This week, we practiced daitenmoku procedure, one of the shikaden.
We use the following tools for the daitenmoku.
1) tenmoku jawan, tenmokudai
2) Japanese style chaire and oshifuku.
3) mage mizusashi ( made from curbed cider wood) – since mage was not available this time, we used ceramic mizusahsi instead.
4) ivory chashaku
Since tenmoku jawan and tenmoku dai is the main tool in this procedure, we can’t place the chawan in the kattezuki. There are some rules particular to this daitenmoku procedure. You always lightly support the tea bowl with the left hand when you pour the water in it. Chasen toshi is done while you are holding the tea bowl on your palm.
Also, there are more small additions to remember in this procedure such as cleaning the ivory chashaku and folding the fukusa in shin style. You would naturally think those complicated rules might be discouraging to remember for students, however, to my surprise, I found the students get more excited to learn something different. Those new complicated additions to the procedure stimulated the student’s curiosity and interest. Finding something new adds depth to our knowledge is and definitely one of the rewards when learning the tea ceremony.
