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 Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:24 pm
This story was lovingly crafted for Gendou's birthday. Large amounts of aid came from his lovely wife, Ruevian, for the artistic details while Grayed helped the presentation. All of this story was done with the correct etiquette of the formal tea ceremony known as chanoyu.
Later on (as in when I’m not frantically doing an Art Paper for class. ^_^;; ) in this post, I will explain the meaning of all of the Japanese words that I have italicized along with a quick symbolism behind the choice in some of the decorations. Enjoy.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:26 pm
After a successful cleansing of the Church of Mod, I felt it was fitting to hold a Chaji in the honor of the reuniting Inquisitors of the Society. As the group’s leader was Gendou, the most senior member of the Church of Mod within the Inquisitors and a Saint of the Church itself, holding the chaji in his honor seemed to be a natural choice. As a person of the night, a moon viewing chaji seemed most fitting. Thankfully, the autumn moon viewing month of September was coming up, which allowed many things to fit beautifully.
Invitations were sent out to all of the Modists who worked under Gendou for the protection of the Society. With Gendou as the guest of honor, the best person to take the second guest’s seat was to be Rene, his wife and closest companion. Ian was the least experienced with the chaji and so was designated as the third guest while Sandra took the final guest’s slot. All of the guests confirmed their availability for the evening viewing of the Moon on the fourteenth of the ninth month.
Around noon of that day, the entire Tea House was swept and scrubbed clean. The doors were removed in order to allow the most moonlight to fill the room. The autumn leaves were swept around the rock path, making the smooth gray stones look like islands in a crimson sea. As the garden was a small and simple one, there were no alternate paths that needed to be marked off as the wrong way to travel to enter the tea room. While it was a humble dewy path that led to a six mat tatami room, it was suited for the purposes of the host.
Done in the elegant calligraphy of the Founding Saint herself, the scroll's Zen quote fit the theme perfectly. ‘My mind is like the autumn moon’, a section of a longer saying from Han Shan, was chosen to grace the alcove for when the guests were to enter. It was well known that the most dangerous weapon that an Inquisitor could have was a clear mind.
A small vase of a deep crimson was selected to hold the Rindō flowers that were to be picked an hour before the guests arrived, so they could remain as fresh as possible. The association between the Rindō flower and the dragon was sure to please the Shadow Master, who was born in the year of the fire dragon. Three sprouts of the flower were plucked and had their lower leaves removed so that the mouth of the vase would not look overly crowded. Shortly after the flowers were prepared, I took a small bamboo bucket and ladle outside to the garden. Slightly sprinkling over the stone steps, the water gave the rocks a slight sheen that hinted of freshness. Later on, a small towel was retrieved to sponge off a few steps that had more water then needed on them.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:34 pm
As the sun was starting to quickly decline in the sky, water was sprinkled across the entrance of the Tea Garden to indicate that the host was prepared for the guests. Slowly walking along the path, their way is lighted by the large, rising moon that they were here to enjoy in this celebration. Weapons are left on the alcove above the door; the Tea Room is a place of peace. The guests slowly start to enter through the kneeling doorway, each one softly asking for the forgiveness of the next guest for entering before them.
A tobacco tray was set towards the middle of the room, closest to the wall of the alcove. The guests all took their places, with Gendou being closest to the alcove and his wife to his right. Ian was between Rene and Sandra, leaving the guests in a male to female pattern. After the final guest settled, I entered from the preparation room. The most formal bow took place between Gendou and me. Both males were garbed in deep gray kimonos while Rene opted for a late autumn leaf red. Sandra looked calm in a muted goldenrod kimono. Gendou was a man of few words, but commented on the penmanship of the First Saint’s scroll on the alcove. His tone expressed approval of the message. After answering his question on the origins of the tobacco tray, I announced that a small meal would be served. After taking my leave of the room, I slowly closed the door in three motions.
The kaiseki planned was light and filled with autumn themed foods. A sleek black tray with two covered bowls and a small ceramic dish on top of it was brought out. A small mound of rice in the shape of the kanji for 'one' was in the first bowl while miso soup filled in the second bowl. The ceramic dish, in the shape of the shape of a gingko leaf, had grilled mackerel arranged in a charming way upon it. Each guest was brought a tray with the same items on it. As with the entrance, each guest apologized for going before the rest. Samples of the rice and soup are taken before I had returned from the preparation room. Small red sake saucers are offered to Gendou, who took one and passed them on to his wife. Each guest picked up a sake saucer and allowed me to pour them an offering.
