"How to do tips" for Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony

Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony 無我茶會 style can be used for Tea Appreciation Day
Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony is a simple way to brew, serve, and drink tea, it can be done together or alone. Make tea more than just a drink, make it an event t enrich life.


The Chinese term "Wu-Wo無我" literally is the Buddhist term “Sanskrit: anatta; Pali: anatman”, loosely defined as “no self”.  (Chinese: 无我/無我wúwǒ; Japanese: muga; Korean: 무아, mua; Vietamese: vô ngã; Sanskrit: anatman; Pali: anatta.)

Wu-wo tea ceremony tea ware: teapot or coverbowl; tea pitcher; 4 cups; serving tray; cloth; brewing mat; thermos; timer; seat cushion, and a backpack.

The circular rainbow is a group of rings in the colors of the rainbow. The colors are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

 

 

 

 

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無我茶會形式: 圍成圈圈，人人泡茶，人人奉茶，人人喝茶。抽籤決定座位。依同一方向奉茶（向左或向右）。自備茶具、茶葉與泡茶用水。事先約定泡茶杯數、泡茶次數、奉茶方法，並排定會程。席間不語。
無我茶會茶具：茶壺/蓋碗、 茶盅、 茶杯、 奉茶盤、 茶巾、 包壺巾、 熱水器、 計時器、 坐墊、 旅行提包。

Wu-wo tea ceremony procedure: sit in a circle, everyone brews, serves, and drinks tea. Draws lots for seating. Serve in the same direction (either left or right). Bring tea, water, and teaware. Read public announcement beforehand. Please try to be quiet.

What is needed:

1. hot water in a thermos four times larger than your cover bowl or teapot
2. teapot or cover bowl
3. tea pitcher
4. four teacups
5. tea tray
6. cloth wraps for tea ware and basket, backpack, or bag
7. watch or timer for brewing
8. small cloth
9. mat or stool or cushion
10. tarp, cloth, or towel to setup on

This is a simple tea setting. A teapot, tea pitcher, thermos, the brewing mat is a green striped washcloth, the large setting mat is a white bath towel, the tea tray is a kitchen plate. a the tea cloth in the middle between the pot and pitcher is a white paper towel.

A time keeper is good because we will brew 4 times, and using a small pot changes in brewing time can affect the taste, notice the watch.

Next picture, sitting in the ready position.

a very dark pic of the ready position.

The basic rules are simple; but occasionally subject to change:

We will make tea four times and we will make four servings each time.

*1st brew, we pour into four cups and go serve to the adjacent three neighbors on the left (the last cup we reserve and enjoy our self), we will receive three cups of tea served from the adjacent three neighbors on the right.

*2nd brew we pour into four spectator cups and this time serve four spectator and return and fill our own cup if any tea is left.

*3rd brew we take the tea pitcher and go serve the same three tea brewers on the left with the tea pitcher.

*4th and last brew we take the tea pitcher and serve any four spectators that do not have tea.

The special way of Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony and its Seven Principles 無我茶會特殊做法及其七大精神

• 1. Seating arrangement is chosen randomly. --- No priority to seats, no matter of social status. 座位由抽籤決定──無尊卑之分

• 2. Serving tea in the same direction. --- No reward is expected. 依同一方向奉茶──無報償之心

• 3. Accept and appreciate different teas. --- No bias. 接納、欣賞各種茶──無好惡之心

• 4. Brew the best you can. --- Concentrate and improve. 努力把茶泡好──求精進之心

• 5. No director. --- Everyone follows the public announcement. 無須指揮與司儀──遵守公共約定

• 6. Remain silent during brewing. --- To cooperate and appear in group rhythm and harmony. 泡茶席間不語──培養默契，體現團體律動之美

• 7. Not confined to any tea brewing manner. --- No distinction of school or region. 泡茶方式不拘──無流派與地域之分

The Concept of Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony

“Wu-Wo” is a style of Tea Ceremony. “Wu”, and “Wo”, are actually Chinese words with philosophical meaning. When we use the word “wu” (無), it means; a void or absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine therefore it is like an infinite space. When we use the word “wo” (我), it means mine, self or being. When we put these two words together they almost seem like a contradiction in terms, the word “wo”, seems like being and the word “wu”, seems like not being. But we must reach and look deeper into the meanings of both words. “Wu-Wo” (無我), means; to empty the mind like an endless void and it is without anything to sense; it is just “being” with no physical or mental attachments. For example, we should forget about our: knowledge, wealth, appearance, and etc. So there is group equality without prejudice. This is our concept of “Wu-Wo”. And this is shown in the “Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony”.

The Symbol of Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony

A circular rainbow is the symbol for the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. Why does the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony’s flag have the colors of the rainbow? A rainbow is made of seven basic colors and when combined together become blank white light. The Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony pursues the “circular rainbow” and goes towards the blank light or empty circle in the rainbow 's center. The blended white light or empty circle of the flag’s rainbow can be thought of as “wu”. The Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony follows this concept, for example, people have: knowledge, wealth, appearance, etc, and tries to forget these things, and transcend.

The History of Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony

Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony began in Taiwan. The “Lu-Yu Tea Culture Institute 陸羽茶藝中心” the founder of the “Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony”, has been an active part in the growth of this once small group from Taiwan (almost twenty years ago) to now an International Organization.

Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony Brief
 1.  “Wu-Wo” is a style of tea ceremony. People bring simple tea ware and enjoy tea together in a circle. When there are many people, we can make two or more circles.

2.  Seats are determined by chosen randomly, to see who will sit next to each other and who will serve tea to one another, no one knows before. There will be no class distinction and everybody just accommodates oneself to the circumstances.

