THE JAPANESE CHANOYU CEREMONY
The chanoyu ceremony, an extremely codified ritual consisting of hundreds of different steps, is the most elaborate form of expression of the Way of Tea. Practiced according to the four principles defined by Sen No Rikyu, its purpose is to lead its practitioners to a spiritual dimension by offering and receiving tea in an atmosphere imbued with harmony and humility. "Che no yu" literally means "water for tea." There are two principal methods of presenting chanoyu: chaji and chokai. Chaji, the more formal of the two, lasts three to four hours and includes a maximum of four participants. The guests...