TheTeaCeremony6

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 The Tea Ceremony started in China and was inherited by Japan due to cultural diffusion. The Tea Ceremony helps to relieve the mind and body of any stress. It is important to know that the tea ceremony is not just a bunch of people sitting at a table drinking tea, the ceremony had a lot of different importances to the Japanese culture.

How the Tea Ceremony's schedule goes depends on time of day or occasion. First, guests are invited to a tea house surrounded by a garden. Then the host follows these steps to entertain the guests. First, while waiting for water to boil, guests are served a small snack. Then, after the snacks are eaten, the host collects the dishes in silence. Next, the host makes a thick, green brew by using hot water and powdered tea. The group then holds formal conversation while sipping the tea. Finally, at the end, a thin frothy tea is served for the guests to drink.

Tea was a gift from the Chinese tang court to Emperor Shomu of Japan. The tea is from the city of Yunnan in 1066 B.C.E. The process of making the tea plant and making the tea drinkable goes like this. First, the farmer plants the seeds. Next, the leaves are prepared by withering, rolling, and firing at it's point of origin. Finally, the tea leafs are then placed in a kettle of hot water to turn into tea.

An original tea ceremony in Japan involved many different people and had to take place in a unique setting. The people involved in a formal noontime tea are: a host, an attendant, and four to five guest. In order to be a good host, he/she must be very calm and relaxed in order to complete a good ceremony. The guest invited also must know what they are doing in advance. The atmosphere/setting of the tea house and garden around are very important so that the guest can relax and feel like they have nothing to do with the outside world. Therefore, the tea house and its surroundings are very simple and quiet. Even though it is possible that the tea house was built beside a house or temple the owner could create a thick and dense garden to make it seem like no one was around and that they were deep in the forest.

The tea and the ceremony was not just about the food and drink it actually had a purpose and so did the tea. The first purpose of tea was to help the Zen Priest stay awake during meditation. Another purpose of the tea was to be used in religious rituals for communion with divinities. The ceremony teaches people about the Japanese culture, but it also helps people think in a disciplines way.

All around Japan there are many tea houses and host who can hold a tea ceremony. Although tea did originate from China many Japanese drink tea daily because it's very symbolic to their country and an important aspect of their lives. The tea ceremony is helpful to anyone because it will help you become relaxed and calm.

CITATIONS "In This Room: Teahouse ." The Art of Asia. Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Web. 17 Feb. 2010. Pratt, James Norwood. New Tea Lovers Treasury. San Francisco, CA: Publishing Technology Associates, 1999. Kalman, Bobbie. Japan the Culture. New York: Crabtree Publishing Company, 1989.

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