The traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony infuses elements of Zen Buddhism into a social context. A bowl of tea is prepared by a hos t for a guest and shared in the spirit of peacefulness and harmony. A disc ipline nourished and refined by the Japanese since the fifteenth century\, the Japanese Tea Ceremony is based on the simple act of heating water\, m aking tea\, and offering it to others. Served respectfully with a pure and open heart and received with gratitude\, a bowl of tea satisfies both a p hysical and spiritual thirst. Guests will be served traditional Japanese c onfections and individually prepared bowls of matcha (powdered green tea).
\n**Seasonality in the Japanese Tea Ceremony
\nOne of the uni
que features of the Japanese Tea Ceremony is its relationship to the seaso
n in which it is being presented. During the colder\, winter months\, a pr
esentation will feature utensils that suggest warmth. Darker colors will p
redominate\, heavier bowls that are cylindrical in shape (to concentrate w
armth) are used\, and other utensils bearing poetic names such as &lsquo\;
First Snow\,&rsquo\; &lsquo\;Cold Moon&rsquo\;\, and &lsquo\;Wind in the P
ines&rsquo\; will complement them.
During the summer season\, which e
xtends from the beginning of May to the end of October\, utensils suggesti
ng coolness make their appearance. Fresh water containers will be lighter
and more colorful. Items made of glass\, either clear or cut\, may be used
. Tea bowls are wide and somewhat flat\, designed to disperse the hot stea
m and slightly cool the tea before it is drunk.
Boukakuan Japanese Te
a House and Garden will incorporate warm weather utensils such as these in
to its demonstration of the Japanese Tea Ceremony\, at the Manville branch
.
Drew Sodo Hanson
\nDrew Sodo Hanson has been a student of the Urasenke Tradition of Japanese Tea since 1995 and is a licensed teache r in this tradition. In addition to the classes and demonstrations which h e offers at Boukakuan Japanese Tea House and Garden in Columbus\, NJ\, he has presented the Japanese Tea Ceremony at Shofuso in Fairmount Park\, Phi ladelphia\, as well as at other venues in the metropolitan Philadelphia ar ea. Drew holds a Ph.D. in American Literature from The Pennsylvania State University and has over 30 years&rsquo\; experience teaching writing and&n bsp\;literature on the college level.
\n
Brandon Forsht
Although he does not practice the Japanese Tea Ceremony\, Brandon has bee n assisting at demonstrations\, more formal tea gatherings\, and events fo r the last twenty years\, often sitting in the position of the first guest and helping the other guests navigate their way through receiving and dri nking tea. Sometimes from the sidelines\, he will provide the narrative &l squo\;play-by-play&rsquo\; as the ceremony unfolds. Brandon is a landscape designer\, having received his Master of Science degree in that field fro m Columbia University. He is also an Ikebana artist in the Sogetsu School and \;licensed instructor in that tradition.
\nAt the conclusion
of the program please feel free to take a brief online survey here:https://www.projectoutc
ome.org/responses/69830