Tea Story - Japan

The first tea seeds were brought to Japan by the returning Buddhist priest Yeisei, who had seen their value in China for enhancing religious mediation.

As a result, he is known as the "Father of Tea" in Japan. Because of this early association and tea in Japan has always been associated with Zen Buddhism.

It also received early imperial sponsorship and spread rapidly from the court and the monasteries to the other sections of Japanese society.

Such purity of form and expression prompted the creation of supportive arts and services and a even a special form of architecture (chaseki) developed specifically for "tea houses".

The Japanese tea ceremony, or cha-no-yu (or "the hot water for tea") with its Zen meditation origins is based on five principles: hygiene, harmony, humility, reverence and peace, was designed as a means to discipline the mind. And can last up to four hours and use as many as 24 utensils.