Temae, the procedure for making tea, to our American eyes, may seem overly complicated and rigid with rules. But these procedures have been refined for more than 400 years to be able to make a bowl of tea in the most efficient and beautiful way.
When we start to study temae, we start with …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/paring-back-to-the-essential/
I talk to a lot of people about chado. It’s what I love and I love to talk about it. Often times the questions are predictible: How long does it take to study? Is there talking during the ceremony? Why do you turn the bowl?
Sometimes I will get a person who knows a little …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/the-true-way-of-tea/
Book review: I have just finished reading a book titled, “How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical & Theoretical Treatise on the Artisanal Craft of Pencil Sharpening for Writers, Artists, Contractors, Flange Turners, and Civil Servants,” by David Rees.
This book classified in the humor section, but I read it with the seriousness of …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/how-to-sharpen-pencils/
The student says, “I am very discouraged about my tea study. What should I do?”
Sensei says, “Encourage others.”
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/sensei-says/
It has been more than a week since we had an intensive workshop here in Portland with Machida Gyotei sensei and we are grateful to Urasenke and Oiemoto for sending him to Portland. I don’t remember the last time we had a Gyotei sensei in Portland, but I have studied with them while I was …
Permanent link to this article: https://issoantea.com/confessions-of-a-chado-geek/
