TheJapanese tea ceremony(茶道,chadō, orsadō, orchanoyu- "thewayof tea") is a traditionalritualbased onTaoism(Daoism) and influenced byZen Buddhismin which powdered greentea, ormatcha(抹茶), is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting.
The pronunciationsadōis preferred by someschools, includingOmotesenkeand theMushanokōjisenke,[1]while the pronunciationchadōis preferred by others, includingUrasenke.[2]
Cha-no-yu(literally "hot water for tea") usually refers to either a single ceremony or ritual, whilecha-jiorchakai(literally "tea meeting") refers to a full tea ceremony withkaiseki(a light meal),usucha(thin tea) andkoicha(thick tea), lasting approximately four hours.
Since a tea practitioner must be familiar with the production and types of tea, withkimono,calligraphy,flower arranging,ceramics,incenseand a wide range of other disciplines and traditional arts in addition to his or her school's tea practices, the study of the tea ceremony takes many years and often lasts a lifetime.[3]Even to participate as a guest in a formal tea ceremony requires knowledge of the prescribed gestures and phrases, the proper way to take tea and sweets, and general deportment in the tea room.