The Tea Ceremony is a ritualized Japanese cultural contribution that involves taking tea in a specific space with prearranged procedures.
Supposed to have started in the 16th century, the tea ceremony was a wealthy affair sought to unite rulers, warriors, and merchants. It was a social function for the rich that provided them a forum to discuss weighty issues (Cooper and McLean 1). They used natural forms of utensils, especially from China and Korea, countries revered for their culture. To an extent, the value of these objects and utensils was synonymous to that of treasures. The Japanese have a liking for such imperfect objects (natural form), which is a characteristic of their culture. Most of them were unglazed objects made in kilns that may seem to have no value at first sight. Their value has remained over the years to present where the utensils/objects re still seen as valuable.
The preparation and drinking powdered green tea (matcha) is a delicate procedure that involves years of training. It involves detailed choreography that a layperson cannot easily master. The interaction in a tearoom not only involves the host and the guests, but also the utensils (Cooper and McLean 5). The guests witness the tea preparation and each step must be done specifically. Surprisingly, there is no repetition of the process in any other subsequent ceremony. the choreography only applies to a singular tea gathering. In addition, there is tea etiquette pertaining to the drinking of the tea, and the usage of the utensils. The utensils have both a practical value and an aesthetic value that the Japanese tradition appreciates. During a ceremony, there are several objects and utensils, but only a few serve in the occasion.
The Tea Ceremony resulted in the creation of several other forms of objects that are enshrined in Japanese traditions. The relevance and significance of the ceremony lie in the need for purification and the connection with nature.