What is a “tea ceremony”?
The term “tea ceremony” is used most often today to refer to the tea ritual of Japan, known as “Cha-no-yu” or “Chado” (from the Chinese “Cha Tao” meaning “way of tea”). The Japanese tea ceremony, as it is performed today with powdered tea whisked in a bowl, was consolidated in the 16th century by the famous tea master Sen Rikyu. Its form and équipage are based on Tang dynasty Chinese models and are heavily indebted to Lu Yu’s classic “Tea Scripture”.
