1.
tea ceremony, the way of tea, chanoyu
The traditional Japanese art of preparing and serving matcha (powdered green tea) in a ritualized manner. Encompasses not just the preparation of tea but the entire aesthetic experience, including the tea room, utensils, seasonal decorations, and the spirit of hospitality. The oldest and most traditional term for the practice.
茶の湯を習い始めた。
I started learning the tea ceremony.
茶の湯の精神は「一期一会」にある。
The spirit of the tea ceremony lies in the concept of 'once in a lifetime encounter.'
千利休は茶の湯を芸術の域にまで高め、侘び茶の理念を確立した。
Sen no Rikyu elevated the tea ceremony to the level of art and established the philosophy of wabi-cha.
USAGE:
茶の湯 is the oldest and most traditional term for the Japanese tea ceremony. The synonymous 茶道 (also read 茶道) is the more commonly used term today, particularly in educational contexts. 茶の湯 carries a more classical, historical nuance.
BACKGROUND:
The practice was heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism and was refined into its current form during the Muromachi and Azuchi-Momoyama periods. The four guiding principles established by 千利休 are 和 (harmony), 敬 (respect), 清 (purity), and 寂 (tranquility).
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 茶道: tea ceremony (more common modern term)
- 点前: the procedure of preparing tea
- 茶会: tea gathering, tea party
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 茶の湯を嗜む: to practice the tea ceremony (as a cultivated pursuit)
- 茶の湯の作法: tea ceremony etiquette
- 茶の湯の文化: tea ceremony culture