Changes

===Muromachi===

===Muromachi===

Emerging in the early Muromachi period, tea ceremony was originally just one of a number of activities in which samurai, court nobles, and other elites engaged at elegant but raucous banquets. It began to transform into a more subdued and refined art over the course of that period, however, influencing (and being influenced by) changes in the design or structure of the tearoom itself. These changes to the tearoom were profoundly influential in the history of Japanese architecture; in conjunction with certain other developments, they contributed to the development of the ''[[tokonoma]]'' (an alcove in which seasonally and thematically appropriate paintings and flowers are displayed, helping to set a tone for one's guest), and of features such as the ''[[chigaidana]]'' (a stepped, asymmetrical shelf).

Emerging in the early Muromachi period, tea ceremony grew out of 13th-14th century practices at [[Zen]] temples. It soon became one of a number of activities in which samurai, court nobles, and other elites engaged at elegant but raucous banquets. While many of the physical or choreographic elements of the tea ceremony were already present at this early stage, the act had little spiritual or deeply aesthetic component at this time.

It was with the influence of [[Sen no Rikyu|Sen no Rikyû]] in the late 16th century that tea ceremony came to be considerably toned down, associated with the aesthetic values of ''[[wabi]]'' and ''[[sabi]]'', and formalized into a ritual activity.

Tea began to transform into a more subdued and refined art over the course of that period, however, influencing (and being influenced by) changes in the design or structure of the tearoom itself. These changes to the tearoom were profoundly influential in the history of Japanese architecture; in conjunction with certain other developments, they contributed to the development of the ''[[tokonoma]]'' (an alcove in which seasonally and thematically appropriate paintings and flowers are displayed, helping to set a tone for one's guest), and of features such as the ''[[chigaidana]]'' (a stepped, asymmetrical shelf).

Tea was employed by many ''daimyô'' of the time, including [[Oda Nobunaga]] and most especially by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], as a mark of refinement and cultivation. To that end, Hideyoshi held a [[Grand Kitano Tea Ceremony]] in [[1587]], and also built a tea room in which every surface, and every tea implement, was covered in [[gold foil]], showing off his wealth and power at the same time that he demonstrated his deep involvement in cultural pursuits.

Though [[Sen no Rikyu|Sen no Rikyû]], advisor to [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]] in the late 16th century, is generally credited with (re)inventing the tea ceremony in the ''[[wabi]]-[[sabi]]'' form it has come to be most strongly associated with, ''wabi-cha'' had its start decades earlier, amongst the merchants of [[Sakai]]. Tea masters based in Sakai in the early 16th century, including [[Takeno Joo|Takeno Jôô]], [[Kamiya Sotan|Kamiya Sôtan]], [[Tsuda Sokyu|Tsuda Sôkyû]], and [[Imai Sokyu|Imai Sôkyû]], are credited with furthering the development of ''wabi-cha'', the practice of simple but aestheticized tea. Among the merchants of Sakai, tea was one of the chief modes of cultured socializing, and helped create a space of equality and safety (a sort of neutral zone, in a sense) for political discussions and mercantile negotiations.

 

 

Tea then came to be employed by many ''daimyô'' of the Azuchi-Momoyama period, including [[Oda Nobunaga]] and most especially by [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]], as a mark of refinement and cultivation. To that end, Hideyoshi held a [[Grand Kitano Tea Ceremony]] in [[1587]], and also built a tea room in which every surface, and every tea implement, was covered in [[gold foil]], showing off his wealth and power at the same time that he demonstrated his deep involvement in cultural pursuits. Though historian [[Eiko Ikegami]] emphasizes the tea arts as a space outside of status hierarchies and official controls, Hideyoshi sought to bring the world of tea ceremony under his control, declaring that any tea masters who did not attend his Grand Kitano Tea Ceremony would be banned from performing tea ceremony thereafter.

 

Even after the introduction of ''wabi-sabi'' aesthetics, which emphasizes the beauty and value of the plainest objects - including objects which are flawed or even cracked - the aesthetic appreciation of the implements used in the tea ceremony remained a prominent part of the experience. Many elites of the day, as well as many dedicated tea ceremony practitioners today, cherished showing off their famous or historically significant tea wares. For example, some teabowls and other tea implements which once belonged to Nobunaga or Hideyoshi, and which were associated with Sen no Rikyû, or with other masters such as [[Murata Shuko|Murata Shukô]], continued to be passed down through the generations, and are treasured items in private and museum collections today.

===Edo===

===Edo===

The [[Urasenke]] and [[Omotesenke]] schools of tea ceremony which, along with the [[Mushanokoji senke|Mushanokôji senke]], dominate the world of tea ceremony today, were founded in [[1646]].

The [[Urasenke]] and [[Omotesenke]] schools of tea ceremony which, along with the [[Mushanokoji senke|Mushanokôji senke]], dominate the world of tea ceremony today, were founded in [[1646]]. All three take after Sen no Rikyû's style, and claim some sort of descent (through disciples) from Rikyû himself.

In the 18th century, many Sinophile [[literati]] enjoyed a Chinese-style ''[[sencha]]'' tea ceremony, as promoted by [[Baisao|Baisaô]] among others.<ref>Gallery labels, "Itô Jakuchû and Baisaô - Chrysanthemums and Rock," LACMA, 30 Nov 2012.</ref>

In the 18th century, many Sinophile [[literati]] enjoyed a Chinese-style ''[[sencha]]'' tea ceremony, as promoted by [[Baisao|Baisaô]] among others.<ref>Gallery labels, "Itô Jakuchû and Baisaô - Chrysanthemums and Rock," LACMA, 30 Nov 2012.</ref>

The [[1872 Kyoto Exposition]] saw the introduction of ''ryûrei'', a form of tea ceremony performed seated in chairs around a table, thus making it both more accessible & attractive to Westerners, and more accommodating to the Westernized decor, furnishings, and lifestyle of Meiji Japan.

The [[1872 Kyoto Exposition]] saw the introduction of ''ryûrei'', a form of tea ceremony performed seated in chairs around a table, thus making it both more accessible & attractive to Westerners, and more accommodating to the Westernized decor, furnishings, and lifestyle of Meiji Japan.

==Ceremony==

 

==Teahouse and Ceremony==

 

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==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Culture]]

[[Category:Culture]]