Gabriel's Word of the Day: The Aesthetics
tea! Japanese green tea. Tea ceremony tea ... I drink and my taste buds immediately reached ecstasy. A tranquil ecstasy. A harmony of the senses ... However, before enjoying this tea, I watched the lobby in Matsui sensei, our host. In one corner, on the ground, white flowers had been placed carefully on a blackboard. The Japanese aesthetic, attention to detail and perfection, was easy to recognize, each object had its place, no trace of disorder ...
Finally, returning to the ceremony as such, I must say that it is difficult to reproduce the atmosphere of it without reducing it. But try briefly: the water boils and let out a little steam. Ten people - we - are in the room reserved for ceremony. Two of them are those that prepare us for tea. The oldest, Matsui sensei, maintains the conversation with his guests and offer them bowls of hot tea. Everyone smiled, a little embarrassed maybe. We drink tea, two more bowls. After drinking that famous green liquid, a heat soothes the body. It's really an art! You can not compare with that of this tea here. The ritual that precedes it contributes to the pleasure and tranquility.
Then, to speak of a place as steeped in God, I went to the temple Byodoin. This temple will remain probably the most intriguing of all - aesthetically valuable! In a museum built for its preservation, one can see sculptures of gods playing a musical instrument. - Photography was forbidden, but I bought a book represantative these deities. So the curious opinion is of great interest. I will bring to college.
last remark of Mr. T. :
Nobody drinks a second time in the same bowl.
Noémie Word of the Day: Heritage
Today, visiting the city of Uji, we discovered three important cultural treasures. First, We attended a tea ceremony. Unlike us who n'observons ritual ceremonies at the church, the Japanese give much importance to daily activities, so they become ceremonies. In fact, tea is much more important for them as the Five o'clock tea is for the British. This tradition continues through a long oral tradition that has existed for at least 500 years. The ceremony is very serious and highly consolidated, yet it is specially made to relax. The instruments used to make tea, the location of the kettle, color cups, floral arrangements and actions of the tea master will vary from one season to another. Here's how the ceremony goes: the tea master begins his guests to sit on the tatami floor and offer them a piece of sweet cake so they do not feel too bitter tea. Then he poured boiling water in a bowl and mix with the powdered tea using a small whisk. Subsequently, he pours the mixture into a cup. He raises and turns to see if the tea is properly prepared. Before giving the cup to the first guest, the tea master greets and welcomes the guest too. Then the person who received the cup must drink the tea three or four sips. In the end, he (she) looks at his cup as he is observing the patterns, colors and signature of the person who made it before filing. Previous actions are repeated for each guest. Each time a new cup is used because only one person can drink more than once in the same. Once everyone had his first cup of tea, the tea master gives small candies sweetened its guests. Then it offers to other tea ones and those who want it. In the end, everyone welcomes the tea master to thank him.
Then we visited the temple Byodoin. This is a historic monument that has been declared as World Heritage by UNESCO. On the roof of this sacred building, there are two major Phoenix (bird reborn from its ashes). Beside the temple there is a museum in which it preserves valuable historical ornaments such as Phoenix gold once stood on the roof of the temple, cornices, which, since the construction of the temple, adorned the roof and golden statuettes representing small Buddhist gods playing music or dancing. To enter the exhibition, there is a screen on which is projected a short documentary that shows how the Byodoin resembled the original. Outside, visitors travel on a small bridge that passes over a small lake filled with carp.
Finally, we crossed the Red Bridge and visited a neighborhood of tea merchants. Both places are very important to the people of Uji, as this city is famous throughout Japan for its excellent tea. The bridge crosses the Red River Uji (Ujigawa in Japanese). This river is known for its high purity. Formerly, people went to Uji draw their water would be used to make tea. Moreover, one can still see, on the railing of the bridge, a ring that used to hang the buckets that people there fell into the River. Near Ujigawa, you can admire a statue of the writer Murasaki Shikibu. She wrote the founding epic of Japanese literature: The Tale of Genji. In the district of tea merchants, there are shops where tea is ground on site. Also, they sell green tea ground in different ways. One can even find mixtures that are used to cold tea, decoction very popular in Japan. On counters, there are the sweet little candies that are used during tea ceremonies. In short, Uji is a beautiful city which contains many historic treasures that I found interesting to discover.
Marilyne Word of the Day The Ceremony
Today we attended a tea ceremony. We first entered a small room covered with tatami mats, where a "hole" with a hot water boiler was placed in the middle of the room. In one corner, there were few decorations which, depending on the season or events change. For us, it was fairly simple decorations. It was actually a flexible branch much like those found in Japan at that time of year.
We are entering one after the other in the room to sit around the hole. A woman in kimono came after us with his assistant and the tea ceremony has begun. It was very ceremonial gesture was unnecessary because no, everything was calculated and done with precision. The assistant was
tea each in turn and we were drinking a few sips. The taste was more pronounced and it was very hot. After emptying the bowl, we could watch our pottery cup and pass it to our neighbors if they wanted to see. The ceremony lasted about an hour and it was very pleasant.
by Mirka Word of the Day: a day in Uji
Today, we went to the tea ceremony in the morning. There was a tatami and in the middle of the room, there was a huge black cauldron. Students of our hostess filled our cup of hot water and green tea all manner of delicate and seemed fearful of displeasing her teacher and of committing a blunder. Our hostess had a purple kimono.
The room was held the tea ceremony was rather small. The fragrance of tea went to our nostrils. Please note that the tea ceremony is a Japanese custom is passed from generation to generation orally and it is convenient to all seasons. However, the gestures, the instruments and the color of the cups are not the same.
Then we went to the temple and Byodoin Ujigawa, these temples were declared UNESCO World Heritage site. When we reached the entrance to the temple Byodoin, I could see two banners royal blue with a white pattern and when we entered the museum Byodoin I saw the little gods musicians, pheonix gold and there was a short documentary on the construction Temple at its origin.
Word of the Day Marilyne C: Bitter taste ...
There is the tea we drink in our home and there is the Japanese tea. When one is accustomed to one of the two, the other, necessarily leaves a bitter taste ...
Today we attended the tea ceremony, a ceremony only Japanese that we have been honored to take part. It is really rewarding to participate in such events that are very special for us. Already, the tea is not the preferred drink of Quebecers, and especially not mine-then the Japanese tea even the most famous, the one who is everywhere, even in ice cream and candy, green tea really was a taste bitter.
When you're not particularly fond of this drink, drink for the first time green tea from Japan is like the first time a child tastes the coffee is bitter and it causes a grimace (which however, careful to conceal).
During the ceremony, which was really an amazing experience, I realized that we still have a few travel days and maybe the tea was not the real object which left me a bitter taste ...
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