Tea holds a deeper meaning than just a hot drink in Japan; it marks an essential ritual that has a major cultural meaning that is to be respected by all. The Japanese tea ceremony is a representation of harmony, respect, tranquility, and purity, and this important event involves extensive preparation. The uniqueness of this event is embodied in the fact that every process involved in the preparation of the tea equipment and the tea house to the point when the tea is drunk has a unique technique that is followed. As such, the positive values of harmony, respect, tranquility, and purity are applied throughout the entire ceremony without just focusing on the end product – the tea. This artistic activity that is unique to Japan features the serving and drinking of a powdered Japanese green tea known as Matcha, and the practice was introduced in among the upper class of the country during the 14 th century. The main purpose of the tea ceremony evolved gradually to become a period of appreciation of the crafts, paintings, and serenity of the Shoin (study room), where the gathering happened. This tradition continued, and one of the most important aspects of the ceremony today is the aesthetic contemplation and appreciation of the ceramics, flower arrangement, and ceramics of the Chashitsu , the Japanese Tea House. 1 The Chashitsu is a rare place that expresses Japanese sentimentality and allows the partakers a chance to reflect and experience a connection with nature and one another.
Overview of the Japanese Tea House
The Zen philosophy had a heavy influence in the design of the free-standing tea houses, which were mostly built by the daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) or Zen monks, the merchants, and samurai who took part in the tea ceremony. These designers all sought tranquility and simplicity in their designs, and this is the basic doctrines of the Zen philosophy. In this light, the materials used in the construction were limited to rustic and simple ones in the past. The tea ceremony has since evolved, but still remains immersed in the Japanese sensibilities that concern nature so that the tea houses are designed in a way to reflect such sentiments. Many people today still practice the ceremony, enjoying the benefit in a wide range of tea room designs from the traditional ones to even more innovative and modern designs.
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The Design of the Tea House
The dominant impression of the Chashitsu is the fact that the house had a very subdued and restful light. The teahouse is different from the ordinary architecture of the Japanese households in that it lacks openness. The window openings of tea houses are small, and they are positioned carefully to allow the entry of light in the specific areas where it would be most applicable. The size of the chashitsu varies from one-and-three-quarter mats up to eight at most. The houses are constructed using inexpensive material like pine, paulownia, bamboo, and cedar, and they have clay walls and thatched roofs in a bid to bring out the sense of the residence of a Buddhist recluse. As a practice, when the tea is brought to the teahouse, two cups are used. A large one is for brewing, and it holds approximately a half-pint while the thimble cup is placed bottom-side-up on top of the larger cup. The Japanese tea house is a true reflection of a combination of traditional Japanese crafts and sophistication.
While the style of the tea house is traditionally simple and easy to design, one is expected to procure the help of several highly skilled workers, an indication of the importance and significance of this construction. The list of these workers could include thatchers, carpenters, plasterers, tatami makers, gardeners, and fittings craftspeople. The basic structure of the tea house is comprised of two rooms: the main room where the guests are served with tea and the mizuya, where the food is prepared and the tea supplies and snacks are stored.
It is the responsibility of the host to ensure that the entire surfaces of the tea house are thoroughly cleaned be fore the tea gathering. The lid rest, the chopsticks, and the water pipe that leads to the wash basin are all replaced by new ones, and they are made of green bamboo. All the tea utensils also have specific places where they should be arranged. The guests usually wait at a small room near the garden gate before the ceremony can start, where they sit on a carpet and they are offered with hot water to drink. The waiting room has some loose tobacco and a tobacco tray. However, smoking is not allowed in the tea room.
Japanese Tea House Exterior
The Roji (Tea House Garden)
The roji is the dewy garden in front of the traditional chashitsu. This garden is unique, and anyone who has stepped into it confesses to having experienced something out of the ordinary world. The garden is characterized by a path of stepping stones, a stone basin, and several beautiful trees and plants. It gives the guests a scenery to enjoy and wash their hands before they enter the tea house building.
Nijiriguchi (the Guest Entrance)
The Nijiriguchi is a small and low entranceway through which one has to crawl to enter the chashitsu. The fact that this entrance has no consideration whatsoever for rank and class is significant in making everyone in the house equal. The small entryway forces even the great general to have to leave his sword for him to pass through, and this helps add to the sense of detachment from the rest of the world, which is characteristic of the tea house. Everyone in the Chashitsu is considered raw and pure as at birth . Some people argue that this design of the guest entrance is aimed at preventing the entrance of intruders. However, this is a disputable argument considering the fact that the door has a thickness of just a quarter inch, which makes it easy to break with just a push. Some parts of the entrance are intentionally made wet to give the guests a refreshing feeling. Once all the guests have gotten into the house, the door is latched to give a sense of isolation from the rest of the world.
The Host's Entrance
The entrance that the host used is also miniature such that the host has to crouch to gain access to the tea house. This is yet another device that is designed to instill a sense of humility for the host and equality with the guests.
Japanese Tea House Interior
The Floor
The floor of the Japanese tea house is covered with a tatami mat, which is essentially a bamboo mat. The floor is generally level, and it is only raised in the alcove. It is decorated throughout using anciently sourced articles of the celebrated tea events.
The Ceiling
Traditionally, the Japanese tea houses are constructed with high ceilings, but it was discovered that this extensive height in a room of such a small design was a cause of anxiety and unrest in the guests. The ceilings were, therefore, reduced to six feet. The ceilings are designed with alternative heights to reduce, or entirely avoid a cramped feeling. For instance, the alcove ceiling is slightly higher than the rest of the ceiling because the ground in this area is slightly raised. The ceiling at the alcove is also covered with a board. Also, the ceiling above the seating area of the host is slightly lower in comparison to that at the guests’ seating area, and this is a symbol of humility. The ceiling of the tea room is made from lightweight materials like reeds, bamboo, wickerwork, and shingles.
The Walls
The walls of the tea houses were initially made out of paper, which later evolved to mud walls after the builders started using logs to support the buildings . The walls are made out of mud because this makes it possible and easier to create rounded corners to achieve the round design of tea houses.
The Windows
The design of the windows in the tea room is in close resemblance to that of the walls. It is characterized by a lintel that is laid out from one post to the next, and the space in between was designed into a window. The structure of the windows is designed in such a way that only little light can get into the tea house. The windows are also placed at low positions to allow for adequate ventilation and to give the guests the perfect view of the natural scenery or the garden. The tea hut window is also characterized by bamboo grilles, which allow for more light and also add to the serene mood of the tea room.
Bibliography
Ali, Adibah, Rusmadiah Anwar, Oskar Hasdinor Hassan, and Ham Rabeah Kamarun. 2013. "Significance of Japanese Tea Ceremony Values With Ceramic Art Interpretation". Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 106: 2390-2396. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.273.
"Japanese Tea Ceremony". 2019. Japanese-Tea-Ceremony.Net . http://japanese-tea-ceremony.net/ .
Matsuyama, Hiroko. 2017. "Japanese Tea House: Architecture of Ultimate Spiritual World". Japanese Patterns of Design . https://www.patternz.jp/japanese-tea-house-architecture/ .
"The Tea House". 2019. Northsideaikido.Com . http://www.northsideaikido.com/en/tea-house .
