Tea Ceremony

Urasenke and Mushanokōjisenke are two of the three main schools of the tea ceremony originating from Sen Rikyū (1522 - 1591) who had the most profound influence on the tradition.

The tea ceremony (known as chadō “The Way of Tea” or chanoyu) is a cultural activity involving the preparation and presentation of matcha “powdered green tea”. During a tea gathering, sweets are served while the host prepares matcha. The gathering also involves conversation between the host and guests regarding the bowls and utensils used to prepare tea and the art displayed in the tearoom, which are often chosen according to
the season and purpose of the gathering or in relation to one of the guests.

The Konoe family played an important role in chanoyu, and Konoe Iehiro (1667-1736) held over 300 tea gatherings. Iehiro’s collection of teascoops is one the most popular items in the Yōmei Bunko collection, which includes the teascoops hand carved by the former emperor and Sen Rikyū himself.