context: tea ceremony

What Happens

I've never been to one of these, so I advise looking around rather than taking this (or indeed anything else I say anywhere on the site) as authoritative. Nonetheless, the general pattern was something like this: The guests stroll through the garden to the tea house, and enter it. They admire whatever is on display in the tokonoma. The host starts the small fire and lights some incense. Guests return to the garden. To the house for food and civilised conversation. Back to the garden. Back to the tea house. The host brings in the utensils to be used. The guests comment on them admiringly. The host makes tea, being modest about the quality of the tea he has while the guests disagree politely. The host serves tea to the guests, who take a few sips and pass the bowl on. This can last for several hours, with the meal in the middle playing the largest part in determining this.

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