Wali Hawes 1952 - 2014
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Wali Hawes Potter's Diary

A Japanese Tea Ceremony

"A Japanese Tea Ceremony".......For me, the Japanese Tea Ceremony conveys many emotions of harmony and tranquillity. However two other aspects are of equal importance. Respect and Purity. To become captivated by all the gestures, the care to detail, the decoration and though is an exhilarating experience. The most important thing for me is the role of ceramics in the Tea Ceremony. Without ceramics the Tea Ceremony would not exist and this would effect a large part of Japanese culture.
I studied "The Tea Ceremony with Watanabe sensei in Tokoname. It's called Matsuo-ryu. It is originally from Nagoya and is very different to other schools such as Urasenke and Omotesenke. I once participated in a Tea Ceremony at a temple in Kyoto. It was of the Urasenke School. Only invited guests were allowed. The temple was near the house of Sen no Rikyu, the inventor of the Tea Ceremony. It was the only time I experienced a Tea ceremony with a priest. I have demonstrated the Tea Ceremony in India, Spain, France and Japan to much enjoyment of those that participated.

"Demonstration of Tea Bowls"..............What makes a Tea Bowl a Tea Bowl? Importance of Nature in imagery. Function and fundamentals of form. Height and form, relationship to use, importance of the footring. Nuances that are a key part in design. But I must say that many young people are against the rituals, the hierarchy and many more things that are outdated and from an age long dead and has nothing to do with modern life. However, the importance of the bowl for the Tea Ceremony can teach us many things thus allowing us to go deeper into Japan that is buried under "anime" enka "karaoke" Pachinko "and other manifestations of contemporary Japanese culture.


15/09/2009

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