19 May 2014

Basic Haiken for Thick Tea

Vocabulary:

  • Tea caddy for thick tea: chaire (茶入)
  • Pottery: kamamoto (窯元)
  • Silk pouch with drawstrings for holding the tea caddy: shifuku (仕覆)
  • Fabric: kireji (布地)
  • Stitching: shitate (仕立て)

Haiken dialogue for koicha:

After all the guests drink and the first guest returns the chawan and the host sets it on the floor:

O-kyaku-sama:
“O chawan wa?”
“What kind of tea bowl is it?”

The host’s response will vary depending on the bowl.

O-kyaku-sama:
“Douzo, o-chaire o-chashaku o-shifuku no haiken onegai itashimasu?”
“May I please have a closer look at the tea caddy, tea scoop, and pouch?”

The host purifies the implements and leaves them for the guest to examine. When the host returns:

O-kyaku-sama:
“O-chaire no katachi wa?”
“What type of tea caddy is this?”

Teishu: response varies

O-kyaku-sama:
“O-kamamoto wa?”
“What type of pottery is it?”

Teishu: response varies

O-kyaku-sama:
“O-chashaku no saku wa?”
“Who made the tea scoop?”

Teishu:
“Zabousai o-iemoto de gozaimasu.”
“It was made by Zabosai, the head of the Urasenke school.”

O-kyaku-sama:
“Go-mei wa?”
“What is the name of the tea scoop?”

Teishu:
“Wakei/Buji chashaku de gozaimasu.”
“The name of the tea scoop is ”harmony/peace“ (or whatever the host chooses).”

O-kyaku-sama:
“O-shifuku no kireji wa?”
“What kind of fabric was used for the pouch?”

Teishu: response varies

O-kyaku-sama:
“O-shitate wa?”
“Who did the stitching?”

Teishu: response varies

O-kyaku-sama:
“Arigatou gozaimashita.”
“Thank you.”