 Tea and
Progress
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In the Heian Period (794-1185), after the capital of Japan had been
moved to Kyoto, tea became a real part of Japanese high society. Temple
records of the 11th century listed tea utensils among the objects belonging
to temples, indicating that tea was popular among priests.
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It was good for the health as well as keeping a person alert. This was
when the tea ceremony began to vary from the formal temple tea rites.
A very strong effect on the changes in the tea ceremony was the fact that
aristocrats, who treasured and collected Chinese utensils, served tea
in their pavilions during this era.
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In the Muromachi Period (1333-1568), tea contests (tocha), were held
to see who could tell the difference between real tea and the more recent
types. Real tea, was tea that was grown from seeds the priest Eisai brought
back from China in 1191. Rich prizes were given to the winners, and much
sake was drunk. These contests soon became so violent and riotous that
the government banned them.
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This was before the tea ceremony became developed into what it is today,
but it does show that even the most peaceful customs, such as drinking
tea, without the proper control, can bring out the worst in us. These
old unpleasant habits are things of the past now, and the Way of Tea is
a peaceful and pleasant art, as it should be.
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The true Way of Tea (sado, or chado) includes the preparation and service
of food, the study of religion, history, calligraphy, ceramics, gardening,
and architecture. The different tea masters varied the Way of Tea for
their own reasons, so many different schools of "tea" became popular.
Humans like to be different!
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