Chanoyu
The Japanese way of tea, a ceremony of preparing and serving matcha.
Also: sado, chado, tea ceremony
Chanoyu, also called sado or chado, is the Japanese tea ceremony. In a small tea room, a host whisks powdered green tea in a bowl and serves it to guests in a set order, after a light meal and a sweet. Every movement, from folding the cloth to turning the bowl, is practised and has a meaning. The guiding ideals, established by the 16th-century master Sen no Rikyu, are harmony, respect, purity and tranquillity. A tea gathering may be simple or last four hours. Schools such as Urasenke teach the practice around the world, and a tea room is often the quietest place in a city.
Region: East Asia