Buddhist monks in China were using tea as an aid in meditation and for medicinal purposes as early as the 3rd Century AD. By the 8th Century AD, tea drinking had become integrated into Buddhist temple rituals and was also a social pastime. Influenced by Confucian emphasis on ritual and proper etiquette, tea drinking became an increasingly a more formal activity with rigid rules governing preparation and consumption.
In about 760 AD, a Chinese scholar named Lu Yu wrote The Classic of Tea". The book marked the beginning of a literary tradition linking philosophy with the preparation of tea. Lu Yu's Taoist descriptions of the physical and ritualistic aspects of the utensils are still evident in today's Japanese tea ceremonies. In addition, Lu Yu's Confucian emphasis on moderation, etiquette, cleanliness and guests' comfort has remained essential.
Although tea had been introduced to Japan by a Japanese monk named Eichu in the 9th Century, tea drinking was practiced mainly by monks and priests. A monk named Eisai (1141-1215) is credited with stimulating the popularity of tea drinking in Japan. Upon returning from his studies of Ch'an Buddhism in China in 1191 AD, Eisai brought back tea plants to cultivate. He also brought back revolutionary ideas about Buddhism. Eisai sent tea plants to various parts of Japan and preached a new form of Buddhism called Zen (the Japanese translation of Ch'an). His egalitarian views of the individual finding salvation through self enlightenment, rather than strict adherence to scripture, became inextricably linked to the tea ceremony. Eisai also introduced the use of powdered tea which is now the accepted type of tea used in tea ceremonies.
Marata Shuko (1422-1502) is considered the "father" of the Japanese tea ceremony. Whereas Eisai had popularized tea drinking for medicinal and social purposes, Shuko formulated the spiritual significance of tea drinking. He based the tea ceremony on the Buddhist view of enlightenment through the appreciation of simplicity. The word "yugen" suggests that to find truth, one must reduce distraction and artifice. His emphasis on simplicity in the tea ceremony foreshadowed the concept of "wabi", which is variously translated to mean "austere", "unassuming" and "unpretentious". Shuko prescribed that the tea ceremony would be conducted in a small informal tea room using simple utensils, all made from locally found materials.
Sen-no-Rikyu (1521-1591) is regarded as the greatest of all the tea masters in Japan. A son of a merchant, Rikyu studied at an early age under Joo (1502-1555), a priest who was dedicated to the development of Shuko's tea ceremony.
Rikyu became known as a tea master who was adept at serving those of high rank. He became a tea master for the warlord named Oda Nobunaga (1534-15820). Nobunaga used the practice of tea as a reward for those who served him well. Shortly after presenting the right to practice tea to his loyal vassal Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), Nobunaga was assassinated. Hideyoshi quickly seized power and proceeded to conquer most of Japan. When Hideyoshi became the Emperor's chief advisor (prime minister), he awarded Rikyu with the title of "Tea Master of Japan". Rikyu also became Hideyoshi's political advisor, a post normally reserved for samurai who became "Daimyo" (vassal).
As tea master, Rikyu was totally committed to developing the true spiritual and transformative aspects of the tea ceremony. He also developed the proper location and size of the tea room inside of a tea house called the "chashitsu". Every part of the tea room and every utensil had to have a particuler significance in the tea ceremony. Rikyu's choice of tea bowls "chawan" is particularly noteworthy. Rikyu favored bowls that were hand made (not thrown on the potter's wheel) and fired to low temperatures. This went against the tradition brought from China of using fine wheel thrown porcelain bowls. One of Rikyu's most famous commissions for tea bowls was the style of severely austere bowls known as "Raku". These bowls were made by a tile maker named Chojiro about 1585. Chojiro's bowls were hand formed into somewhat symmetrical shapes coated only with a red or black glaze. The bowls were devoid of decoration and Chojiro's artistic self expression. Rikyu regarded these bowls as the essence of "wabi". Hideyoshi was so pleased with bowls that he named them "raku" which, loosely translated, means "joy of leisure time". A gold seal with the raku ideograph was given to Chojiro's young apprentice, Jokei, in memory of Chojiro. The "Raku" named has been used for 15 generation by this family of tea bowl makers. The current 15th generation tea bowl master Raku Kichizaemon still makes bowls for tea ceremonies in his studio in Kyoto.
Rikyu's prominence as a revered and powerful figure drew the ire of Hideyoshi. Hideyoshi had become increasingly suspicious in his later years, which drove him to order Rikyu to commit ritual suicide "seppuku". Rikyu's successor, Oribe created a much less austere tea ceremony. Much of Rikyu's formulation of the tea ceremony fell out of favor. Succeeding generations of Rikyu's family continued to carry on the tradition of "wabi cha".
Today, the Urasenke School of Tea, founded by the 8th generation Rikyu family continues to train tea masters. The tea ceremony has, in recent years, experience a resurgence of popularity. Tea ceremonies are now practiced around the world. (see Student Tea Ceremony)