a tea ceremony, Wu-Wo, () is a style of Tea Ceremony, (). it is more formal than a gathering or party. """Grand Master Tsai, Rong Tsang is diretcor of gLu-Yu Tea The Fine Arts of Tea Culture Instituteh and the founder of the gWu-Wo Tea Ceremonyh he has been a crucial part in the growth of this once small group from Taiwan (twenty-some years ago)""". gWuh, and gWoh, are Chinese words, philosophical meaning. samarkand said, wuwo meant selflessnes, i like that, it is simple but it is correct. some people say noself but it is hard to understand the meaning of no-self if one has no clue to begin with. some people forget that tea has its roots in china. the first ritualized drinking of tea lies in china, . while the drinking of tea was considered to be a common feature in the lives of chinese buddhist monks, chinese tea is considered to be primarily a secular ritual that confirmed the feeling of community important, but the chinese ritual can be said to represent the preliminary stage in the total evolution of the japanese tea ceremony. the reason today we dont see the ancient chinese tea ceremonies now, are for two big reasons, colonialism, cultural revolution. but in taiwan today, they are seeking their roots, and reinventing some of the past, and seeking cultural identity. we are in the process of writing/translation the wu-wo tea ceremony book, it will be in english. i am going to wuyishan also, here is a summery on the wu-wo tea ceremony.
----- i just got back to USA we are going to do a small wu-wo tea ceremony this month i will post pics. this will be a first timer wu-wo tea ceremony for los angeles just a local group. i dont know all the details myself, i have been busy doing other things, some one said "sounds like a society (instead of ceremony), i have heard before in another group said "they are skeptical of new ceremonies popping up". i agree to both. the problem with the ceremony/society/gathering/association, is translation and tradition. meaning words when translated, are translated literally or figuratively. sometimes a big headache!
The Wu Wo tea ceremony
This is a style of tea ceremony where drinkers bring their own tea sets and sit in a circle. When the ceremony starts, everyone makes tea using the tea leaves he has brought.. If 4 cups of tea are required, three of the cups will be served to the three poeple on your left and the last cup will be reserved for yourself . when the tea has been drunk, a second infusion will follow. After completing the required number of infusions, gather your own cups and pack up your tea sets. It has come to an end.
This is a ceremony where everyone makes serves and drinks tea. as seating is decided by a random draw. no one knows beforehand who he will serve tea to or whose tea he will be served. This tea ceremony has 7 principles.
- here is no distinction of social rank
- There are no expectations of a reward
- Keep an open mind
- Adopt a postiive attitude, striving constantly to improve
- Abide by the rules and the arranged scehdule.
- Cultivate cooperation
- There is no differences in sect or region. Late arrivals are strictly not tolerated. Wu Wo literally translated means Without self. it is a Buddhist concept, where one who reaches nirvana will not exist in the physical plane anymore.