It's All About Tea — wabi sabi

Japanese philosophy offers a unique way of perceiving beauty that is characterized by subtlety, depth, and thoughtful simplicity. This perception emphasizes feelings that arise from nuanced encounters rather than direct statements or elaborate displays. In Japanese tradition, beauty is rarely just about visual appeal; it's rather a quiet invitation for reflection where beauty reveals itself not by overwhelming the senses but by inviting awareness. These concepts are deeply reflected in the mindful appreciation of Gong Fu Cha, the refined elegance of Senchado, and the contemplative intimacy of Cha No Yu.

Although our journey will often touch upon tea culture, the ideas we'll explore are not limited to tea alone. They reflect broader sensibilities in art, design, and daily life. Whether you are arranging a tea space, admiring the thoughtful emptiness of a tearoom, or appreciating the quiet beauty of natural materials, these principles can guide us toward deeper awareness and richer experiences.

Let's explore how the concepts that shape the Japanese perception of beauty can elevate our tea practice and teach us to appreciate life's quiet moments. (Read more)

Sen no Rikyu (1522 – 1591) is known by everyone to have the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea". Also known as matcha tea ceremony. Rikyu took to tiny grass-hut tea houses for his tea practices and kept promoting the wabi-sabi style of tea ceremony that he and his tea master started. (Read more)

Chashitsu is the Japanese term for a tea room. It is a little hut, resembling a house, where Japanese tea ceremonies (chanoyu) would take place. Following tradition, matcha green tea is always served in the chashitsu, alongside with some simple sweets prepared by the tea master. It is said that chashitsu started appearing during the Sengoku period (mid-15th century to early 17th century). Before then, tea was commonly enjoyed in separate rooms and not in individual tea huts. (Read more)

When thinking of Japanese culture, many of us have come across the term wabi-sabi. Although hard to define literally, wabi-sabi is a concept centered around the appreciation of imperfection. It is carried throughout many aspects of Japanese culture. From art to architecture, literature, poetry, nature, design, and one of the places it’s seen the most… tea ceremony. (Read more)

Whenever we are faced with the harsh reality of our favorite teapot that we painstakingly brought back from Japan breaking, we must ask ourselves the following question:

"Out with the old" or do I try repairing it?

For many merely throwing it away is not an option. Especially if the piece of teaware has a lot of meaning to us or if we just recently acquired it.

A quick search online and you will see kintsugi as the number one suggested method of repairing pottery. But is it really worth it? (Read more)