What are the “Three Ways” of Japanese traditional culture｜Tea Ceremony, Flower Arrangement, Incense Ceremony, and Calligraphy?

The “Three Ways” of Traditional Culture Spun by the Japanese People

Roads” where people walk and come and go every day.

Developing from that “Michi”, “Dou” was born, meaning “the best state of being obtained by doing and learning the same thing over and over again”.

In Japan, there are a variety of “ways” including “budo” (martial arts) such as aikido, judo, and kendo, as well as “sando” (three ways) of Japanese culture.

In this article, I would like to focus on three of the most common representatives of Japanese culture, the tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and incense ceremony, rather than the “three ways” of Japanese culture in general.

What are the three roads?

It generally refers to three art forms: tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and incense (or calligraphy).

Many people are familiar with the tea ceremony and flower arrangement as lessons and hobbies.

The tea ceremony is, as the name suggests, a way of “tea” in which the master prepares and serves tea to his or her guests, who in turn receive the hospitality of the guests and are invited to enjoy the tea.

Kado is the way of “flowers” and is the art of arranging flowers, plants, and other floral materials beautifully in vases.

For these two, even if you have never actually done it, you probably have some idea of what it is like.

However, there are many Japanese who do not know much about Kodo.

Kodo is the art of enjoying the fragrance of agarwood, a natural tall tree, by appreciating and listening to its aroma. In Kodo, the word “listen” is used instead of “smell” to describe the fragrance.

Let’s take a closer look at the history of each and learn more about them.

History of the Tea Ceremony

Tea in Japan began in the Heian period (794-1185) when Buddhist monks studying in Tang China brought tea back to Japan. At that time, tea was a precious commodity that only a few aristocrats could enjoy, and it was regarded as a medicine.

In the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Eisai, who studied in China, wrote a book specializing in tea, and the custom of drinking powdered tea was introduced to Japan. It is said that it was during this period that Meie Shonin cultivated tea, and gradually the custom of drinking tea spread even among samurai, and the game of guessing the place of origin by drinking tea became popular.

In the Muromachi period (1336-1573), tea ceremonies were held in lavishly decorated tatami rooms where people enjoyed tea while admiring expensive tea utensils. In Kyoto, tea merchants began to make and sell “ichifuku ichisen” tea , and the culture of tea drinking spread to the general public.

Then, the monk Shukoh created “Wabicha” as an ideal of a way of life that emphasized the spirit of purity, simplicity, and propriety, away from worldly cares and customs. His disciple Takeno Shao’o spread it.

Takeno’s disciple is, you know, Sen no Rikyu, Sen no Rikyu Sen no Rikyu.

Sen no Rikyu was born into a merchant family in Sakai, studied the tea ceremony from his teenage years, and after the age of 60, perfected a style of tea ceremony, wabicha, that followed the modern tea ceremony style.

The following schools are born during the Edo period.

• Senke school of tea ceremony
• Mushanokoji Senke
• Omotesenke school of tea ceremony
• Urasenke school of tea ceremony

Before the Meiji Era, the tea ceremony was mainly enjoyed by men, but after the Meiji Era, women also began to learn the art at schools, and it was during this period that the culture of tea ceremonies began to be enjoyed in a gorgeous manner wearing beautiful kimonos. At that time, however, the tea ceremony was still mainly for men.

Since the beginning of the Showa period, the tea ceremony as a form of learning gained more attention from women. The percentage of women in the tea ceremony world increased, and today, women have become the center of the tea ceremony world.

In modern times, Tea Ceremony is a Japanese tea ceremony in which one learns beautiful manners and enjoys conversation with Japanese sweets, tea bowls of various patterns and shapes, hanging scrolls, flower vases, and tea flowers. Tea ceremony is a way of enjoying tea while learning beautiful manners and enjoying conversation.

The current style was created through such a varied history.