After the sake was served, I returned to the preparation room to bring back the rice container. Gendou confirmed that the guests would serve themselves more rice after I asked if he wished for me to serve him more rice. He allowed me to take his soup bowl to the backroom to fill it with more soup, giving the guests time to help themselves to an extra bowl of rice.
A simple broiled dish consisting of Zuiki that was flavored with vinegar and soy was to be the wanmori. The side dish was grilled Aki-nasu that was slightly salted. All of the guests declined a third bowl of soup, so I took my leave to eat my meal in the preparation room. It wasn’t too long before I heard Sandra bring the dishes to the preparation area door. After removing the dishes, I bowed slightly to the guests, informing them that I finished my meal and hoped they enjoyed theirs. Bringing out the hashiarai, the black lidded cups reflected the glow of the moonlight that was filling the room. The kosuimono was lightly seasoned with a seasonal mushroom of delicate flavor. The guests partook in the pickles and rinse out their dishes with the clear broth.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:46 pm
Shoro, skewered on green pine needle and crab legs boiled in vinegar made up the hassun. Sake was again offered all around, however when Gendou offered it to me, I softly expressed my lack of saucer. He offered me his own and handed it to me after wiping it with his kaishi. After borrowing the cup from Gendou and drinking with the rest of the guests, I wiped the cup and returned it to him. The pickles and yuto were then brought out and offered. Daikon and eggplant pickles were chosen, as Rene had expressed a dislike for cucumbers before the meal. I returned to the room to collect the trays only after I heard the guests’ chopsticks fall.
The first charcoal preparation took place; carefully arranging the charcoal in an eye pleasing manner. The feather used for dusting the brazier was a wild goose feather and the incense was a light pine. Gendou asked to see the incense container, so the container was moved to a spot where he could reach it with ease. After sweeping the area where the charcoal preparation took place, I left the room to allow them to examine the charcoal arrangement. After returning and purifying the brazier I leave once more and announce the serving of sweets.
Gekkan was the sweet of choice, as the sliced bean paste dish looked a bit like the moon. The lacquered dish with the Gekkan resting on top was adorned with a gingko pattern. Each guest took a sweet. At my suggestion, they left the Tea Room to stretch their legs and enjoy the full moon out that night. The Rindō were finally arranged and sprinkled with water to retain their fresh look. The scroll and flowers were switched out. After the room was made ready, the kansho was used to alert the guests that the tea was to be served soon. As they did the first walk through the dewy path, the guests washed their hands and mouth in a ritual purification act.
After returning, the guests noticed the cold water container and thick tea container. Sandra clicked the door to alert that all guests have entered. Shortly afterwards, I emerged from the backroom, carrying a tea bowl. It was a solemn black bowl, holding in it a chasen, chashaku, and chakin. It is a raku bowl named after the shadow of clouds passing over the full moon. The waste water container was brought in after the raku bowl and the door was clicked shut. After placing down the tools properly, the most formal bow was made to everyone in the room.
The bowl was inspected then placed back down. Then the chaire was placed between my knees and the bowl. The fukusa was examined then folded. After purifying the chaire, it was placed in a new location, in front of the cold water jar. Using the fukusa to protect my fingers, I removed the lid of the water jar. Half of a dipper full of water was poured into the bowl; meanwhile the guests were relaxing to the sound of the steam from the kettle. The chasen was inspected, swished, then used to make a ‘no’ shape to ensure no parts of it were chipping off.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 4:52 pm
The water used for inspecting the chasen was then tossed out. The bowl was wiped with the linen cloth. After returning the bowl back to the tray with my right hand, I placed the linen cloth down on the tray. Slowly, I started to lift the chashaku. Three scoops of tea were measured into the bowl; the rest was directly poured in. My fingers then grazed over the tea container’s lips to clean off any loose tea. Slowly the chashaku comes to a rest on top of the chaire. Another dipper of cold water is added to the kettle to lower the water temperature so that the full flavor of the tea could be enjoyed. Water is added to the bowl before I started to knead the tea with the chasen. Another ‘no’ is written in the bowl before I remove the whisk. The whisk is slowly placed down. The bowl is picked up with the right hand to be placed on the tatami to my right after rotating the bowl to face the guest.
