In Japanese tea culture, the words Wa, Kei, Sei, and Jaku, which translate as Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility, form the backbone of the philosophy of Chado (茶道) – the Way of Tea. These four principles were articulated by Sen no Rikyu in the 16th century as practical guidelines for how tea should be approached, prepared, served, and received.
Sen no Rikyu was the figure who placed value on simplicity, harmony, and direct human presence rather than on exclusivity and excess. His codification of the Four Principles was rooted in principles of Zen and a sharp resistance to ornamental excess. "Wa" reflects the harmony between host, guest, and environment. "Kei" points to mutual regard: how participants are greeted and how tea is handled. "Sei" is referring to both physical cleanliness and mental clarity. And "Jaku" is pointing to the tranquility that comes when these conditions are cultivated over time.
These principles are relevant for practitioners of Gong Fu Cha and Chado alike. While the aesthetics and mechanics of these two tea practices differ, the inner substance of these practices is shared. In this article, we'll examine each of the four principles in more detail to understand how these tools can sharpen awareness, improve practice, and deepen your relationship with tea.
Wa (和) – Harmony
Wa (和) is the first principle of Chado, and it sets the foundation for everything else. Often translated as "Harmony", Wa is creating and maintaining a harmonious relationship between all elements: host and guests, objects and space, our environment and nature.
You can't force harmony. But you can be mindful of it. In the tea room, it begins with awareness: noticing how the placement of teaware affects the guest's comfort, how light falls on the tatami, how the host's rhythm supports (or disrupts) the flow. Wa emerges when the parts stop pulling against each other.
Historically, the value of Wa is deeply embedded in Japanese thought. Long before Sen no Rikyu, the character 和 was associated with social order and communal cohesion. In the context of wabi-cha (the stripped-down, rustic tea style Sen no Rikyu shaped), Wa means stripping away ego and display of the social status, so that a shared human experience could take place.
On a personal level, practicing Wa means becoming less reactive and more aware. Then, you start to notice how your mood affects the space, how your assumptions interrupt connection. Cultivating Wa is about creating an environment where peace is possible.
Kei (敬) – Respect.
Kei (敬), usually translated as "Respect". In this sense, respect doesn't mean mere politeness or following etiquette for its own sake. In tea practice, it's a form of recognition that every person, object, and moment deserves full attention.
In that sense, Kei is closely aligned with the spirit of the Hindu greeting "Namaste", which means "the divine in me honors the divine in you." Both express a deep kind of respect that goes beyond social roles or appearances. This guest, this tea bowl, this exact moment – each is worthy of reverence, simply because it exists.
In Chado, Kei is expressed through specific actions. The way a guest bows to the host, the way the host handles the chawan, and the deliberate placement of each tool. To those who are not familiar with the Japanese traditions, these gestures may seem like a performance, but they're acknowledgments.
Historically, Kei draws from both Confucian ethics and Zen practice. From Confucianism, it takes the idea of cultivating respect through ritual. From Zen, it inherits the discipline of mindfulness: showing respect by being fully present.
Practicing Kei changes how you move through the world. In Gong Fu Cha, it shows up in the way you pour water, clean your tools, and listen to your guests. When practiced, Kei trains humility. Over time, it's not just how you treat tea, but also how you treat everything.
Sei (清) – Purity
Sei (清), often translated as "Purity", is not just ritualistic purity or simple tidiness. In the context of tea, Sei means clarity of space, of mind, and of intention.
Practically, Sei starts with the obvious: being clean physically. The utensils should be spotless, the space is uncluttered, and the environment is quiet. It isn't just for mere hygiene but also to remove friction – anything that might distract from the experience.
But most importantly, Sei extends inward. The host's mind should be clear and present. The host's actions should be thought-through and straightforward. There should be nothing extra. Your movements should not be performative. – Everything should follow a clear intention: prepare a good cup of tea with harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. In this way, Sei becomes an extension of Kei – respect expressed through pure intentions. It also gives way to Wa by reducing noise, both external and internal.
To practice Sei is to create conditions where nothing pulls attention away from what matters. When a tea space embodies Sei, it feels light and unburdened. It's about removing what doesn't serve. On a personal level, it might mean letting go of the urge to impress (or to take photos and selfies:)
Jaku (寂) – Tranquility
Jaku (寂) is usually translated as "Tranquility" or "Quietness". It's the last of the four principles because it's what arises when the others – Wa, Kei, and Sei are in place.
Where Wa creates harmony between people and surroundings, Kei brings respect into each gesture, and Sei clears out distraction, Jaku is what follows: an atmosphere that feels serene and filled with quiet depth. The sense that nothing more needs to be added or removed and deep tranquility comes from Ichigo ichie (一期一会) – the awareness that this moment is unique and unrepeatable.
Jaku is what it feels like when no one is trying to dominate the moment. When the host isn't trying to impress, and the guest isn't trying to judge.
This is where tea becomes transformative. Jaku reveals the effects of long-term discipline, which takes years of preparing spaces and learning to show up fully. This state is fragile and easily broken by ambition or distraction. That's why Jaku is never permanent. It's a result of work that is always in progress.