History of Kado

Ikebana is an art form that was born in Japan because of its four seasons, and it expresses the “preciousness of life” of flowers and plants by arranging seasonal plants and flowers. The main subject is the flowers and plants, not the person who arranges them. In flower arrangement, the space between the flowers and plants is also important.

This is the beauty of space, and another important characteristic of flower arrangement is that it is an aesthetic of subtraction.

There are various theories about the origin of flower arrangement, but it is said to have started as a religious ritual during the Asuka period (710-794) to the Nanbokucho period (1392-1392). It was not positioned as an art form, but as a “Buddhist floral offering.

In the Nara period (710-794), there was a custom of exchanging flowers as gifts, and by the Heian period (794-1185), aristocrats were enjoying flower viewing and arranging flowers in the form of nageire.

*Nageire is a style of flower arrangement in which flowers are arranged in a vase in an improvised and simple manner, taking advantage of their natural shapes.

The Muromachi period (1333-1573) was a period of great development, and Ikenobo, the original founder of flower arrangement , was born during the Muromachi period (1333-1573). Ikenobo is the oldest remaining school of flower arrangement in Japan.

The “Shoin-zukuri” architectural style, which is also the basis of modern Japanese-style architecture, was born around this time, and flowers began to be displayed.

Among them, a monk named Senkei Ikenobo inserted a flower arrangement that became the talk of the town, and it overturned the concept of flowers as a Buddhist offering and gave birth to the first school of flower arrangement called “Ikenobo,” which was led by Senkei Ikenobo.

Furthermore, in the late Muromachi period (1336-1573), flower arrangement master Ikenobo Sen’o established the theory of ikebana.

The flower biography described the “preciousness of the life of plants and flowers,” which is still considered the philosophy of flower arrangement even today. It is a philosophy that pays respect to nature, which is typical of the Japanese, who believe that nature is inhabited by gods.

During the Edo period, ikebana became something enjoyed not only by people of high status but also by townspeople, and then spread throughout the country.

Like the tea ceremony, flower arrangement was a male-dominated culture, but during the Edo period (1603-1867), it was also taught to samurai daughters and courtesans as a form of culture. Many schools of flower arrangement were born, and the iemoto system also began at this time.

In the Meiji era (1868-1912), ikebana was introduced in the education of women’s schools, and the number of women practicing ikebana increased rapidly. Later, various styles of ikebana were born, and there are now too many schools of flower arrangement to count.

History of Kodo

The word “smell” is usually used for fragrance, but in kodo, fragrance is described as “hearing.

Burn the natural aromatic wood “agarwood” and enjoy the taste and world view expressed by its fragrance.

There are two ways to enjoy Kodo

• Listen to the fragrance of the incense.
• Kumiko,” a type of incense in which several types of incense can be distinguished from each other .

It is said that incense began to be used in Japan about 1,400 years ago during the Asuka Period, and came to Japan along with Buddhism. It was used at the great temples of Nara such as Horyuji and Todaiji, and its fragrance was so popular that it was also used at court.

By the Heian period (794-1185), incense had become an indispensable part of aristocratic life and spread as a form of “elegance.

People began to mix their own favorite fragrances, which could be burned indoors or applied to clothing.

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), incense was enjoyed not only by the nobility but also by the samurai class, and in the Higashiyama culture of the mid Muromachi period (1333-1573), the culture of incense began, with cultural figures appreciating fragrant woods.

It is said that the main purpose of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s overseas trade by red seal ships was to purchase Kyara, the finest natural aromatic wood.

In the Edo period (1603-1867), the base of the modern incense manners was completed, and this later became “Kodo” (the way of incense).

In the 18th century, kodo became something that everyone, regardless of class, from samurai to peasants, learned, and during the Bunka-Bunsei period, the number of female fans also increased.

With the recent boom in fragrance, kodo has been attracting a lot of interest from young people, and now that it is readily available for purchase on the Internet, it can be enjoyed by everyone.

