Nature and the changing of the seasons has greatly influenced Japan's art and culture, and plays an important role in Chanoyu. Chanoyu developed for the most part in the area of Kyôto. This part of Japan has a particular climate which has four distinct seasons in the year, each having about the same number of months. The winters are cold and with snow, but it is not so cold that it prevents flowers from blooming. Snow rarely lingers very long in town, although thin ice may form on the water in the tsukubai during the night.
In the mountains to the north, narcissus can be found blooming in December even if there is snow. The climate has undoubtable changed somewhat over the past centuries, but not enough to alter the essential feeling toward it that has prevailed in Kyôto.
Nature is perhaps the principle source of inspiration for the Japanese. Tea utensils may reflect nature by echoing particular seasons both in form and with their poetic names, Gomet.
The foods for the kaiseki meal should be representative of the season; thus that which is selected is at its peak of freshness.
Gomei, literally, most honoured name, are given to utensils, sweets, and other things related to Tea. Originally, names were given to various objects by great connoisseurs and Tea masters in the late Higashiyama period. The name of the owner of the object was often attached to the piece, while other names were inspired by poetry, Noh drama and other spheres of culture, especially Zen Buddhism.
Hatsuhana, first flower, the name of a famed chaire, was taken from a popular poem. Rikyti named the three bamboo hanaire which he had made. Onj&% the name of a temple, Yonaga, long night, and Shakuhach4 after the measurement of one shaku and eight sun: shakuhachi is also the name of a bamboo flute of the length. Oribe received a chashaku from Rikyfl, and after Rikyti's death Oribe called the chashaku Namida, tears.
Presently students who practice Chanoyu are asked by their teachers to think of gomei which are appropriate for that presentation. The gomei is often inspired by Zen Buddhism or that which reflects the season. A seasonal word is most appropriate when it is used at the time when the phenomenon occurs or just before.
For example Hanafubuk4 flower snow flurry, but it refers specifically to sakura, cherry-petals in profusion blowing like snow in the wind. It is best used as a gomei while the cherries are blooming and when they fall. Such words are best used in anticipation of an event rather than afterwards.
Meigetsu, famous moon, refers to the full moon of the eighth month according to the lunar calendar, as it appears on the 15th night. The meigetsu is the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox, around the 23rd of September. It is this particular moon that the Japanese most enjoy. In America, this is the same moon which has been most admired and is known as the harvest moon, which is a most appropriate gomei.
Because of the very strong feeling for the meigetsu, the Japanese hav& associated the moon with autumn. One exception is mikazuk4 three day moon, which carries a feeling of spring.
In Japan, three things are considered most beautiful; snow, the moon, and cherry blossoms, which are collectively called sestugekka Each is evanescent; snow quickly melts, the moon is forever changing, and the cherry blossoms lose their petals shortly after they bloom. Evanescence is a great part of their beauty.
Each of these is individually appreciated in different seasons. The snow, yuki, in winter, flowers, hana, in spring, and the moon, tsuk4 in autumn. Cool breezes, fyO£fU~ are most appreciated in summen The group of three places importance on the number three as it is a more auspicious number than four; four in Japanese, sh4 sounds like the word for death. Still the breezes are added for the fourth season.
Another example of a collective of three is san~yuA, three friends, which refers to pine, bamboo and plum, emblems of the coming spring and are used as decorations at New Year. They are called Shdchikubai. Shd or matsu is the evergreen pine denoting unchanging fidelity and extreme long life. Chiku or take is bamboo of great strength, flexibility, and usefulness. Bai or ume is the plum which demonstrates strength in adversity as it blooms in the coldest time of the year.
Certain flowers have become greatly admired, often because of their unique physical qualities. Their names are evoked when they are in season. Because of modern floristry, many flowers are available in markets often out of season. This is a blessing in climates where the bitter cold does not allow flowers to bloom, but problems arise.
For example, irises bloom around May and June in Kyôto. They are inextricably associated with boys and are displayed especially on the fifth day of the fifth month; the number five is also associated with the male. This holiday is presently called Kodomo no hi, Children's Day. Formally it was called Tango no sekku, tango means, looking for rushes which refers to the ancient custom of the emperor coflecting shdbu leaves which were put into the bath for strength and rejuvenation. Shdbu is a kind of iris, the name is a pun on win and loss. Iris leaves resemble sword blades and were thereby appropriate symbols for stalwart youths in a society which reveres such strengths. They are thought to dispel evil influences; bundles of leaves with mugwart are placed up on the roof of the eaves over the entrance to a house.
Kakitsubata, a member of the Iridaceae, are tall stemmed irises with bluepurple flowers. In the Nara period these flowers were rubbed onto fabric for their colour and hence the name. Thus, when irises from a florist are displayed in December, symbolically things become confused and the natural awareness of the season is destroyed.
Rikyfl gave us guidelines for chabana which can be applied to all of Chanoyu and of course this includes the use of poetic names. He said to arrange flowers as they are in the field. This is a very profound and far-reaching concept. 'naturalness' to observe nature and incorporate it into Chanoyu.
Tea followers in the southern hemisphere have seasons reversed from those in the north. Here they must, accordingly follow their own seasons with their own special gomei and chabana.
Things should be used in their own time; just as Jack-o-lan tern is out of place on a Valentine's Day buffet, so are certain things in the world of Chanoyu. You may wish to study further the relationship between nature and the Japanese to understand the special feeling that one appreciates in Chanoyu.