During our last few days in Japan, we visited Kyoto and participated in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, which was a memorable experience. This ritual embodied Japanese art and philosophy. The ceremony experience was a lesson in having an appreciation for harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. The Japanese tea ceremony is more than just a way of preparing and drinking tea. It is an art form consisting of a choreographed ritual, with each action symbolizing harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. Additionally, the ceremony is an ancient meditation technique that has been refined over generations, with roots in Zen Buddhism. Upon entering the tea house, we were told to remove our shoes and taken to a room with tatami mats covering the floor. There, our hostess, who was wearing a beautiful kimono, greeted us with a bow. Before she started preparing the green tea, also known as matcha, she gave us a Japanese confection. Confections are traditionally given before making the tea so that by the time the guests get the tea, they will have already finished the treat. The confection's purpose is to balance the bitterness of the matcha. After that, the hostess briefly explained the process of making the tea. She explained that there was a purpose behind the arrangement of her supplies, one of which was that the engraved image on the matcha container needed to face the guests.
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