Learn the heart of Japan by entering the “Way,” filled with the wisdom of our predecessors.

The “Way” is a collection of wisdom, so to speak, that has been passed down over hundreds of years by our predecessors in the form of technology and wisdom.

Each of the dojos has its own basic “kata,” or mannerisms, which are repeated over and over again until the body learns them.

However, the primary goal is not to improve one’s technique, but to grow as a human being along the way, and that process and experience is what makes it worthwhile.

Let’s take a look at what in the world is being learned in each of these paths.

The Way, the Study, and the Fruits of the Tea Ceremony

In the tea ceremony, there are three words: “Dou, Gaku, Jitsu.

It is a trinity of practice in which one learns “Dao and Gak” through Tezen (actual practice).

In the tea ceremony, the taste of tea and sweets is enjoyed, but the design of the bowls in which the tea is served, the tea utensils used to serve the tea, the flowers that decorate the tea room, and the hanging scrolls are also very important elements of beauty.

• How about seasonality?
• What do you like to entertain?
• Is it appropriate for the weather and temperature?

As you choose with the above in mind, your senses will be sharpened.

It also cultivates a mind of consideration for the feelings of the other person, as you consider whether the other person will be pleased or not. By preparing the place, dressing oneself, and quietly serving tea in a refined atmosphere, one can achieve emotional stability and spirituality.

In addition, students learn how to stand, sit, handle objects, walk, and other manners and etiquette so that they can learn to move with dignity.

You will have a teacher within the school, and learn how to greet people and learn the customs of congratulations and condolences. They will gain friends and a sense of belonging, and a spirit of harmony will be fostered.

In addition, tea has beneficial effects on the body, as it was drunk as “medicine” in the past.

The benefits of health while learning are unique to the tea ceremony.

Polishing the Heart through Flower Arrangement

Since ikebana is done with flowers of the four seasons, students naturally learn about flowers of the four seasons.

Before you know it, you will be learning a lot about flowers by actually touching them and looking at them carefully, wondering if they bloom in this season and what colors they have.

They also become more aware of the changing seasons and take the time to enjoy each of them.

It also develops a sense of color.

The color sense is further refined by carefully looking at the colors of the flowers, plants, and trees, and by thinking about which colors to combine with which colors to make each look more beautiful and lively as they are arranged in a vase.

In addition, a sense of balance is also acquired as the shape of the flowers and leaves, height and height, and direction and spread of the branches and leaves are taken into consideration when arranging the flowers.

In flower arrangement, “ma” is also considered a form of beauty, and gaps and spaces are calculated and designed.

By calmly facing the flowers, you can also face yourself.

Even though we are usually busy with our daily lives and work, at this time we face the flowers in front of us, which helps to calm our minds and has a healing effect.

Feel Nature and Prepare Your Mind with Kodo

The most important characteristic of Kodo is that it makes you feel good with a good fragrance. Because it is the scent of nature itself, it is very calming and healing. The body relaxes because of the fragrance, and when the body relaxes, the mind relaxes as well.

It acts as a natural medicine, an herbal remedy so to speak. It also reduces anxiety and stress, purifies the body, and makes the body and mind healthier.

When good thoughts circulate, good actions naturally follow. Ideas that come from a healthy mind are healthy. This is why there are so many managers, leaders, and creators who study Kodo.

In addition, Kodo uses senses that are not normally used.

By guessing what kind of fragrant wood it is and listening to its aroma, we can feel the four seasons of Japan and sense the scenery, but this is not something that can be done by accident. You have to calm your mind, prepare your heart, and feel it well in order to “hear” the fragrance.

Sobhikku Hachiya, a young master of the Shino school of kodo, said the following.

Aroma has the role of connecting people with the heavens. When we face fragrant woods with a quiet mind and surrender ourselves to their fragrance, we realize that we are alive, and we are taught the importance and appreciation of life. Depending on the fragrance, there are some that make me feel as if I am rising to heaven, and others that for some reason bring tears to my eyes. I want to be as close as possible to the wisdom of nature, which is beyond the reach of a shallow “human” mind. If you do the work while your mind is disturbed, you will not be able to smell the fragrance. To listen to the fragrance is to know oneself.

