Cha-no-yu essentially means "water for tea." In English, it means tea ceremony. This tea ceremony is based on the etiquette of serving tea, the landscape of the tea garden , tea utensils, paintings and flower arrangements. It was originally brought from China by Japanese monks. It is an aesthetic pastime in which powdered green tea is served in a refined atmosphere.
The tea ceremony was borrowed from the Zen religion because the first tea masters were priests. They taught their followers that enlightenment can only be reached through Zen meditation. The tea ceremony became a means of disciplining the mind. Tea was used to sharpen the concentration of the monks. By the 11th century, the aristocracy was enjoying tea and developed the ceremony surrounding its use.
Early in the 14th century, Ashi-kaga Yoshimatsu, a military ruler, built the famous ginkakuji or Golden pavilion, in Kyoto. This became the cultural center of Japan. Here he built a small building for his private worship. This is where tea was made. Murato Shuko (1422-1502) is credited for the basic concepts of tea.
This specialized form of art calls for a good knowledge of architecture, landscape gardens, and tea utensils. Etiquette, spirituality, and knowledge are all necessary for understanding the tea ceremony.
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