KCP Fall 2016 Students Experience Chanoyu
Chanoyu, the Japanese Tea Ceremony, is part of Japanese culture. It is a union of many Japanese arts with the focus on serving a bowl of tea with a pure heart.
The earliest record of the history of tea in Japan dates back to 9th-century text references by a Japanese Buddhist monk. Japanese priests were sent to China as envoys to learn about Chinese culture. The priests soon returned with the habit of drinking tea. A priest named Saicho first brought tea to Japan, and Emperor Saga welcomed the growing of tea plants in the country.
Practitioners of Chanoyu practice the principles of Wa Kei Sei Jaku (harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility). These are integrated into their study of tea and into their everyday lives. Sen no Rikyū (1522 – April 21, 1591), also known as Rikyū, is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese way of tea. Rikyū said that tea is nothing more than boiling water, making tea, and drinking it. It is this simplicity that makes the study of Chanoyu a lifelong pursuit.
Check out KCP Fall 2016 students as they experience the Japanese Tea Ceremony.
For more photos of the event, visit KCP Flickr.