4 principles of Tea Therapy in Japan –

The Tea Ceremony, called Chanoyuis an ancient ritual performed until today.

Green tea in Japanese culture is full of historical and spiritual meanings.

The Japanese tea ceremony is called Chanoyu (茶の湯) or Chadō (茶道), which means “the way of tea”. It is an art, a philosophy of life, that goes far beyond just serving and enjoying tea. It requires a lot of concentration on gestures, movements and posture.

The practice of tea therapy is essential to restore our mental and emotional balance and help us find our center.

Practitioners learn to elevate the perception of beauty and spiritual and mental peace in everyday life, as a form of moving meditation. Even those who are not practitioners, but guests, need to learn the rules of etiquette and how to behave in a tea ceremony, as well as know its most basic concepts such as “Wa Kei Sei Jaku”.

Wa, Kei, Sei, Jaku:

The 4 Principles of Chado (Chanoyu)

1- 和 Wa: Harmony

It means being free from pretensions and never forgetting a humble attitude towards guests. It is the healthy and positive interaction not only between the guest and the host, but also with the tea utensils and food served. It means being in full harmony with nature, and also with life itself, creating an atmosphere of peace around you.

2- 敬 Kei: Respect

It means being able to understand and accept others, even those with whom we disagree. It is important to be humble and treat everyone and everything with the same respect. Have sincerity in your heart.

3- 清 Sei: Purity

It means having a pure and open heart to feel the harmony and sense of peace during a Tea Ceremony. Purity also extends to clothing, gardens, utensils, etc. When the environment is clean and organized, the heart and soul are also being purified, so peace and harmony emanates all around. When you wear clean clothes, that purity also prevails.

4- 寂 Jaku: Tranquility

It is one of the goals achieved with the practice of the Tea Ceremony. At this stage, participants who have a higher level of detachment are able to put into practice the ideals of harmony, respect and purity. With a pure, righteous and enlightened heart, people have the opportunity to experience the total stillness and silence that “jaku” provides. Connection with body and mind is possible by silencing thoughts and directing attention to yourself.

LILIAN SANPEI is a businesswoman, CEO of BIHADA JAPAN, a researcher in the area of ​​aesthetics, beauty and Integrative therapies and Quality of life and Women’s Health.