Essay On Japanese Tea Ceremony

Nathan Flores

LBST 100

Velasquez

April 18, 2014

Present Day Japanese Tea Ceremony

In Japanese culture, there are many traditions that are passed down from generation to generation and done in the same way as their ancestors. One of these traditions is the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The Japanese culture takes pride in traditions like this because it shows their culture and how customs were done in the past. But are these traditions necessary in today’s fast paced culture? In present day society, culture and tradition seem non-existent to the public, but to some people these traditions are very well alive. I do not think that old customs or traditions such as the Japanese Tea Ceremonies are necessary in today’s society but I do think that they are very present to the ones who practice them.

The Japanese Tea Ceremony originated when the Japanese adopted both the Chinese tradition of drinking powdered green tea as well as practicing Zhen Buddhist customs. In the 1500’s, Sen No Rikyu, former koji to the Japense emperor, incorporated ideas of simplicity, uniqueness, and that tea ceremonies should be a special custom. From then on, the Japanese Tea Ceremony became more than just tea drinking, but also a spiritual experience that embodies the ideas of respect, harmony, tranquility, and purity. These tea ceremonies are very intricate and nuclide many steps to be completed. They are usually held in homes, special rooms, or even outdoors. The surroundings during the ceremonies are simple and rustic and have multiple Japanese scrolls hanging from the walls if held inside. The ceremonies have tedious step by step instructions that each participant must follow. Some of these instructions are that before they enter the room, participants must wa...

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...but I am not. The Japanese Tea Ceremony was something people did to drink tea but now hardly anybody does that. So to the ones who practice this, I believe it is some sort of hobby that they like to do to keep the old Japanese ways alive.

The tradition of the Japanese Tea Ceremony is a sacred part of many lives through the United States and the world. But regardless, it is no longer necessary in the world today. The culture of present day society has changed into a fast paced lifestyle. People are consistently on the go and when they do have downtime; most people take that as an advantage to relax. The tradition of a concise custom that has been passed down for generations is no longer truly alive in present day society. Though it may be alive in the lives of ones who actually practice it, overall the necessity of the Japanese Tea Ceremony is no longer existent.