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Picks of the Week 4
Japanese Tea Ceremony
Sunday (January 10), Rinzai Zen Mission, Paia, 1pm, Free
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January 07, 2010 The origins of the consumption of tea in the orient are medicinal, but scholars of Japanese tea believe it began being drunk for the enjoyment of its flavor during the Tang dynasty in 618-907. By the Song dynasty in 1127-1280, steamed and dried tea leaves were being ground into a powder, creating matcha (finely ground tea powder used in tea ceremonies and to flavor mochi, ice cream, wagashi and soba). The warrior class quickly embraced tea—in a rather boisterous way, as compared to the usages of the temples and royal courts. But it was these grandiose displays, at first heavy with faddish Chinese influence, coupled with the rise of a powerful merchant base and the aesthetic focus of the Kitayama culture, that resulted in the refinement of the ceremony to something that is distinctly Japanese. The warriors continue to be closely linked to the ceremony, paralleling the extreme discipline and form necessary to that of their training. Witness the culture and simple elegance of the Hatsudate Ceremony, the first tea pouring of the New Year, as hosted by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Maui Association. The association extends an open invitation to the public, and requests casual attire. 579-9246
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