What is the real purpose of the Tea Ceremony? Philosophy? Zen? The perfect cup of tea?
Well, I would guess that, today, the answer is simple: money.
The event no longer takes place in a small garden house but in theatre-style halls.
Even so, one shouldn’t miss the opportunity to attend such a ceremony. It’s beautiful.
And you even can take photographs, which would not exactly be compatible with the traditions of Cha-Do - the way of tea.
Pisac is about 30 km from Cusco. The place is well-known for two attractions: the colonial village with its market and the Inca fortress overlooking it. The setting of Inca Pisac is truly spectacular with fantastic views of the Urubamba valley. The site is smaller than much more famous Machu Picchu, but very well preserved and much less touristy. Like in Machu Picchu, there is a ceremonial centre with a sacred stone (Intihuatana) used for tying the sun to the Earth. ...
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October 22nd, 2004 at 10:12 am
The lady in the picture is peforming ‘tea for a Western room,’ a ceremony devised in the late 1800s. That’s amazing equipment she’s got. But for most practitioners of tea, it is still done in a small room, four and a half mats or so, and is about the study. What you was was spectacular, but a ‘demonstration’ by someone of high standing and rank in a theatrical art. Kind of like a movie start making spaghetti in a designer kitchen on TV. Interesting, but not the way most of us do it.
October 24th, 2004 at 7:41 am
Pyrkanthos,
thanks for the information! What you say is certainly true and I was aware of the fact that this was more of a theatrical event than a genuine tea ceremony.
On the other hand, in a real tea ceremony, you would normally not have the opportunity to take pictures - let alone using fill-flash!
Laurenz
March 11th, 2005 at 6:18 am
ahahaha cool stuff