TEA CEREMONY
(sado)

The tea ceremony is one of the most popular elements of Japanese trditional culture.
It can be traced back to the late Heian period (794-1192).
The custom of drinking tea came from China in the 9th century.
Then Eisai (1141-1215) who is the founder of Rinzai Zen School introduced tea plants
and the lore of drinking tea from Sung China.
At that time nobles and priests drank tea.
In the late Kamakura period (1192-1333) tea gathering was held at Zen temple
and in the 14th century the tea ceremony was formed.
Late in the 15th century, tea ceremony also became popular among rich merchants.
In the 16th century, Sen no Rikyuu(1521-91), a great tea master
who served Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, brought the idea of wabi-cha*
and it reached perfection spiritually and esthetically.

*Wabi is an esthetic related to Zen, a simple beauty,
freed of the superflous, a calm, quiet elegance.



Urasenke is one of the most popular schools of sado.
Please check it, you will know how to drink tea or more.