Chanoyu is usually translated "tea ceremony." It literally means
"hot water for tea," but centuries of Japanese history, literature and
culture come together in the study and discipline of making and serving tea.
Chanoyu incorporates many of the arts and crafts of Japan with the focus of
preparing and serving a bowl of tea with a pure heart.
Tea is more than the collection of objects, or the knowledge of how to
make and serve a beverage. There is also a philosophy to tea, which comes
partly from centuries of tea masters, and partly from the interactions of
the tea ceremony with Zen Buddhism.
The heart of the tea ceremony is not found in the tea, but in the four
principles of wa-kei-sei-jaku, or harmony, respect, purity and tranquility.
The tranquility comes from learning how to be in harmony with others, respect
for others and oneself, and purity in thought and action. These
principals act as the foundation of the study of the tea ceremony.
As in most of Japanese culture, the tea ceremony is a discipline that
takes a lifetime to master. What is learned in chanoyu leads a person to the things in life that matter beyond the material things--and
that is something that is enough for any lifetime.
Issoan Tea School
Issoan means "One Grass Hut" and was named by Genki Takabayashi Roshi. Its name
exemplifies the impermanence of the wabi tea aesthetic as well as the
moveable nature of structure of the tea room. Issoan Tea School is a place of study for chanoyu. Marjorie "Soya"
Yap teaches classes from beginning through advanced in the procedures for
making tea as well as aspects of Japanese culture such as sweet making,
kimono dressing, incense ceremony, haiku, and more. More important, she
teaches how to incorporate chanoyu values and aesthetics into the stress and
angst of our modern, everyday life.
This week: In praise of shadows, Intimate silence and Elusive scentsat the
SweetPersimmon blog
Chanoyu classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays at the Issoan Tea Room in Portland, Oregon. Issoan Tea School
17761 NW Marylhurst Ct.
Portland, Oregon 97229
Phone: 503.645.7058
Aikido Yoshokai in North Portland has allowed us the use of their dojo on
Friday evenings for tea class. Peninsula Odd Fellows Hall
4834 N Lombard St.
Portland, Oregon
503.922.2563
Ryokusuido Tea House
3826 NE Glisan St.
Portland, OR 97232
503.326.8005
Having trouble sitting? SweetPersimmon
has meditation seats for tea and zazen.
"I like my new zazen bench. It's Great!
...everyone thought it was extremely cool. I could hardly believe it could
be small enough to put in your kimono sleeve, but it sure enough is! The
design is just so clean and functional, it's so nicely finished and so
strong, and I love how the bag converts to upholstery. It really fits a guy
my size perfectly."
~ Tim Olson, Tea Ceremony Instructor
My site for meditation seats,
specialty leaf tea, teaware, incense and Koh do utensils, books, photos and more.
