Tea ceremony (©JNTO)
Flower arrangement (©JNTO)
| Japanese traditional culture - whether it be the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, or some other art - may seem complex and forbidding. But not to worry: There are schools around Tokyo, some of which offer English-language instruction, where novices can learn the basics of various traditional arts. The many arts taught at these schools include the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, shamisen (a lute-like instrument), koto (Japanese zither), classical Japanese dance, calligraphy, and kimono dressing. It takes hundreds or thousands of times more effort to perfect any of these arts, of course, but a brief lesson can give you a taste of the tradition.
The tea ceremony has become familiar to many people outside Japan through The Book of Tea (1906), written in English by Tenshin Okakura (1862-1913), a philosopher who worked to enlighten Americans about Japanese art and culture. In essence, it is a formalized expression of the attitude with which a host should entertain guests. The art of flower arrangement, like the tea ceremony, has branched into diverse schools, many of which have continued for centuries. Each school has a distinct style of arranging the flowers, but they all share the same underlying spirit. This, as with the tea ceremony, is the spirit of hospitality. Spending some time in quietude also helps to heal the stresses of day-to-day living. Kimono dressing may strike visitors from abroad as a bit of an adventure. But for women, giving it a try will assuredly deepen their awareness of the kimono as a fashion that enhances a woman's beauty. Putting on a kimono can change not only how you look but also how you carry yourself. Seeing your reflection in the mirror and discovering a new self is sure to come as a pleasant surprise. |
| index | previous | next |