815First record of tea
The monk Eichū returns from China and prepares sencha for Emperor Saga in Karasaki. Tea cultivation begins in the Kinki region.
歴史
History
9th c.Tea culture in China
In China, cake tea (dancha) is popular and Lu Yu writes The Classic of Tea, a work that later inspires Japanese tea culture.
late 1100sPowdered tea & tencha
Monk Eisai introduces the whisked preparation of powdered matcha and brings back tea seeds that produce high-quality tea in Japan.
1200sWarrior class & tōcha
Under the Kamakura shogunate, tea becomes a symbol of status. Tōcha tasting contests appear among the warrior class.
1336–1573Muromachi culture
Kitayama and Higashiyama cultures around Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji shape many elements of what is now recognized as traditional Japanese culture.
1400sWabi-sabi aesthetics
Tea develops as a transformative practice guided by wabi-sabi: simplicity, humility, quiet refinement, and the beauty of imperfection.
15th c.Murata Jukō
Murata Jukō, influenced by Zen master Ikkyū, develops tea as a spiritual discipline, preparing the ground for the later Way of Tea.
1500sSen no Rikyū
Sen no Rikyū refines architecture, gardens, utensils and etiquette, and formulates the ideals of harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility in tea.
1587Political tea
Regent Toyotomi Hideyoshi uses grand tea gatherings, such as the Kitano Tea Ceremony and the Golden Tea Room, to display and consolidate political power.
After 1591Modern schools
Rikyū’s descendants establish schools such as Omotesenke and Urasenke. The Way of Tea spreads from the court and samurai to townspeople across Japan.