"Alex Chaihorsky" > wrote in message
om...
> I was introduced to the O-tya Do in 1980 by former Japanese prisoners of
war
> in East Siberia and their sons who never saw Japan and whose mothertongue
> was Russian. Most of them left for Japan in 1950-ies, but some stay. I was
a
> geologist and befriended them after they learned that I studied Wen Yan
> (ancient Chinese) and some Japanese literature as a hobby.
> They never mentioned anything about things Japanese before. One wouldn't
> even know that they are Japanese, if not their names. After they learned
who
> I was and we spent countless evenings at the fire discussing Heyan,
> Tokugawa, Meiji, they asked me if I would join them for Tea Ceremony.
>
> We walked over a mile and a half along the river upstream from my field
> camp. There, on the high ground facing the river they put 4 poles on the
> ground that became a tearoom. The calligraphy was written by fingers on
the
> fresh wet riverbank and everything was so solemn and noble, I had the hair
> on my back standing up.
> I will not decsribe the underscribable. I cannot hold tears even now. But
> anyone who thinks that Bushido is dead should think again. I saw it alive
> and strong, bold and noble, right in front of me - in the eyes and
movements
> of old, defeated samurai and their Russian born, Russian speaking,
> half-Russian by blood, sons.
>
> I also must say that before that I already I abandoned my studies of
> Japanese, of which I have done quite a bit, after I discovered the
accounts
> of what Japanese officers did to civilians (including women and nuns)
during
> WW2 and the Nankin story in China. Not that Russians, who killled millions
> during Stalin purges or my Jewish coreligionists in Occupied territories
or
> Americans who sold Indians smallpox-infected blankets were any better. But
> the fact that it was educated, well-borne and well-bred Japanese made a
> difference for me.
>
> But during these event on the banks of the unnamed river in East Siberia I
> saw something that transcended time and culture. I am sure that if there
> are warrior clan culture on some distant planet, they would have similar,
if
> not same, ays of re-inforcing their values. May be in today's Japan the
> true menaing of O-tya Do silently stepped back into the shadows for
> political and other reasons. But I have no doubt that it will come back
> again, as soon as Japan will re-introduce itself to Bushido and other
things
> Japanese. And if one does not believe that it will happen, one has no idea
> what it is - Japan.
>
> Alex.
>
>

Damn. A lifetime experience. You couldn't buy that with monay. What a
tale. Thank you. I'm saving this, too. Takes my breath away.

Dave


>
>
> "cc" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Dave" > wrote in message
> >
> >> Sorry. My mistake. It's just called "The Tea Ceremony."
> >
> > Actually, it is not in Asian languages. In Japan, it's litterally "tea's
> > water" or just "tea" when you do it, "the path of tea" when you study
it.
> >
> >> Found a Japanese lady here in Houston who teaches the Tea Ceremony at a
> >> local restaraunt (Urasenke school). Also found a handbook (volumes 1 &
> >> 2)
> >> of the Urasenke school, which I will probably get. That's a start.
> >
> > I suggest you participate as a guest a few times and talk to the teacher
> > before getting any hand-book or technical description.
> > Anyway, I don't think a Japanese tea meeting has much sense outside the
> > Japanese
> > context.
> >
> > In a Japanese environment the so-called "tea ceremony" doesn't seem that
> > special. Even if the country has changed and is changing very quickly.
The
> > room for Japanese tea is a normal Japanese room (the room from where I
am
> > writing now would have been fit for tea...if I had not put my computer
and
> > all my things in it), most instruments were normal household instruments
> > used at least till 100 yr ago, the kimono was the normal outfit (till
the
> > after-war for most women), the way of sitting down normal (till 20 yr
ago,
> > still common nowadays), the sweets are everyday sweets (and were the
only
> > type available), macha has been there long before Sencha and other
brewed
> > teas. It was really a very normal way to receive guests. And for
Japanese
> > of
> > a certain generation and background, it is still as casual as serving a
> > mug
> > with a lipton bag to guests sitting on your sofa (for them, it may be
more
> > casual to sit on the floor and whisk macha than bringing a mug from the
> > kitchen and sitting in a sofa).
> > The other day, I went to a traditional old man's house. He received me
> > just
> > as if it was a "tea ceremony". The room was the same, we sat down the
same
> > way. His wife had placed decorations (flowers and calligraphy). We sat
> > with
> > the feet perfectly folded under our bums...but we drank iced coffee. I
was
> > there for work not for tea and it was not the hour for macha.
> >
> > So, I think your idea of discipline and following strict rules is false,
> > or
> > at least very exagerated. But I get where you've seen that. Samurai
> > fictions
> > are to Japan what Westerns are to the U.S.
> >
> > The goal of tea is to "receive guests" and you study to perfect the
skills
> > of refined host, for the benefit of your family and friends.
> > So, the emphasis is on preparing all the material details of guests'
visit
> > (decoration of the house, the room...), and serving smoothly.
> > Until recently 99% of Japanese people knew how to whisk macha in a bowl
> > before they attend any tea class. So they mostly study to improve their
> > style, learn how to choose season sweets, season flowers, season
> > calligraphy, artistic objects and make an harmonious set. I'd compare it
> > with studying about wine, cooking, cutelry, glasses, etc, in order to be
> > able to compose nice menus for various occasions. The menu is limitated
to
> > macha and a sweet, so they focus on all the surrounding.
> >
> > Art is present in tea meeting. It's about popular arts that were
> > traditional
> > hobbies for many people in Asia. A tea master is an artist, or at least
an
> > art teacher, that has knowledge in pottery, flowers, painting,
calligraphy
> > and kimonos. A number of tea masters are also specialists in a field
like
> > collecting a certain type of antique pottery, kimono styling, etc.
Guests
> > are supposed to appreciate the efforts to provide nice objects and
> > harmonise
> > them. Westerners (and young Japanese too) may not know much of all that,
> > so
> > it's hard to appreciate before taking the time to discover. And well,
that
> > can't interest everybody.
> >
> > I think Tanizaki in "Praise of the shadow" made a good description of
what
> > it is about. He also explains the practical and esthetic choices made
for
> > the Japanese tea.
> >
> > Kuri
> >
> > .
> >
>
>