Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chaji)
Cha-no-yu ("hot water for tea ") usually refers to a single ceremony or ritual, while sado or chado ("the way of tea") refer to the study or doctrine of tea ceremony. More particularly, cha-ji refers to a full tea ceremony with kaiseki (a light meal), usuicha (thin tea) and koicha (thick tea), lasting approximately four hours. A chakai "tea meeting") does not include a kaiseki meal.
Since a tea practitioner must be familiar with the production and types of tea, with kimono, calligraphy, flower arranging, ceramics, incense and a wide range of other disciplines and traditional arts in addition to his or her school's tea practices, the study of tea ceremony takes many years and often lasts a lifetime. Even to participate as a guest in a formal tea ceremony requires knowledge of sado, including the prescribed gestures and phrases expected of guests, the proper way to take tea and sweets and general deportment in the tea room.
Tea Ceremony Links
Tea-Circle - Japanese Tea Ceremony, fine Supplies and Arts
Japanese Green Tea Online - buy the highest grade green tea
Asian Food Grocer - Quality Asian Food at Competitive Prices
More information
Wikipedia - All about the Japanese Tea Ceremony
Holy Mountain - Learn about the tea ceremony
UCLA - an Anthropological Perspective of the Tea Ceremony
