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Wabi-cha (??????????)is a style of Japanese tea ceremony
Japanese tea ceremony

What is commonly known in English as the Japanese tea ceremony is called chanoyu or also chado or sado in Japanese....
 particularly associated with Sen no Rikyu
Sen no Rikyu

is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on the Japanese tea ceremony, particularly the tradition of wabi-cha. Rikyu is known by many names; for convenience this article will refer to him as Rikyu throughout....
 and Takeno Joo
Takeno Joo

was a master of the Japanese tea ceremony and a well-known merchant during the Sengoku period of the 16th century in Japan.It is believed that the family descended from the Takeda clan who were guardians of Wakasa province....
 that emphasizes simplicity. The term came into use in the Edo era, prior to which it was known as wabi-suki.

History
By the latter years of the Muromachi period
Muromachi period

The was a division of History of Japan running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1336 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji....
, tea ceremony had become widespread, with a preference for expensive wares of Chinese
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
 origin (known as karamono). Wabi-cha evolved as part of a movement to appreciate local wares and simpler styles.

Rikyu began designing his own tea wares, sometimes having them made by local craftsmen.






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Wabi-cha (??????????)is a style of Japanese tea ceremony
Japanese tea ceremony

What is commonly known in English as the Japanese tea ceremony is called chanoyu or also chado or sado in Japanese....
 particularly associated with Sen no Rikyu
Sen no Rikyu

is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on the Japanese tea ceremony, particularly the tradition of wabi-cha. Rikyu is known by many names; for convenience this article will refer to him as Rikyu throughout....
 and Takeno Joo
Takeno Joo

was a master of the Japanese tea ceremony and a well-known merchant during the Sengoku period of the 16th century in Japan.It is believed that the family descended from the Takeda clan who were guardians of Wakasa province....
 that emphasizes simplicity. The term came into use in the Edo era, prior to which it was known as wabi-suki.

History


By the latter years of the Muromachi period
Muromachi period

The was a division of History of Japan running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Ashikaga shogunate, which was officially established in 1336 by the first Muromachi shogun, Ashikaga Takauji....
, tea ceremony had become widespread, with a preference for expensive wares of Chinese
China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
 origin (known as karamono). Wabi-cha evolved as part of a movement to appreciate local wares and simpler styles.

Rikyu began designing his own tea wares, sometimes having them made by local craftsmen. Raku
Raku

Raku-yaki , or Raku ware, is a type of Japanese pottery that is traditionally and primarily used in the Japanese tea ceremony in Japan, most often in the form of tea bowls....
 ware tea bowls originated from Rikyu having the tile maker named Raku Chojiro
Chojiro

was a Japanese ceramicist, creator of raku ware. He was the son of one Ameya, believed to be of Chinese origin. He worked at one time for Sen no Rikyu, the master of tea, at whose request he created teabowls to be used in the Chanoyu tea ceremony....
 create tea bowls for him. He even created his own objects to use in the tea room
Chashitsu

File:2002_kenrokuen_hanami_0123.jpgIn Japanese tradition, architectural spaces where Japanese tea ceremony gatherings are held are known as chashitsu ....
, including flower containers made of bamboo he cut himself.

Rikyu also refined the art of tea house design, with a preference for very simple and very small tea rooms, often of only two mats
Tatami

mats are a traditional type of Japanese flooring. Made of woven soft rush straw, and traditionally packed with rice straw , tatami are made in individual mats of uniform size and shape, bordered by brocade or plain cloth....
, and natural building materials, with little decoration.

Modern wabi-cha


Ironically, in modern times achieving the aura of rustic simplicity demanded by wabi-cha can be an expensive endeavour. Even the simple, cheap items used by Rikyu and his followers have gained both status and value: authentic Raku tea bowls, for example, are among the most expensive available today, and among the most sought after. Similarly, creating the look of simplicity promoted by Rikyu for tea rooms can also be very expensive.