Nathan Scott
23rd January 2001, 00:22
Hello,
To change the pace a bit here...
I was honored to have been an invited guest in a special tea ceremony yesterday. The ceremony was about five hours, and was hosted by a recognized Japanese Living Treasure, Sosei Matsumoto Shizue.
Matsumoto Sensei lives in Los Angeles, and was a student of Tantansai, 14th generation headmaster of Urasenke ryu Sado.
She has had an impressive life, some of which is conveyed in the following links:
http://216.92.187.150/artists/matsu.htm
http://www.wordarchive.com/articles/Culture/1/shakespear961014465
Most people were in kimono, with only a few business suits, and everything was quite formal yet at the same time charming and polite.
During the ceremony, it was announced that two of her students had just been granted Menkyo Kaiden, and their tea names were acknowledged in front of the other students and hand full of guests.
I've always enjoyed Tea Ceremony, but this one was memorable because it was served in Matsumoto Sensei's own house (which is really nice - all very traditional inside, with a Japanese garden outside) and, Matsumoto Sensei being 83 now, this was said to be her last tea ceremony. I suppose she will still be involved with her students and Sado in some way, but it's a bit sad to see such an obviously well regarded and respected teacher retire.
Just felt like I should say something about the ceremony - hope this kind of thing is interesting to some of you.
[PS. Sorry about the typo in the title!]
Regards,
[Edited by Nathan Scott on 01-22-2001 at 07:33 PM]
To change the pace a bit here...
I was honored to have been an invited guest in a special tea ceremony yesterday. The ceremony was about five hours, and was hosted by a recognized Japanese Living Treasure, Sosei Matsumoto Shizue.
Matsumoto Sensei lives in Los Angeles, and was a student of Tantansai, 14th generation headmaster of Urasenke ryu Sado.
She has had an impressive life, some of which is conveyed in the following links:
http://216.92.187.150/artists/matsu.htm
http://www.wordarchive.com/articles/Culture/1/shakespear961014465
Most people were in kimono, with only a few business suits, and everything was quite formal yet at the same time charming and polite.
During the ceremony, it was announced that two of her students had just been granted Menkyo Kaiden, and their tea names were acknowledged in front of the other students and hand full of guests.
I've always enjoyed Tea Ceremony, but this one was memorable because it was served in Matsumoto Sensei's own house (which is really nice - all very traditional inside, with a Japanese garden outside) and, Matsumoto Sensei being 83 now, this was said to be her last tea ceremony. I suppose she will still be involved with her students and Sado in some way, but it's a bit sad to see such an obviously well regarded and respected teacher retire.
Just felt like I should say something about the ceremony - hope this kind of thing is interesting to some of you.
[PS. Sorry about the typo in the title!]
Regards,
[Edited by Nathan Scott on 01-22-2001 at 07:33 PM]