Changes

*''Japanese'': 茶道 ''(sadou, chadou)''

*''Japanese'': 茶道 ''(sadou, chadou)'', 茶湯 ''(chanoyu)''

Tea ceremony is one of the most famous Japanese traditional arts. Originally a relatively un-ritualized element of elite banquets, it became formalized into an art in the late 16th century (the [[Azuchi-Momoyama period]]), and came to be promoted as a key part of Japanese traditional culture in the [[Meiji period]].

Tea ceremony is one of the most famous Japanese traditional arts. Originally a relatively un-ritualized element of elite banquets, it became formalized into an art in the late 16th century (the [[Azuchi-Momoyama period]]), and came to be promoted as a key part of Japanese traditional culture in the [[Meiji period]].

==History==

==History==

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.

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.

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 began to transform into a more subdued and refined art over the course of that period, however, a ritualized practice focusing on the preparation of the tea, and the tea utensils used, changing in accordance with the practitioner's refined sense of seasonal aesthetics and consideration of the hierarchical status of the guests. The tea prepared generally takes one of two forms: thin tea (''usucha''), which is less formal and involves less complex ritual; and thick tea (''koicha''). Tea gatherings (''chakai'') in the Edo period typically involved a ''[[kaiseki]]'' meal, a single shared bowl of thick tea, and individual bowls of thin tea for each of the guests, who usually did not number more than five.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 19.</ref>

 

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).

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.

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.