Directory: chaji

Illumination in the Tokonoma

In traditional Japanese architecture, the toko-no-ma, 床の間, floor-’s-room, is a central feature and acts as the central artistic, and perhaps, spiritual focal point. It is raised slightly above the main tatami mat floor to show it is a special space. The curated selection of the objects in the tokonoma are intentionally arranged to harmonize with the season, the overarching theme of the gathering, or the particular sensibilities of the guest, or the host, and first function as a type of silent greeting. Through this precise presentation, a unique sanctuary is created, honoring the singular nature of this encounter, ichi-go ichi-e, 一期一会, one-time one-meeting, which exists only within...

Omogashi and Kaishi

Omo-ga-shi, 主菓子, main-sweet-of, is served and eaten before drinking koi-cha, 濃茶, thick-tea. Ideally, the sweet is made just prior to serving it, which gives it other name of nama-ga-shi, 生菓子, live-sweet-of. In life, such sweets are served at any time, accompanying a wide variety of teas and other beverages. In Chanoyu omogashi is enjoyed from a special paper called kai-shi, 懐紙, heart-paper; the specific type of folded Japanese paper used as a plate for serving and eating o-ka-shi, お菓子, hon.-sweet-of, which refers to the traditional sweet or confectionery. Kaishi supporting an omogashi and a kuromoji, a bowl of koicha served in a kuro raku cha-wan, 黒楽茶碗,...

Horse, Grasses, and Chanoyu

Ha-ssaku no Uma, 八朔の馬, eight-first day-of-horse, is a decorative straw horse given as good luck charms, especially to young boys on Hassaku (the first day of the eighth lunar month), which is some areas is considered to be a type of birthday celebration for boys. The Hassaku no Uma pictured above is from Ashi-ya, 芦屋, Reed-house, Kita-kyū-shū, 北九州, North-nine-states. The horse referred to as Hassaku no Uma is made of ‘white’ straw grass, or wood. One significant location that venerates the white horse is Kami-ga-mo Jin-ja,上賀茂上神社, Upper-joy-dense God-shrine. The shrine is more formally known as Ka-mo Wake-ika-zuchi Jin-ja, 賀茂別雷大神社, Joy-dense Divide-thunder Great-god Shrine, and is considered one of...