3.  After setting up the tea ware, we can appreciate other’s tea ware, and get to know one another. This session is called “tea ware appreciation and friendship time”.

4.  When it’s “brewing time”, everybody goes back to their seats to make tea. There is no director at a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony; everything is based on the “public announcement”. The aim of this is to develop participants to follow some conventions.

5.  After the first brew, participants take their cups to serve the tea. If, the “public announcement” states to “make four cups of tea, serve the three participants on the adjacent left and keep one teacup for oneself”, please follow the public announcement. At a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, tea is served in one direction, with the aim of to let participants serve without waiting for compensation; this is part of the Wu-Wo principles “no reward is expected".

6.  If the recipient is sitting when you serve tea to him, please bow to one another without speaking. Participants remain silent at a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, when the brewing begins. This will give the cooperation and appearance of group rhythm and harmony.

7.  One may begin to enjoy the tea when one has received all. All participants must prepare the tea by themselves; therefore, everyone may have the chance to taste different kinds of tea and appreciates the different teas, this is the “no bias” principle of tea ceremony. When a cup is unpleasant, still accept it, as a reminder to brew good tea, this is the “concentrate and improve” principle of tea ceremony.

8.  Start brewing the second brew when everybody has finished the first round. Pour the second brew into four disposable cups and serve four spectators then return to your seat. For the third brew, pour tea into the tea pitcher and pour in the same cups from the first brew; then return to your seat and give yourself some tea.

9.  If it is in a public place, you can arrange a narrator to tell the public who are watching in order to let them understand what is going on. Also there can be an arrangement to serve the public for the second brew using disposable cups and forth brew using disposable cups or serving by pitcher.

10.  There is no restriction on the tea ware and the brewing methods. However, to make good tea for everybody is the basic principle. Therefore, Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony is a style of tea ceremony with “no distinction of school or region”.

11.  Setting up on the ground is for convenience. There are not any seats that would separate us. But there are no definite restrictions on sitting; one can even bring a small seat.

12.  The tea ceremony can be held in the evening. Participants should bring themselves a personal light. An evening tea ceremony is an occasion for people to appreciate the beauty of the evening.

13.  After the last cup, we can arrange some music or mediation for about 3 to 5 minutes. This is an opportunity to recollect on the tea ceremony, this session is called the “post tea drinking activity”.

14.  “Post tea drinking activity” then, everybody should clean the cups and collect back one’s own cups. After everything is packed, the tea ceremony is over.

15.  Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony reminds people of the significance of “emptiness”. Nothingness is not what we are pursuing, but the “having” then “emptiness”. Just like pure light which is formed by all the colors of the rainbow.

16.  Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony began in Taiwan in 1990. It shortly became an international tea cultural activity. And, a large International Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony is held every two years in one country or region.

17.  To promote Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, the International Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony Association recruits “Tea Instructors” and “Tea Ceremony Instructors” and establishes “Tea Ceremony Classrooms” to promote tea arts and tea ceremony and provide training for participants of Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony through a 3-level education program.


Steven R. Jones 2007

Public Announcement:

The below is an example of the public announcement and can be used for Tea Appreciation Day also 世界奉茶日

第二屆彩霞之春無我茶會Second Rosy Spring Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony (pub)無我茶會公告事項

無我茶會公告事項

Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony Public Announcement

茶會名稱Particular Name of the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony	第二屆彩霞之春無我茶會Second Rosy Spring Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony
時間 Date and Time	2011年03月09日(星期三) 晚上6:45~8:00pm, In the evening Mar. 9, 2011 (Wed)
地點 Location	陸羽茶藝中心教室Lu-Yu Tea Culture Institute Classroom
人數 Participants	12人 / People	泡幾茶種類 Kinds Of Tea	不拘 Not Confined
泡幾杯Number Of Teacups	4杯 / Cups	每茶泡幾道 Number Of Rounds	4道 / Rounds
奉茶方法 Serving Style	第一、三道奉給左鄰三位茶友及自己 ,第二、四道持紙杯 ,茶盅奉給圍觀者 Serve Tea Neighbors and Oneself: First & Third Brew. Serve Spectators: Second Brew Use Disposable Cups & Fourth Brew Use Tea Pitcher.
品茗後活動 Post Tea Drinking Activity	合唱 / Chorus	會後活動 Post Tea Ceremony Activity	拍照留念 Ending Group Photo
茶會程序 Ceremony Schedule		工作分配 Task Distribution
6:45pm~7:00pm	工作人員開始佈置會場 Task Members Begin Arranging The Site	主辦單位 Hosting Sponsor	陸羽茶學研討會 『茶之專業英語』研討 Lu-Yu Tea Studies Specialized English for Tea
7:00pm	與會人員開始報到 , 入席 Participants Begin Check In And Then Find Seats	召集人Convener	Steven R. Jones
隨後Afterwards	開始茶具觀摩與聯誼 Tea Ware Friendship Time	場地組Site Arrangement Team	李勝茗 , 蕭媄文
7:10pm	開始泡茶Begin Brewing	報到組 Check-in Team	高玉喬 , 曾慧琦
喝完最後一道茶 After Drinking Last Brew	品茗後活動 , 開始 Begin Post Tea Drinking Activity	品茗後活動Post Tea Drinking Activity	合唱 / Chorus 全體學生
隨後Afterwards	收拾茶具Collect Cups	解說人員Narrators	蔡昕妤 , 盧起萱
7:50pm	會後合影  Ending Group Photo	記錄組Recording team	Chang Li-Hsiang
8:00pm	活動結束Finished	E-mail	icetea8@gmail.com
		聯繫電話Contact Tel	(02)23316636(ext213)

http://teaarts.blogspot.com/2007/02/1st-wu-wo-tea-ceremony-fallbrook-ca.html