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RULES FOR TEAISTS

I.Demeanor

Rules are an integral part of Chinese Chadao. Before proceeding with study of the eight teachings, we may find it necessary to learn some basic rules of Chaodao, which basically consist of norms and requirements for the teaist's physical appearance, demeanor, tea-brewing methods and tea-serving acts. Demeanor refers to the Ml dimensions of a person's overall appearance,including body shape, looks, clothing and style. During interpersonal interactions, demeanor, as a constant object of special concern for the interacting parties, plays a significant role in how the parties see and evaluate each other overall. Good demeanor is required of all teaists who practice the eight teachings.

While our looks and bodies are not of our own choosing, we can improve them through appropriate make-up and fashion and exercise. Some people who look plain physically can still impress people with their good educational background and moral ethics. They may win people with their spirituality, kindness and charm; while their generosity, self-confidence and intellectual beauty may also add to their glamor. Ghadao values a person's upbringing and personality more than anything else. So the teaist needs no more than just appropriately dressing up. If he or she is naturally pretty, he or she may just need to be clean and well-organized, The plain-looking gays. on the other hand, may just need to play their advantages better:

1.Facial Makeup

Appropriate makeup during some major Chadao ceremonies can enhance a twist's appearance and constitute respect for those served. However, a teaist should wear light, instead of heavy makeup. The idea is that facial features should be made proportionate and look natural and fitting. The average woman should highlight meekness, quietness and elegance as a sign of for guests, She should refrain from use of heavy makeup and going out of proportions, Males teaists must always stay clean-shaved before showing up before guests. In particular, the teaist must rid of himself or herself of any odor of any remnant makeup, left it jeopardizes the natural aroma of the tea.

2.Hairstyle

A teaist's hairstyle should in principle suit his or her facial contours and personality and give an impression of pleasantness, tidiness and decorum. Those wearing short hair must make sure their hair does not block their view when they lower their If they wear long hair, they should wear that in a bun so it doesn't affect their work. Because of the deep and rich features of traditional culture in Chadao, the teaist's hair style should bear traditional, folkways and natural characteristics. For example.

3.Hands

In a typical tea ceremony, the teaist's hands are often the focus of attention. As guests observe the entire brewing process, their eyes are always fixed on the teaist's hands. So if the teaist is female, she first have a pair of fine and attractive hands that are well-maintained and kept clean. Male hands must stay clean and well-manicured as well Teaists are required to clean both hands before performing any tea activity lest the tea leaves or tea wares got contaminated. Fingernails must be regularly and completely clipped and not oiled or painted.

4.Apparel

Apparel, which can reflect the wearer's social status, cultural taste, aesthetic consciousness and attitude toward life, etc, adorns the teaist's appearance through elements such as color, style ,and pattern. Apart from basic requirements such as simplicity and rusticity, Chadao fashion should be primarily based on traditional Chinese fashion not just because of the traditional and ethnic nature of Chinese tea wares, but also because of the need to reflect the cultural connotations of elegance and romanticism and the historical heritage of the Chinese civilization. Since tea is soothing and peaceful by nature, the teaist should wear simple and decent rather than showy clothing that agrees with the honorable, elegant and mature feel of Chadao. Whether male or female, their garments should be dean and in good shape, matching their skin,body, makeup and ornaments. In addition, they must be compatible with the tea ceremony itself its environment and atmosphere and its unique cultural connotations. Certain appropriate ornaments or trinkets may add to the beauty of the teaist, but they should not be oversized, overabundant, or overly eye-catching. Generally speaking, teaists should wear watches, bracelets or hardware that may easily bump into something or produce noises that jeopardize the atmosphere.

II.Bearing

Bearing or deportment refers to the way a person behaves, looks, stands and moves that agrees with social norms and rules. In the study and practice of the eight teachings, the teaist must be equipped with and demonstrate decency and decorum. A personas personality can be easily revealed during the tea-brewing process. Through the correction of a pose or move, one can also subconsciously correct one's disposition. A teaist has to do two things during the tea ceremony: demonstrate rhythm, tempo, and cadence in his or her combined moves; and integrate whatever the teaist is doing into communication with the guests. All acts and gestures during the tea ceremony must be smooth, flexible, gentle, interconnected, and stratified in strength, cadence, and rhythm so that the guests may have a deep sense of the glamor of the entire process. In addition, some body building or exercise can also contribute to the formation of good deportment.