By sharing opinions with participants after listening to the incense and composing waka poems, you will also improve your sense and verbalization of what you feel. By listening to and feeling what others feel, you will acquire the human ability to feel and care for others.

Also, although many people are not as familiar with incense as they are with flower arrangement or tea ceremony, there is a firm etiquette in the art of incense. Place the censer on your left hand, cover it lightly with your right hand, and listen for incense between your thumb and forefinger. The point to remember is to listen to the incense with the ash line, called kikisuji, which is formed in the shape of a mountain inside the censer, facing in your direction.

Hold the censer with your back straight and do not tilt it, and listen deeply three times while letting the inhaled breath escape to the side. Since there are other participants, it is a rule of etiquette to strictly observe the “three inhalations, “ or “three breaths.

After listening again, the incense burner is turned the other way and passed to the next participant. It is also good manners to pass the incense burner to the next participant.

Through Kodo, we can calm our minds, be surrounded by good fragrances, adjust our minds, and adjust our actions, and in doing so, our way of life will be in order.

Raising Human Potential in the Three Ways

The Way is not intended to be learned in a short period of time. It is practiced over and over again over time to the point where the body moves on its own without thinking. The meaning of each movement is not explained first, and not much is taught.

This is because you are expected to learn it with your body and then “notice” the meaning yourself.

Even if someone explains it to you, it is not your understanding, but someone else’s definition. Instead, you must realize and make it your own, which requires time and repeated practice over and over again.

It is natural that in the process of mastering the path, rather than aiming to become a teacher or a professor, one has somehow reached that level on one’s own after such a long time has passed.

Through the Way, one acquires “truth, goodness, and beauty,” “human power,” and “spiritual richness.

• I just like doing it that way because I’m cool with it.
• I want to tell people I’m doing it.

You will not learn if you are doing it with impure intentions such as “I am not going to do it.

Only when one faces oneself on the path, listens to one’s heart, refines one’s sensitivity, and develops a heart that is grateful for all that is, will one’s true human ability be refined.

Time to face yourself in the “three paths” unique to Japan with its four seasons.

The tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and incense ceremony are all unique to Japanese culture with its four seasons.

These four seasons are taken for granted by the Japanese, but are so wonderful that people from countries without four seasons yearn for them.

It would be a waste not to feel the four seasons if you are living in a country with such wonderful seasons.

To feel the change of the seasons, the beauty of each season, and the atmosphere, to appreciate nature, and to reflect on and face oneself living in the midst of nature.

You will see things that you cannot notice when you are busy with work or frantically doing housework. By paying attention to such things, savoring them carefully, and preparing and refining our minds, our actions will naturally change. By practicing within the three paths, we grow as human beings.

The Three Modern Roads

In a drastic change of pace, we will now introduce the popular “three ways,” which are basic but arranged in a modern way.

The Modern Tea Ceremony.”

Originally, the tea ceremony was done on tatami mats, but modern Japanese life is more like sitting at a table and sitting on chairs.

The tea ceremony that fits this style is table tea ceremony.

There are various schools of this table tea ceremony, but most of them are more casual and enjoyable, with no tatami mats to numb the feet, and with casual participation in western clothes instead of a kimono.

Modern flower arrangement.”

Flower arrangement has also been arranged in a variety of ways. Flowers, plants, and trees are not the only things that have been arranged in flower arrangements; for example, fruit is added, or flowers are arranged in mugs or shoes. More and more flower arrangers with authority are creating such eccentric arrangements.

The axis has the foundation of Japanese flower arrangement, and the dynamic arrangement added to it gives it a different kind of interest, and it has been very well received overseas.

The unconventional and free style of ikebana called “modern ikebana” has also emerged.

