The Japanese tea ceremony, also called chado or sado, is a traditional activity based on Taoism (Daoism) and influenced by Zen Buddhism, in which powdered green tea is ceremonially prepared and served to others. The ceremony is very old, formal, elaborate and steeped in tradition. It usually has a theme.

Before the tea ceremony commences, guests wash their hands and dry them on a towel. Each guest bows before the entrance to the tea room. Then she walks upto the Tokonoma, the alcove where the calligraphy and the flowers are placed. The calligraphy symbolises the theme for the day’s tea ceremony.

After bowing, the guest walks upto the burner on which is a pot of hot water. Beside it is a water container and a long handled measure. The guest observes both carefully and takes her seat about 24cm away from the border of the mat so that it is easy to handle the tea bowl. She is careful not to step on the border. If she can, she sits the Japanese way. Otherwise, any comfortable posture is fine, as long as the legs are not stretched out in front.

The emphasis  is on enjoying the tea ceremony in a relaxed, easy manner.

The master of the day’s tea ceremony welcomes her guests. After this, she begins making the tea. First, she picks up a napkin and pulls it in opposite directions. There is a snap and any dust in the napkin falls down. This napkin is used to clean the long handled bamboo measure. Some old measures are made of ivory. But now, ivory is not used to preserve the wild.

While the master busies herself making tea, an assistant or hunto, serves sweets to the guests. They nibble these as the tea is being prepared. It is interesting to watch how the master makes the tea. She takes a bowl of water and cleans the tea brush in it. Incidentally, this tea brush has 108 bristles. The idea is from Buddhism and represents the number of emotions in a human being. Buddhism spread to Japan from India and this is another cultural tie.

The master warms the tea bowl by swirling hot water in it. After throwing away this water, she wipes the bowl.

She puts two teaspoonsful of powdered green tea in the bowl. This tea powder has been sifted so it is smooth and without small lumps. Next she adds water that is about 90 degrees centigrade to the tea and stirs it with the tea brush. The tea is ready to be presented to the first guest.

The first guest receives it and  places it near the second guest seated on her left. Then she says, “Permit me to drink this before you do.” She brings the bowl in front of her and says, ‘Chodai Itashimasu’ which translates to ‘Let me have the pleasure of enjoying it’.

She picks up the bowl and from the centre of the rim facing her, turns it twice to the left. It is considered bad manners to drink tea from the centre of the rim facing the guest. Slowly, the guest drinks the tea, slurping in the last drop. Then she cleans it by rubbing the rim, using the thumb and fore finger. After that, she wipes her hand on the paper provided. Then she turns the bowl twice to the right so that the centre faces her. She puts it down in front of her. She takes her tme to admire it. Then she picks it up, again turns it twice to the right and gently returns it to the original place. The second guest, when offered the tea, places the bowl to her right and asks the first guest, “Would you like another cup?” Then she turns left and tells the third guest, “Permit me to drink this before you do.” She repeats everything that the first guest did. When the last guest –  there won’t be too many, just a few – finishes her tea, the first guest asks, “Would anyone like to have another cup of tea?” If needed, the master will make another cup. If everyone declines, the first guest tells the master to stop tea making. The ceremony comes to an end with the master saying, “I am ready to close.”

After cleaning up, the equipment is put back. The master takes leave of the guests and they  part after exchanging greetings. There are certain formalities connected with the tea ceremony. Guests don’t wear rings, bangles or watches as they may damage the delicate pottery.

They also wear socks, preferably white. And the person conducting the tea ceremony is called the master, irrespective of gender.