farcastea

Yesterday, I went to a tea ceremony class in Tokyo. When I entered, they asked me to put on clean socks before stepping to tatami room.
The room was so peaceful that I forgot about everything. 

Here are some fun facts about Tea Ceremony in Japan 🧵 :

Founder of /farcastea
Newsletter for Japan: https://paragraph.xyz/@beecurious
Podcast:https://open.spotify.com/show/1542Ivs82TOVLcfPVEoFoP?si=2dc
Hosting /japan

1. Participants usually wear white socks to keep the tatami room clean. This way, if there's any dirt, it will show up on the socks.

2. In the past, samurais used tea ceremonies as peaceful places to talk politics and make deals. The calm of the tea ceremony was a big change from their usual rough and busy lives, making it a perfect spot for meditation and peaceful talks.

3. Tea ceremonies have small entrances called "nijiriguchi" where guests have to bow, showing everyone is equal and leaving the swords outside, ensuring no violent attack.

5. The tea ceremony is characterized by a sequence of precise movements and actions, known as "temae." The emphasis on simplicity and concentration during the ceremony encourages mindfulness and a focus on the present moment.

6. The tea ceremony changes with the seasons. The utensils, decorations, and even the layout of the tea room may be adjusted to reflect the current season, demonstrating a deep connection with nature and the passage of time.

7. The tea ceremony is heavily influenced by Zen Buddhism, which values mindfulness, simplicity, and the pursuit of spiritual tranquility.

8. Read more about it in my newsletter: https://paragraph.xyz/@beecurious/leave-your-ego-at-the-door

4. Every tool, like the tea bowl and whisk, is special and chosen to show beauty in simple things. This practice reflects the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which finds beauty in simplicity and imperfection.