Tea Ceremony

[ellienihon]

I really should post about stuff before I forget...

I've been doing tea ceremony since October. I'm learning how to serve it, and to receive it. I guess you would call it HP... It's a 'way' in the Japanese sense. Just as the martial arts are all 'way's. I'm actually finding that it partially fulfills my need to serve and that I really like the formality of it. Every single move is proscribed. When you walk out, you turn towards or away from the guests, depending on what you're carrying or have carried (basically if it's dirty water, you turn away from the guests). When you pick up the water ladle, you do it differently, depending on whether you're going to pour cold water or hot water (different words in Japanese). The cloth in your belt has to be folded precisely the right way. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. And every movement should be smooth, graceful, and economical. I really enjoy it, although it's frustrating that my legs still go numb a lot (it's all done sitting on your knees).

Actually, I like it so much, I'm considering picking up Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy), another 'way'. (After I drop my choir)

Comments

[ellienihon.livejournal.com]

Or you could come out here... j/k