Thursday, December 13, 2012

Traditional Tea Ceremony Held

On Saturday, December 1, the Bethany College Japanese Culture Club with assistance from the Japanese Outreach Program hosted a traditional Tea Ceremony at the Mountainside Conference Center.  Known as Chanoyu, Sado or Chado, this ancient art form focuses on the aesthetics of tea preparation more so than the drinking of tea itself.  Associated heavily with the rituals of Zen Buddhism, tea ceremonies feature images of beauty (such as flowers and art) to reflect and mediate.   The preparation and the drinking are meant to be spiritual in deep silence and serenity.  Everything comes from preparing the tea with one’s heart.  The guests, especially the principle guest, are all taken into account when a tea master sets to their work.

During the event, the Japanese Culture Club presented a direct image of the ceremony.  Professor Fujiko Sawtarie hosting with Mr. Nobuyuki Tanaka, Ms. Nobuko Felt, and Club members serving as demonstrators with opportunities for audience members to partake in the ritual following the demonstration.  Commentary was provided by Professor Sachiko Wood. The club provided a dinner of yakisoba following the demonstration in Harder Hall.

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