I`m doing this report on Japanese Ceremonies .In this report there will be information on the Tea ceremony, Birth ceremony , Marriage ceremony and the Death ceremony. I am also comparing the Japanese Tea ceremony with the Canada`s Tea ceremony.I hope you will enjoy this report.
The tea ceremony is a traditional way in which a host is preparing and serving tea to his or her guests.The tea ceremony is now a popular hobby .Many Japanese who care about there culture take tea ceremony lessons with a teacher .Tea ceremonies are held in traditional Japanese rooms,they can be found in private houses .
This ceremony has many rituals that have to be learned by heart some are the way they sit and the way they pour tea.The guests sit in the traditional way in a circle .The tea is prepared by its host and then everybody drinks the tea .The tea is bitter macha green tea made from tea leaves.
Sadoo also called Chadoo is the traditional way of preparing and drinking tea.In sadoo special powdered tea different from ordinary tea is mainly used .The powdered tea is poured into a tea cup then hot water is added , then it is whipped with a bamboo whisk till it foams and it is drunk.
To make this ceremony important the deep sincerity implements such as hanging scroll on flowers to put in alcoves and the tea cup . The guests know the host`s warm hospitality are filled with gratitude . Most Japanese wear Kimonos to the tea ceremonies.
The neat thing that I thought would be fun was to compare Japan to Canada this is what I found out.Japan has certain times and places like a certain room that can be found in private homes for the tea ceremony.Canada doesn`t even have a tea ceremony we just have tea were we want tea.Japan has certain rituals and is very strict about the beliefs with all the ceremonies.Canada can just about do what ever they want to do for the tea ceremony.But last is the tea cup.Japanese tea cup is oval and is small and has no handle .The Canadians tea cup is round and big and has a handle.
To Japanese ,as to most other people there are three most important events in life they are the birth ceremony, marriage ceremony and the death ceremony.
Soon after the baby is born, the proud mother takes the baby to a nearby Shinto shrine to introduce the new baby to the god of the community. The mother hopes that the god of the community will protect her precious baby . The mother gives birth to her baby in a hospital not at a home.They mostly wear the traditional clothing the kimono.
Although weddings may be Buddhist or Christian the ceremony it self is Shinto. Usually the bride wears the traditional Japanese wedding out fit, a beautiful kimono and a whit head dress . The groom usually wears a kimono. They drink three times each from three cups of sacred wine .Then they promise to live together.After the ceremony the bride often changes to a white wedding gown that is western style and the groom changes to a formal suit for the wedding reception.
Parents often choose the bride or groom for their son or daughter .Sometimes a family friend knows of a suitable match and suggests the marriage to both families concerned.If both sets of parents agree the young man and woman are told about each other and are shown photographs of each other.If the young people agree they and the match maker have a meeting .If they like each other they date for a while ,each are free to say no .Many marriages are still arranged in this way however more young men and women choose their own partner and marry for love then in the past.
Giving water to the deceased in hopes of his or her revival.Then they conceal the household shrine with white paper with flap doors closed.This has been said to keep the households pure from impurity of death.They place a small table covered with a white cloth with three items on it a flower , incense and a lighted candle displayed and a bowl of rice.It is a rule to spread the flower,incense and the lighted candle from left to right as you face them when you decorate the bed side of the deceased.
The dead persons head is turned to the north .If the body can not be headed to the north for a certain reason ,it may be turned to the west.
The deceased is to wear grave clothes , a hood and a money pouch containing six pieces of money .The six pieces of money that are put into the pouch are said to be used as a ferriage for crossing Japanese styx . In the old days people used to wear white in funerals .Especially the chief mourner was expected to wear "Shinishozoku" to act as a substitute for the deceased .Today , people wear full dress in black for a funeral .A man usually wears a black mourning dress or a set of haori (Japanese traditional half coat)and a hakama (divided skirt for formal wear for men)or black silk material (called Habutae) with five crests over a white silk "Habtae" underwear.
It was fun learning about Japanese Ceremonies .I didn`t even know that they had a Death ceremony and a Birth ceremony.I learned for all of the ceremonies that they have to learn or wear certain things and are very strict with beliefs for all ceremonies.I also learned that Japan is not at all similar with Canada for any ceremony just by comparing it .We have some of these ceremonies but they are a whole lot different then the Japanese way.Comparing Japan with Canada was really interesting .Doing this report made me learn more about Japan .That Concludes my report.