1.Facial Expression

The teaist must always maintain a tranquil, composed and gracious expression. Changes in a person's facial features such as the eyes, eyebrows and mouth can reflect changes in that personas inner mind, which can interpret, clarify, correct and enhance what is spoken. Chadao practitioners are supposed to look natural, elegant, and composed, with their eyelids and eyebrows relaxed and naturally stretched out As the core of facial expression, the eyes are what convey the finest nuances of that expression. In Chadao etiquette, the teaist is further required to keep his or her eyes steady, without staring at anything, while taking the whole scene into view, Care must be taken to avoid nervousness or looking back and forth or rolling of the eyes.

2.Standing

Standing is one of the basic poses of humanity. Proper and graceful standing poses give people an impression of being in high spirits, well-bred, amiable and polite. Chadao etiquette requires that the teaist stand erect in a straight line from head to foot, perpendicular to the floor, without tilting to the right or left. The teaist is to tighten the jaws slightly, look straight ahead, relax the shoulders and breathe normal.

The female teaist shall clasp her hands, right webbing over left (between the thumb and index fingers), and place them at the lower abdomen with about a fist's distance one from the other. Her feet shout pose like a half "T" (with the heels next to each other and the toes at an angle of between 45 and 60 degrees (see figure on the right). The male teaist shall pose his feet in a V shape, clasp her hands, right webbing over left (between the thumb and index fingers), and place them at the lower abdomen. These moves must be smooth and natural and avoid giving people a mechanical sense of stiffness and stagnation.

3.Walking

Steady and graceful gaits of walking can give a person an imposing and dynamic look. Standard walking gait in Chaodao ritual begins with a standing pose in which the large joints engineer the small joints, continues in ginger, elegant, soft and steady steps, with no wobbling of the body or twisting of the waist The female teaist needs to walk in a straight line, maintain her balance, relax her shoulders, tighten her jaws slightly, look straight ahead, clasp her hands at the webbings between the thumbs and index fingers, and place them at the front, so that she may not swing too much. The male teaist may swing his arms slightly and effortlessly as he moves his legs. At right turns, turn the right foot first, or vice versa. If the teaist approaches the guest sideways, he needs to turn to face him or her squarely, take two steps forward, and incline as a sign of greeting. As the teaist to go, he shall first step bock two paces facing the guest as a sign of respect.

4.Sitting

The basic requirements for sitting are as follows: dignity, poise, grace, elegance and symmetry and coordination of the limbs. The head, breast, and pelvis have to act in concept with the four limbs as they open, close, bend and straighten. Special emphasis is laid on steadiness, poise and symmetrical beauty.

Regular sitting: Sit properly in the center of a chair or stool, keep the legs close together, with the feet naturally touching the ground, the calves basically perpendicular to the floor, and the thighs basically perpendicular to the torso. Keep the body straight, loosen the shoulders, hold the head up, and slightly tuck the chin in towards the chest, with the tongue pressed against the lower jawbone and the tip of the nose to the navel. The female teaist's legs should stay together from knee to ankle, hands testing m the middle of the lap or gently on the tea table. The male teaist can his knees apart by a fist's distance, with his hands on either side of their thighs or gently on the sides of the Chinese tea table. Be fully relaxed and composed, stay calm and focused and keep a natural and graceful pose. Do not conspicuously part, cross or shake the legs, fold arms over the chest, rub the hands, arch the back or stoop.

Seiza: Japanese term for "proper", or "correct" sitting. To sit seiza-style,one must first knee! on a floor mat or cushion. The ankles are turned outward as the tops of the feet are lowered so that the buttocks are finally lowered all way down on the feet The back is kept straight, though not unnaturally stiff. The shoulders should be relaxed and slightly down. Press the tongue against the upper palate, keep the hands crossed at the front, with left hand on top for the female and hand on top for the male. In performing teaist rituals, the Japanese and the Koreans habitually kneel on the floor. The Chinese need to be trained to get used to doing this.

Sitting cross-legged: Apart from sitting seiza-style, a male may also sit cross-legged, with the legs bent inward and the hands resting on the knees. The other parts of the body go in the same pose as it is with seiza sitting.

Kneeling with one knee up: Kneel on the right knee, with the touching the ground and the right buttock resting on the right heel. With the left leg bent, the knee goes up and the feet tip forwards The other parts of the body go in the same pose as it is with seiza sitting. This is the pose used by the host as he serves tea when the guest sits on a low chair, sits seiza-style or cross-legged.