Chadou [Formal-Informal]

Today, formal / semiformal chadou was performed for us. It's interesting that there is the appearance of the event never happening: the tea ceremony is to begin from nothing and to end where we started, at nothing. Yet we still leave with something: a feeling and experience that can't be forgotten.

The clothes; the slow, deliberate movements; the utensils; and the ceremony itself are things that I won't be able to explain clearly, written or otherwise.

Tokonomas

• scrolls with hidden meanings are always harder to understand
  
  
  
  • for the most part, I understand that the scrolls were emphasizing our concentration on the tea ceremony during the time that we were there
    
  • the semi-formal scroll was about letting go of extravagance?
    
  
  
• on this special occasion an incense container (well, some kind of container) of elegance
  
  

Performing the Tea Ceremony

• by no means, an accurate account or something that can reflect the feelings of being there.
  
  
  
  • A bowl was brought out with a towel and whisk inside.
    
  • The chaire was brought down from the top of the shelfing and placed next to the bowl. These items were moved around as the water bowl was brought out and the lid holder was taken out of it.
    
    
  • The metal chopsticks (just sticks?; used to poke the 'coal' of the fire for the water) were taken out of the tall container and placed to the left side of the shelving.
    
  • The lid was removed from the heated water pot and the whisk and towel were taken out and set on the ground and on the top of the lid, respectively. Hot water was put into the tea bowl and the ladle was placed upside down on the edge of the pot with a tap.
    
    
  • With the heated water, the whisk and tea bowl were cleaned. the top of the chaire and the tea scooper were cleaned with a cloth carried by the preparer.
    
  • 3 scoops of tea were put into the bowl and a lil more than half a ladle of hot water was poored into the bowl. The whisk was used until the tea became frothy.
    
  • Clean chaire lip and put cap back on.
    
  • Clean tea bowl and whisk with cold water.
    
  • Clean chaire lid and scoop with cloth.
    
  • A ladle of cold water was put back into the hot water to replace what was used during the ceremony and more water was brought out to fill the cold water container.
    
  • Once everything was done, everything except the water bowl was put back in its place. the chaire and the scooper were left for the guest to view while the preparer went to clean up the dishes.
    
    

As a Participant in the Tea Ceremony

• turn bowl towards you when you drink
  
• always turn front of bowl back towards preparer once you are done
  
• made a loud sip when you are finished
  
• bow to the person next to you when you drink before them
  
• a sweet is always brought out before the tea is served; we ate small manju today (anko)
  
  
• bow when you receive sweet and receive tea. bow when you return empty bowl of tea
  
• look at items with elbows on knees and items as close to ground as possible to keep from dropping
  
• never put lid of chaire on ground, may scratch lacquer
  

Other pictures and info


various ocha-making utensils











the snow on the way to Japan House

Shin, Gyo, So - project 01

shingyoso

For me, movie theater popcorn has a very rich taste and since I don't go to the movies often, it's very hard to obtain. For that reason, I find it to be more shin. Microwave popcorn is something that everyone can eat and the variety of flavors available gives everyone an option. There is also a buttery taste to the popcorn that becomes an aftertaste. The availability and feel of the popcorn are what make the microwaved kind gyo. Finally, plain popcorn is so. As it comes straight out of the microwaveable container, it's very bland and rather dry. It has this very rough texture and hardly any flavor but it's still likeable as popcorn once some salt and flavoring is added.

I don't like the way the images turned out. They are rather fuzzy and that was due in part to the camera's abilities to focus. Also, the lighting wasn't the same for all of them. I think that would have united them a little bit more. I haven't taken a photo class yet and this project made me wish I had.

Wabi-Sabi

#1 - This one is really hard to tell: there is a lot of white space in the image and the bowls which the jello-like sauce are in are chipped and old (or at least have the appearance of being old). It can't be said that this is natural; it is noticeably contrived in shape and texture. Although if left like that, the food will decay but it won't be attractive. not wabi-sabi

#2 - this image definitely portrays the natural beauty and textures of the forest. However, it seems embellished as far as the shadows make the trees look taller and bigger than they are. I think that the view itself could be considered a one-time experience because the sunlight will never be exactly like that again and the spot from which you look at it will never be that exact same spot. The forest will eventually change too. The color and asymmetry of the piece is also very natural and the foreground space is also very large. wabi-sabi

#3 - the snow-covered branches and the way the snow is still falling lightly conveys a moment in which one should be awed and a little sad. The snow will last forever nor will those branches remain as they are. The details are hard to discern but that makes it a simple image. Everything looks natural except for the lake; it doesn't look like water. The colors are also these whites, browns, and muted greys. I lean more towards wabi-sabi.