As the tea ceremony developed, particularly during the 16th century, many Zenlike ideas were embraced within this ritual. The elements of simplicity and purity, important in Zen Buddhism, also greatly influenced the development of the cha-no-yu. The practice of Zen and the tea ceremony shared many of the same qualities, each creating a sense of peace and well-being and a diminishing of the ego, bringing one closer to an awareness of the divine. “If you understand one thing completely, you understand all things,” and it is this idea, perhaps, that underlines the importance of the tea ceremony.
There are, however, important differences between Zen and the tea ceremony. Zen is a path to enlightenment. The tea ceremony is an opportunity for individuals to share a spiritual experience, though not a religious one. In tea, there is no god or divinity.
One of the greatest gifts that cha-no-yu offers is an environment, separate from the everyday pace and place, where the participants can commune with their host and other guests, but also begin to look at ordinary items with fresh eyes, finding beauty in the mundane.
The tea ceremony also provides an opportunity to practice being in accord with nature and to feel a harmony with the seasons. A love of nature, the ancients believed, is the basis for awakening an appreciation of beauty and, therefore, of art. The classic tearoom or hut was built to blend in with its surroundings. The walls of the hut were made of logs with the bark still attached, or were sometimes simply plastered with mud. The house was situated to display to best advantage the changing of the seasons and of the sunlight and shadow during the day. Each ceremony performed there was in accord with the season of the year. Flowers used in the arrangements were those that grew or bloomed naturally during that time. The food offered was also seasonal.
No matter when or where the ceremony takes place, however, it is built on the concept of ichigo ichie (“one time, one meeting”), a phrase that means that every encounter is unique and never repeats in a lifetime. One lives this particular moment, and then it is gone. The emphasis is on being aware of each moment, in a ritualized way.
Shuko taught that the most important element of the tea ceremony was the right attitude. Purity of mind, he said, is more important even than cleanliness. He went on to say that treating all guests with equality, self-control, and consideration was more important than honoring distinguished guests.
Tea with us became more than an idealization of the form of drinking; it is a religion of the art of life.
Political and military leaders used these elaborate tea ceremonies not only to impress people with the wealth and power, but also as a “reaffirmation of social and political order.” Guests, for example, were seated according to a strict hierarchy and served tea in order of their rank.
During this time, serving tea became a political tool. Depending on how the ceremony was presented - where the guests were seated and the type and number of utensils involved - the tea ceremony was used to unify rank, impress visitors, or promote peace and friendship. No matter how it was used, however, the idea of the tea ceremony became the antithesis of war and brutality. The teahouse was the polar opposite of the battlefield.
The power and influence of the samurai during this period cannot be overstated, and they contributed significantly to the spread of teahouses, the tea ceremony, and the general popularity of the beverage. When entering a teahouse, the warriors literally put down their swords, leaving them outside as they enjoyed the cultural and peaceful experience of sharing tea.
According to one description of bushido, or “the way of the warrior,” the samurai code of honor, “A samurai whose only attribute is strength is not acceptable. He must use his leisure time to practice poetry and understand the tea ceremony.” The experience of serving tea in a precise way took the warrior out of his everyday existence, which placed such emphasis on strength and endurance, and offered him an opportunity for enriching his soul as well.