Exploring CHANOYU

“Tea is fun because it’s play,” my grandmother would often say. Her training was rigorous, yet I always felt deeply comfortable sitting in her small tearoom, filled with the fresh aroma of whisked matcha.

Years spent living abroad meant that each return to Japan included tea practice with my grandmother, though it often felt overwhelming. “My legs hurt, and there is so much to learn. What is the true significance of this tradition?” I once asked my mother.

She replied, “Tea is meant to enrich your everyday life. It guides you to notice the care someone has put into preparing things for you and to share the words to appreciate it. The lessons are just preparation; the true practice is how you live your daily life.”

This conversation brought me closer to the essence of tea, and I realized that the Chanoyu is about cultivating the spirit of enjoying beauty in everyday life.

Rikyu, the great master, once expressed the meaning of wabi with this poem: “To those who long only for flowers, fain would I show the full-blown spring that abides in the toiling buds of snow-covered hills.” It reminds me that we should not wait only for the blossoms; spring is already alive in the small, green buds beneath our feet. This is the mindset I have been learning through Chanoyu.

While I honor the foundations of tradition, I would like to observe tea through my own lens, evolving through the questions I ask in my daily life. Most of all, I hope to enjoy the time we share over tea—a time to connect deeply with myself and with those who share the moment together.

[ What is Chanoyu? ]

Chanoyu (Japanese Tea Ceremony) is a unique Japanese cultural practice of preparing hot water, whisking tea, and hosting guests. Rooted in the 'Wabi-cha' spirit established by Sen no Rikyu and deeply connected to Zen, it values finding beauty and tranquility in daily life.

Photo Credit: Manbo Key