Tea Ceremony / 茶道

It is a tradition that represents Japanese culture. It has been handed down from generation to generation for a long time. I believe it is a compilation of wisdom and numerous techniques. (日本語は下へ)

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Works of art ‘Chadougu’, a garden ‘Chatei Roji’, cuisine ‘Kaiseki and Wagashi’, dyeing and weaving, ‘Ishou (clothing)’, architecture ‘Chashitsu‘, flowers and calligraphy. . . Tea ceremony consists of various practices that have been handed down from generation to generation for over 400 years.

It is not only about serving meals and tea but also about the solemn atmosphere in the tea house and in the garden, the tea spoon and the tea cup used, the Jiku and the flowers, the thoughtful relationship between the hosts and the guests, and the good manners. All of this wisdom, etiquette and technique combined together create the ultimate experience of hospitality.

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It is also a place where people show their works of art such as the Kimono, Urushi, dyeing and weaving, Ikebana (flower arrangement), pottery, bamboo ware or to present their traditional arts such as Shodo (calligraphy) and Sumie.

I feel it is my mission to improve my skills as a carpenter as well as my knowledge of Japanese history and culture through tea ceremony practice. I also hope to hand down my traditional architectural skills and tea ceremony knowledge to the next generation in order to preserve the arts associated with this practice.

茶道とは長い年月をかけて受け継がれてきた日本を代表する伝統文化ですがそこにははかりしれない数の知恵と技術が集まっています。美術工芸『茶道具』、庭園『茶庭露地』、料理『懐石と和菓子』、染織『衣装』、建築『茶室』、茶業、茶師、花、書、など様々な分野に別れそれが約四百年以上に渡り受け継がれてきました。この知恵と技術の塊を人の手によりしつらえ、おもてなしへ変えてゆく、ただ料理やお茶を振る舞うということではなく茶室や露地いう空間、茶筅や茶碗、茶入れなどの茶道具、床の軸と花、亭主と客両方の心づかい、作法、すべてがひとつになることで究極のおもてなしになるのだと、そのおもてなしをまとめたものが『茶道』なのだと思います。

着物、漆、染、織、いけばな、陶芸、木工芸、竹細工などといった伝統工芸。書道、墨絵、古美術などの伝統芸術、さまざまなものその知識と技術を披露出来る場でもあります。そしてこれからもこの綜合芸術、綜合文化が絶えぬようにする為には、自分自身が茶を通して日本の歴史文化を学び、数多くの分野の中にあるひとつの伝統建築『茶室』をつくる大工として腕を磨き伝統建築と茶道文化を次世代に繋いでいこう…なんて思ったりもしました。