The Shape of Tea
There’s a nice article about an exhibition currently being held in Duxbury, Massachussetts (USA): Harmony, respect, purity, tranquility - Art Complex Museum tea exhibit offers a taste of Japan. It has a sensitive and detailed take on the exhibition, as well as giving an informative historical overview of the Japanese tea ceremony. Although the article only touches on kimono, the tea ceremony is of course one of the events to which kimono are worn, and much of the symbolism is shared.
A tea ceremony is intended to convey four Zen principles - harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. Utensils are props embodying one or more of those principles. At specific intervals within the ceremony each guest in turn speaks about the objects and the principles they exemplify.
Beyond their functional role in preparing and serving tea, these utensils assist participants to meditate more successfully and to vocalize the four principles.
The combination of a charcoal brazier and the kettle resting within it at July’s station radiates harmony and tranquility. A beautiful harmony is produced between varied browns of the bronze brazier and the mid-range brown of the kettle. At the same time, there is pleasing contrast of textures between the pitted iron of the kettle and polished sheen of the brazier. As a guest mediates on the harmony of these two objects, he finds himself enveloped into that harmony.
May 31st, 2005 at 06:35:56
That is a very good article. Thank you for sharing it.
You said, “Although the article only touches on kimono, the tea ceremony is of course one of the events to which kimono are worn, and much of the symbolism is shared.” This is very true. The colour and type of kimono (lined or unlined, with or without mon), and the design on the kimono and obi are all contingent upon the season, the particular occasion, and so forth. And in the case of the host, her kimono is chosen with the same care and consideration that she devotes to arranging the flowers in the alcove and choosing the tea utensils. It is all part of creating a harmonious whole that will create a peaceful impression in the mind of the guest.
It’s also worth noting that many of the movements performed in o-temae (the actual tea ceremony) assume that one is wearing kimono, and only make sense when viewed with that in mind. For example, there is actually a specific point early in the o-temae when, having knelt and placed the tea utensils in their proper places, you pause, straighten your kimono beneath you with a discreet tug, and “pause to gather concentration.”
The integral role of kimono in Chadou is one reason why my tea teacher is so very keen on having us all learn kitsuke, and why, in her quiet way, she is distressed when her Western students resist wearing kimono at all. No, it’s not essential to wear kimono … but it HELPS!
May 31st, 2005 at 11:39:54
You’re so lucky to be able to study Chadou :) Wearing kimono and learning everything that goes into a ceremony must be wonderful.
June 3rd, 2005 at 03:26:44
It’s wonderful indeed! And I’m exceptionally lucky to have a very kind and patient sensei. She has even given me kitsuke lessons. In fact, the very first time I went to her home to learn to wear kimono, I found her on her knees on the carpet, sewing a new chikara-nuno onto the nagajuban she had just brought back for me from Japan. The sight brought me close to tears.
Anyway, you might like to see this ‘encyclopedia’ article, which has a short but interesting section on kimono and tea ceremony:
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Japanese-tea-ceremony#Tea_ceremony_and_kimono
In truth, I’m still trying to work out some of the rules of wearing kimono for tea. To my dismay, my sensei ruled out one tsukesage that I’d bought specifically to wear to tea. The reason: the colour was too dull and subdued, a slate blue-grey. She said I’d have to be in my sixties to wear it! So it’s squirrelled away for now. However, she’s encouraging me to wear colours that I think are a little too young for my age (44), saying that as a Westerner - because I look youthful, or due to my complexion, or something - I get a little more leeway. So I tease her that one of these days I’ll turn up in furisode :-)