Japanese Zen Gardens and Tea Ceremony

Japanese Zen Gardens and Tea

Ceremonies

© 2014 Creative Curriculum for Children [CCC]


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Tea_ceremony_performing_2.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Tea_ceremony_performing_2.jpg

Japanese Tea Ceremonies

• Japanese tea ceremonies are a Japanese cultural activity or ritual

• Tea ceremonies are also sometimes known as the “Way of Tea.”

• There are many parts involved, including the ceremonial preparation and presentation of the matcha, which is powered green tea.

• The Japanese Tea ceremony is an art and the art of its performance is called temae.

• The tea ceremony was primarily influenced by Zen Buddhism but originated from China and was introduced to Japan in the 9th

century

• People first drank tea for medicinal reasons, but later people enjoyed it and drank tea for pleasure


© 2014 Creative Curriculum for Children

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When making tea, there are certain necessary tools that are needed:thisequipment is called chadōgu and there are different tools used for different seasons and events

They are extremely well cared for and are handled with gloved hands

The Japanese have a Chakin, which is a linen or hemp cloth used to wipe the tea bowl

There is always a tea bowl which holds the tea and allows it to cool, a tea caddy: a container that holds the powdered tea, and tea scoop: used to scoop tea from the tea caddy into the tea bowl, a tea whisk: which mixes the powdered tea with hot water, and of course, the tea bowl and tea cups, etc.


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Try acting this out with your partner:• Have one person be the host and have then pretend to

whisk the tea and pour it. Then have them pass it to the other person who must bow when they do.

• Take the cup with your right hand and place it in the palm of your left hand.

• Turn the cup clockwise three times before you take a drink.• When the tea is gone, make a loud slurp to tell the host

that the tea was truly enjoyed.• Wipe the part of the cup your lips touched with your right

hand.• Turn the cup counterclockwise and return to the host.Then the host needs to pretend to clean the equipment.

YOU HAVE JUST PERFORMED PART OF THE JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY!


Japanese

Tea


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There are a wide range of varieties in Japanese Tea depending on social status, event, season, what dish it matches with, etc.

Some of the types of tea include: • Bancha: this is everyday tea

• Gen maicha: a tea with toasted rice kernels which add a nutty flavor

• Gyokuro: a tea made with tender young leaves grown sheltered under reed screens. It is usually served with sweets.

• Matcha: powdered green tea used exclusively in the tea ceremony.

Powdered green tea was first used in religious rituals in Buddhist monasteries.

There were even tea tasting parties where contestants could win grand prizes for guessing the best quality tea.


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Ceremonial meanings


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The room is arranged and laid out a certain way during a tea ceremony.

But there are special ceremonial meanings during a tea ceremony. For example, if a guy is with a girl and vice-versa it normally represents a date. However, formal clothing for these events would include the kimono, which the host is required to wear no matter what gender.

Today, the tea ceremony is still performed by Japanese and is still the same, not changing that much through time.

The tea ceremony is a precious art and there are four main principles that are expressed: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.

There are even schools today where you can learn how to be skilled in the art of the Japanese Tea ceremony.


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Japanese

“Rock” Gardens© 2014 Creative Curriculum for Children

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Japanese Rock Gardens were also

called dry landscape gardens or Zen

Gardens and were also mainly

influenced by Zen Buddhism.

They are considered a living work of

art in which plants and trees are “ever-

changing” with the seasons.

Like the Japanese Tea ceremony,

Japanese “Rock” Gardens are an art

and part of the art is to keep the

garden almost still, like a painting.


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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Zen_Garden.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Zen_Garden.jpg

• Rock gardens can be abstract and they display the landscape or scenery. Most rock gardens look relatively similar and have similar components.

• Gravel represents the ocean and the rocks represent the islands of Japan

OR

• The rocks represent a mother tiger with her cubs swimming to a dragon.

OR

• The rocks form part of the kanji (the Japanese writing system) for heart or mind.


1. Take the cup with your right hand and place it in the palm of your left hand.

2. Turn the cup clockwise three times before you take a drink.

3. When the tea is gone, bow quietly to tell the host that the tea was truly enjoyed.

4. Wipe the part of the cup your lips touched with your right hand.

5. Turn the cup counterclockwise and return to the host.


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Quiz: Question #2

What were Japanese Rock Gardens and tea ceremonies mainly influenced by?

◦ A)Chinese

◦ B) Americans

◦ C)Shinto

◦ D) Zen Buddhism

Answer: D) Zen Buddhism


Quiz: Question #3

People drank tea, first for _________ reasons, but later for pleasure.

Answer: Medicinal


Quiz: Question #4

• Rock gardens represent the landscape. What do rock gardens change with?–A) Weather–B) Seasons–C) Months –D) Years

• Answer: B) Seasons© 2014 Creative Curriculum for Children [CCC]

Education

Japanese Zen Gardens and Tea Ceremony