“In my own hands I hold a bowl of tea; I see all of nature represented in its green color. Closing my eyes I find green mountains and pure water within my own heart. Silently, sitting alone, drinking tea, I feel these become part of me. Sharing this bowl of tea with others, they, too, become one with it and nature. That we can find a lasting tranquility in our own selves in the company with each other is the paradox that is the Way of Tea.”

-Dr. Soshitsu Sen, Urasenke Grand Tea Master XV

“Chado” (literally “the Way of Tea”) synthesizes numerous arts and philosophies that combine into a systematic method of preparing, serving and drinking tea.

Chado is a discipline that has been nourished and refined by the Japanese since the fifteenth century. It is based on the simple act of boiling water, making tea, and offering it to others. Served with a respectful heart and received with gratitude, a bowl of tea satisfies both the physical and spiritual thirst. The timeless principles that each student follows in their pursuit of Chado represent an unbroken tradition that brings together social etiquette, Asian artistic traditions and philosophies, awareness of seasonal changes and the essence of Zen Buddhism. Incorporating them into daily life helps one to find that unassailable place of tranquility that is within each of us.

When people are invited to a gathering to drink tea, they can anticipate sitting in a small room in seclusion from the everyday world. The host will ensure that the room is immaculate, hang a scroll, arrange flowers, prepare a fire to boil the water for tea, and perhaps offer a light meal. All of this is done with the intention of making the gathering as pleasant as possible for the guest. Sitting quietly together, one’s focus gently and naturally comes into the present moment where the uniqueness of each moment may be appreciated in its fullness.

The study of Chado cultivates physical discipline and concentration and may be enjoyed as a lifelong study. Although much has been written about Chado’s meditative qualities, quiet aesthetic, graceful dignity, and its importance within Japanese culture, written words fail to communicate its totality. Chado is based upon personal experience and deep reflection; the Chado experience leaves one with a profound feeling of well-being and nourishes the soul.

After Rikyu’s death in 1591, his family continued to practice Rikyu’s way of serving powdered green tea. The direct descendants of Rikyu — Omotesenke, Urasenke, and Mushanokouji-senke — established their own unique tradition of Chado, while some of Rikyu’s disciples established their own tradition.

All three Sen family schools continued Rikyu’s path of learning Chado by studying both Chado and Zen. The families’ traditions are handed down to each generation’s eldest male. This system of preserving the eldest male as the leader of a specific family’s tradition, the Iemoto system, has kept many of the Japanese traditional arts alive throughout sweeping changes in Japanese history. Each generation keeps the family’s tradition alive, challenging the unique problems of the times.

In the late nineteenth century, after the feudal system collapsed (along with much of the patronage of the traditional arts), the Urasenke Iemoto ( “Grand Tea Master”) introduced Chado to Japan’s national school system as a means of preserving Japan’s cultural heritage. This was the first time that women could study Chado.

Today, the Urasenke headquarters in Kyoto houses not only the Sen family and a very busy study center, but also a museum, a university, a book publishing company, and a center for the Tanko Tea Teachers Association, one of the largest cultural associations in Japan. Outside of Japan, Urasenke has established some 80 study centers in 30 countries.

Although Chado is a Japanese tradition, at its heart is a set of values and concepts that can be understood and practiced by anybody, regardless of nationality. Thus, Urasenke established the Urasenke Foundation in 1949 to further the worldwide understanding of Chado. The Foundation has donated tea houses, gardens, tea utensils and reference materials to numerous cities, universities, museums, and other institutions. Further, it has trained and dispatched teachers to operate branch offices in 15 countries. In addition, there are membership chapters of the Tanko Tea Teachers Association located throughout the world.

This website aims to introduce the fundamental concepts of Urasenke Tradition of Tea. Guides to more detailed information may be found in the resources section of the website.