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The whole as parts The tatami mat has the central role in the tea room and may have a number of designated placements determined by season, the type of ceremony, and at ties the type of celebration, when additional red mats may be introduced. One is encouraged to shuffle when walking tatami, and one should never walk on the central tatami, which may also serve as a table. As Edward T. Hall noted in his study of proxemics: “The walls in japan as semi-fixed…the guest discovers that things come to him as the scene shifts. He sits in the middle of the room on the tatami, while sliding panels are opened or closed…the next morning after the meal, the room is again opened to all outdoors, bright rays of sunshine or the subtle pine scent of mountain mists…”.20

In Conclusion: The art of asymmetry as a way of life The hiroma room is formal and has 4.5 mats. The koma room is more rustic and has 4.5 or less tatami mats. The temae is your host, who is honored by your presence.21 Everything has its place. All is in order and we are at peace. As Hall noted after a visit to the Zen monastery of Ryoanji outside of Kyoto, “One is overcome by the order, serenity, and the discipline of extreme simplicity. Many and nature are somehow transformed and can be viewed as in harmony.”22 This calm yet subtly structured viewpoint is perhaps one many of us should consider as we move through our busy American lives!

Postscript: my friends at the temple Chua van duc Buddhist temple is a busy spiritual center in Biloxi supported by a large Vietnamese-American community. Recently, we were hosted by the abbot, where he began the ceremony by insisting that we share his green tea and fried plantains. While Vietnamese, the abbot repeated the same sacred ceremony found in Japan and originating in China. The tea was wondrous and soothing, and we were honored by his generosity.

Endnotes

1.

www.seattleschools.org/hamilton/iac.tea

2.

www.uiuc.edu, Prof. Kimko Gunji, The Way of Tea—Sen No Rikyu

3.

Hall, Edward T., The Hidden Dimension, page 95

4.

Hall, Edward T., The Hidden Dimension, page 153

5.

www.rakuforyou.com/about.html

6.

www.rakuforyou.com/about.html

7. www.uiuc.edu, Prof. Kimko Gunji, on The Way of Tea by Sen Rikyu 8. www.seattleschools.org/hamilton/iac.tea 9. www.bookmice.net/darkchide/japan/tea.html 10. www.rakuforyou.com/about.html 11. www..com/about.html, Dick McGee 12. www.uiuc.edu, Prof. Kimko Gunji, on The Way of Tea by Sen No Rikyu 13. www.uiuc.edu, Prof. Kimko Gunji, on The Way of Tea by Sen No Rikyu 14. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/japanese_tea_ceremony 15. http://omote-usa.org/teahouse.htm 16. http://volweb.utk.edu/school/bedford/harrisms/haiku.htm 17. http://omote-usa.org/teahouse.htm 18. http://volweb.utk.edu/school/bedford/harrisms/haiku.htm 19. http://omote-usa.org/teahouse.htm

20. Hall, Edward T., The Hidden Dimension, page 153 21. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/japanese_tea_ceremony 22. Hall, Edward T., The Hidden Dimension, page 153

Bibliography and Further Reading www.bookmice.net/darkchide/japan/tea.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/japanese_tea_ceremony http://volweb.utk.edu/school/bedford/harrisms/haiku.htm www.home2highway.ne.jp/hinachan/sado02_e.htm http://omote-usa.org/teahouse.htm www.paragonweb.com, Morgan Pitelka, 2006 www.rakuforyou.com/about.html www.seattleschools.org/hamilton/iac.tea www.shambhala.com http://www.terebess.hu/tea/teakunyho.html (Tea room design) www.toyomasu.com/haiku www.uiuc.edu, Prof. Kimko Gunji, on The Way of Tea by Sen No Rikyu Dissanayake, Ellen, What Is Art For?, University of Washington Press, Seattle and London, 1988 Hall, Edward T., The Hidden Dimension, Anchor Books, NY, 1990

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