Tea can be simple

Tea is nought but this,
First you make the water boil,
Then prepare the tea.
Then you drink it properly.
That is all you need to know.
—Sen no Rikyu

Japanese history tells the story of how drinking tea evolved from a simple beverage into an elaborate ceremony, based on simplicity and power.  Zen monks developed a system for preparing, serving and consuming tea. Sen no Rikkyu (1522-91), a famous tea master, perfected the wabi  aesthetics, incorporating zen philosophy.

Wabi style  created and asthetic based on tranquility, harmony, respect and simplicity. Those elements are based on the zen’s philosophy in minimalism, poverty and beauty. Sen no Rikyu believed superfluous utensils, tools and decorations distracted for the tea practice. Visually, his tea room displayed the fewest utensils and decorations. Using simple utensils, instead of expensive Chinese wares, showed humility and equality to his guests. He always followed these seven rules:

1.     Make a satisfying bowl of tea.

2.     Lay the charcoal so that the water boils efficiently.

3.     Provide the sense of warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer.

4.     Arrange the flowers as though they were in the field.

5.     Be ready ahead of time.

6.     Be prepared in a case it should rain.

7.     Act with utmost consideration toward your guests.

Sen no Rikyu’s brief instructions simplifies the art and tradition around preparing, serving and consuming tea. He believed the foundation of the tea ceremony spread throughout all aspects of life, but it takes great effort to master the simplicity. Whisking powdered tea in a bowl is part of a meditation, that leads to enlightenment. The wabi aesthetic enables you to concentrate on making and enjoying a cup of tea.

Originally, the wabi style tea ceremony was expected to act as a social leveler during the warring era in Japan. Sen no Rikyu trained two powerful feudal lords in the art of wabistyle tea ceremony.During this time period, feudal lords held elaborate tea gatherings to broker peace treaties and display political power. Unsurprisingly, this power manifestation tricled down to lower classes.l

Japanese merchants enjoyed tea as a part of every day life. They liked to combine a simple tea ceremony and negotiations. Using elements of wabi style, merchants presented an amenable social framework for confidential dialogue.

A tea ceremony provided a space to display the beauty of tea, encourage camaraderie, and share confidences. The Japanese have embraced this simplicity for over four centuries. Sen Rikyu’s legacy lives on in the Uresenke schools.

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