Japanese chad 014D; or cha-no-yu
Ritualized preparation and drinking of tea developed in Japan.
It involves a host and one or more guests; the tea, utensils, and movements used in preparing, serving, and drinking the tea are all prescribed. When tea was introduced from Song-dynasty China by the Zen monk Eisai (11411215), it was drunk by Zen monks to help them stay awake during meditation. The laity enjoyed tea-tasting competitions that developed into a more refined, meditative form among the warrior aristocracy in the 15th century. The most famous exponent of the tea ceremony was Sen Riky 016B; (152291), tea master to Toyotomi Hideyoshi , who codified a style known as wabi , which favoured rustic, rough-shaped tea bowls and spare, simple surroundings. Three popular schools of the tea ceremony trace their roots to Riky 016B; , and other schools exist as well; today mastery of the tea ceremony is one accomplishment of a well-bred young woman.