path that many Japanese men and women decide to follow.
- how to enter and exit the tea room properly
- when to bow
- how to make the tea
- how to clean the utensils as well as where to place them
- the correct graceful hand motions performed during the ceremony
Becoming a master takes complete commitment. It is possible to learn enough basic movements and rituals to create a tea after three years of dedicated study. Mastery is a lifetime's work and training is never fully completed, but it is a rewarding path that many Japanese men and women decide to follow.
Images in Header:
1. http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/tabela-e-potenci-metro-japoneses-tradicionais-do-ch%C3%A1-19076211.jpg
2. http://zi-chun.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/cropped-low.jpg
3. http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/CC-BY-SA-3.0_Japanese-Tea_I.jpg
1. http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/tabela-e-potenci-metro-japoneses-tradicionais-do-ch%C3%A1-19076211.jpg
2. http://zi-chun.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/cropped-low.jpg
3. http://www.butterfield.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/CC-BY-SA-3.0_Japanese-Tea_I.jpg