Japanese Tea Ceremony from out, a weblog by George Girton

Japanese Tea Ceremony . . . . . nov 7 2003 — o33.dat

When you are at Mt Holyoke College, visit Eliot Hall. As you first enter the top floor lobby, you will find a striking formal floral display, created anew each week by Nobue Socho Yamashita, Eliot House Instructor of Japanese Tea Ceremonies. Having seen the flowers, you might have time to visit the meditation garden, located through the door to the right. We recently had the opportunity to do just that, being given a tour of the garden and teahouse by a Mt Holyoke student during family weekend at the college.

When you find yourself outside a garden of this type, you may notice a low window into the garden, partially covered by slats. You must bend down to see into the garden, and because of the slats your view is partially occluded. Both effects are by design.

After you enter the hidden garden and step across its hidden sea, leaping from continent to continent under the Japanese maple with its tiny leaves, glancing back over your left shoulder you can see the mountains in the distance. Turn to the right after your journey and you will find yourself in the anteroom of Wa-shin-an, the Japanese Tea House. Rain, shine, or bitter winter storm, this is the only way the teahouse can be reached. You must pass through the garden.

As Professor Yamashita explained to us during our visit, teahouses of this type are built, even today, with a very narrow entrance, about two and a half feet square. Samurai entering to receive tea needed to bow, showing their humility and, perhaps just as important, needed to leave all three of their swords outside in order to fit through the opening. Thus ensuring a more egalitarian atmosphere inside due to the absence of weapons. A sword rack is usually provided to the right of the entrance, but even if no rack is provided, Profesor Yamashita advises, "leave your symbols outside."

There wasn't time for everyone in our party to have tea -- that would have taken over three hours. But there was time for three to receive their tea, explained step by step by our kind and generous host, as the rest of us sat on the tatami mats and listened in awed and attentive leisure.

It was an experience of the greatest possible value.

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