Gendou stood up and received the bowl. He returned to his seat to place the bowl down on his left side. A deep bow was made by all of the guests before Gendou raised the bowl to his lips to take the first sip. If there had been any tensions in the room beforehand, they were released at this moment. A cloud passed before the moon, causing the shadows to play on the reflection of the bowl in his hands. After his first sip ended, I inquired on the quality of the tea, to which he responded it was fine. Turning away so that I would not be rudely facing him while drinking, he took his second sip. Rene turned to Ian at this moment and asked for forgiveness for going ahead of him.
Gendou wiped the edge of the bowl with his chakin before passing the bowl onto Rene. She gracefully accepted the bowl and took her first sip. Gendou, in turn, started to ask on the nature of the tea, the sweets, the flowers, and the vase. Though nervous at first, for the General Inquisitor is possibly one of the most intimidating men of the Church, slowly the tearoom talk began to feel light and natural to my tongue. By the time all of Gendou’s questions were answered, Sandra had just finished her last sip of the thick tea.
More cold water was added to the kettle while the bowl was returned to Gendou’s hands. He carefully observed the bowl, tilting it this way and that way to look at the remains of the tea then the texture of the bowl itself. The bowl was passed through the guests, though none of them paid as much careful attention to its details as the first guest. After the bowl was offered to Gendou again, he turned it to have the front face me. I returned the bowl to its position near me. At which point, a deep bow from all took place. There was calmness within the room, a separation from all of the daily distractions of life.
While the bowl was being cleaned, Gendou inquired about the name of the bowl. ‘Shadows of Clouds passing over the Full Moon’ was the name given to the bowl. After rinsing out the bowl, the whisk was cleaned with cold water and reexamined for stray parts. All of the parts were rearranged in the bowl before the waste water container is placed against the wall. Gendou asked to see the tea container, scoop, and bag after I finished rearranging the kettle and tea utensils.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:16 pm
Before I handed him the thick tea container, I purified the object once more to show respect for both the utensil and the guest of honor. The container is treated as the bowl was, rotating it so that the front faces the guest. After receiving the utensils he requested, Gendou started to examine them. The kensui needed to be taken out, so I shielded the sight of it from the guests before taking it out to the preparation room. The door clicks shut before I finish taking this object back. By the time of my return, all of the guests had the chance to look over the utensils of the tea. Gendou spoke his mind, asking a few more questions on the bag and tea scoop. After the bow, the tea utensils were removed from the room. Before I closed the door, I proclaimed my urge to offer them thin tea, but to do so I needed to fix the charcoal once more.
Returning with the necessary materials, I opened the door and stated my intent to remake the charcoal. After the charcoal was rearranged and the guests had enough time to admire the fire, I took back the charcoal tools and brought out the needed thin tea materials, including the bon. The higashi were created into the shapes of the crimson autumn leaves and the soon to bloom chrysanthemums. The tray was designed to look like the harvest moon, with wild geese flying across it. The cold water was brought in and I again expressed my intent to make them thin tea. The natsume had the design of pine leaves, scattered on a forest floor on it. It complimented the thin tea bowls, which had the design of a pine cone, ripe from fall on the front.
The fukusa was removed to purify the natsume and then the charie after refolding it. The whisk is reexamined and the hot water that was poured into the bowl is tossed out once more. Just as I slowly lift the tea scoop, I requested that the guests to partake in the sweets. The bow feels a bit strange, after all of the double handed bows. The guests all placed their sweets upon the kaishi before the two scoops of tea were placed in the bowl. Lightly tapping the edge of the bowl, the scoop releases the extra powdered tea into the pile. Hot water was added, enough to make the tea thin, but not watery. The whisking of the tea is slightly more tiring on the wrist, but possibly because of all the vigor that was poured into making the tea frothy.
The guests partook in the dry sweets as Gendou was handed his bowl of tea. After he finished, the bowl was wiped and Rene’s cup was made. After the rounds were made with the Tea, Gendou accepted a second helping of tea before he asked me to finish. The bowl had cold water poured into it so that the whisk could be cleaned. The tea scoop was wiped then the bowl and nasume were returned to the bon. After a final examination of the tea utensils used, and the last of the questions being answered, Gendou thanked me for answering his questions and putting such careful thought to the chaji.
The last of the materials were put away when all of the guests offered their thanks. I returned the thanks with my own for them to have taken the time to enjoy the autumn moon with me. Gendou informed me that it is not necessary to see them out. They enjoyed the moonlight from the dewy path and after Sandra closed the door with a slight noise, I returned to the preparation area to remove the utensils. After which I went to the guest entrance to watch them leave and offered one last bow for the night.
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