Contemporary Incense Practice.”

Recently, mindfulness, meditation, and other mental conditioning practices have become very popular, and incense often appears in these practices. Incense is often sold in a variety of shapes and sizes, although it is also possible to light fragrant wood and burn it directly.

There are many modern products available, such as stylish ones that make great gifts, ones that can be rubbed and lit like a match for easy use, and incense burners made of glass that fit the modern home.

Very popular among foreigners! The Three Ways Experience

The three paths of traditional Japanese culture are very mysterious and interesting to foreigners.

First of all, there are many ways of seeing, thinking, and feeling things that are not found overseas, and many people seem to find very cool things such as “aesthetics of space,” “Zen spirit,” “not explanations but self awareness,” “manners,” “etiquette,” and “courtesy to superiors.

The accompanying utensils and decorations are also beautiful and fascinating, with their uniquely Japanese colors and patterns.

Zen” is becoming so well known in Western countries that the word “zen” is now commonly used. It is well known that Steve Jobs studied Zen with great enthusiasm.

Japanese traditional culture, Japanese spirit, and Japanese mind that foreigners respect. As Japanese people, we are very proud and happy about it.

Practice of Sando popular overseas as well

Sampo is popular overseas as well, and many people attend its practice.

Ikenobo, the oldest school of flower arrangement, has 120 locations in the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, a large number that shows how popular Japanese flower arrangement is even overseas.

In addition, the ikebana workshop at the Flower Festival in the U.K. was a great success.

Ikebana, which is different from Western floral arrangements, must be very interesting to “make the most of and bring to life” flowers and trees as the main attraction.

The tea ceremony has also become very popular as “wabi-sabi” has become the focus of attention.

Matcha has long been popular around the world, and has become so widespread that regular matcha-flavored products are sold in sweets stores, powdered matcha is sold, and matcha cakes are served as desserts in luxury hotels. As a result, wagashi (Japanese confectionery) has also gained recognition and is favored by health-conscious people because it is lower in calories than Western confectionery.

This may be why more and more people are becoming interested in the tea ceremony.

Many people call Japanese manners and etiquette “cool! and there is no end to the number of people who want to learn from them.

Kodo is becoming increasingly popular in Europe and the United States, and teaching centers are regularly held in Europe and the United States. It is said that it is especially highly regarded in France. France has a long-established culture of wearing perfume and has a long and varied history, so it is quite understandable that many people are interested in Kodo, the art of mastering “fragrance.

Very popular among foreign tourists! Three Ways Experience

Japan is always one of the most popular travel destinations for people from overseas.

Of course you can go sightseeing, eat sushi, and shop, but did you know that “experiences” are popular now?

Among them, a very large number of people want to experience traditional culture.

Flower arrangement is very popular among them, and people enjoy experiencing unique Japanese vases, plants, and flowers that they are not accustomed to seeing in their own countries. The tea ceremony is also very popular, and many visitors are very satisfied with the experience because they can actually “taste” the tea, including the opportunity to eat wagashi (Japanese sweets).

Because it is so popular, more and more classes are being offered for overseas visitors, and an increasing number of places are offering tea ceremony classes that can be conducted in English or on chairs for foreigners who are not used to sitting on the floor.

Although Kodo is not as well known as tea ceremony or flower arrangement, more and more people want to try it, wherever they find it.

The Zen meditation experience is also popular, and many people who visit temples for the Zen meditation experience are interested in incense and buy it as a souvenir.

The three ways are the heart of the Japanese people and an important traditional culture

It is a wonderful traditional culture in which the true harvest of honing one’s skills and acquiring knowledge is the experience itself, in which one’s human skills are honed and one grows as a person.

Sando is attracting a lot of attention from foreigners. It is a wonderful traditional culture that we can be proud of in the world. I hope that we Japanese people will continue to preserve it and spread it throughout the world, so that we can create a better society with the spirit of the Three Ways.