Wu-Wo tea ceremony

Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony (Chinese: 無我茶會) is a style of Chinese tea ceremony that encourages participants to forget about knowledge, wealth, and appearance to establish a group equality without prejudice. This concept of Wu-Wo is shown in the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony.

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

References: 書名 : 無我茶會180條作者 : 蔡榮章中華國際無我茶會推廣協會出版年 : 1999 The book is written in Chinese, Grand Tea MasterTsai, Rong Tsang and Tea Arts Master Instructor Steven Randy Jones translated the English equivalent of the reference information. ( Title: Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, 180 Steps Author: Tsai, Rong-Tsang International Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony Association Published: 1999 ) Grand Master Tsai Rong Tsang, (蔡榮章), is also the Director of the Department of Tea Arts, Tea College

Concept

“Wu” and “Wo” are actually Chinese words with philosophical meaning. The word “wu” (無/无) means a void or absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine; it is therefore like an infinite space. The word “wo” (我) means mine, self or being. When joined, these words almost seem like a contradiction in terms: the word, “wo”, seems like being and the word, “wu”, seems like not being. The typical interpretation of “Wu-Wo” (無我/无我), however, means to empty one's mind to the degree that it becomes like an infinite void, itself a state of edgelessness, such that it neither senses, seeks to sense, (as nothing can be beyond its "bounds"), nor can be sensed. It is, simply and purely, just “being,” without physical, mental, or emotional attachments.

Symbol

A "circular rainbow" is the symbol for the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. A rainbow is made of seven basic colors which, 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 flag'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, and appearance, and try to forget these things and transcend.

History

Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony began in Taiwan. Grand Master Tsai, Rong Tsang is the director of “Lu-Yu Tea Culture Institute” and the founder of the “Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony.” He has played an active part in the growth of this once small group from Taiwan (almost twenty years ago) into a now International Organization. Now Grand Master Tsai, Rong Tsang and Tea Arts Master Instructor Steven Randy Jones are writing in English to help expose people to the joys of tea and to further extend the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. On Nov. 16, 2008 at 7:00-7:45pm, the "First Autumn Maple Forest Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony", (第一届枫林之夜无我茶会) was organized by Steven R. Jones, of the Tenfu Tea College, Department of Tea Arts. This Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony was a bi-language tea gathering with banners and narration conducted in English to promote international tea culture.

International Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony Chronicle ( 歷屆國際無我茶會舉辦日期與地點 )

First conducted in Taipei, Taiwan on Dec. 18, 1990 第一屆 1990.12.18 台北市

2. Wuyi Mountain, Fujian, Oct. 17, 1991 第二屆 1991.10.17 福建省武夷山

3. Kyoto, Japan, Nov. 09, 1992 第三屆 1992.11.09 日本京都

4. Seoul and Iksan, Korea, Oct. 13, 1993 第四屆 1993.10.13 韓國首爾 益山

5. Wuyi Mountain, Fujian, Oct. 27, 1995 第五屆 1995.10.27 福建省武夷山

6. Taipei, Taiwan, Nov. 22, 1997 第六屆 1997.11.22 台北市

7. Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Oct. 16, 1999 第七屆 1999.10.16 浙江省杭州市

8. Shizuoka, Japan, Oct. 07, 2001 第八屆 2001.10.07 日本靜岡

9. Singapore, Aug. 23, 2003 第九屆 2003.08.23 新加坡

10. Wuyi Mountain, Fujian Nov. 03, 2005 第十屆 2005.11.03 武夷山

11. Seoul and Iksan, Korea, Oct. 12, 2007 第十一屆 2007.10.12 韓國首爾 益山

12. America, West Coast, Autumn 2009 第十二屆 2009年 秋天 計劃在美國西海岸舉辦

Maple Fall Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony

枫林之夜无我茶会

Maple Fall Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony

Tenfu Tea College

Original name of "First Autumn Maple Forest Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony", now as of 2009 called "Maple Fall Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony"

第一屆 2008.11.16 日晚地点天福茶学院陆羽广场 1. Lu-Yu Square, Tenfu Tea College, Nov. 16, 2008 7:00-7:45pm

第二屆 2009.11.22 日晚地点天福茶学院陆羽广场, 2. Lu-Yu Square, Tenfu Tea College, Nov. 22, 2009 7:00-7:45pm

See also

• Tea
• Tea Incense
• Tea Ceremony
• Taiwanese Tea Ceremony
• Perennial Tea Ceremony
• Gongfu Tea Ceremony
• Tenfu Tea College

External links

• Tenfu Tea College 天福茶學院
• Wu-Wo Paper
• Tea Arts, Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, English Site
• Official Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony (無我茶會), Chinese Site
• NEW-Tea Culture Monthly 'Official', Lu-Yu Tea Culture Institute(茶藝月刊, 陸羽茶藝中心工作報告)
• Tea Culture Monthly, Lu-Yu Tea Culture Institute(茶藝月刊, 陸羽茶藝中心工作報告)
• SPEECH BY MR HAWAZI DAIPI, SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY
• Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware, Hong Kong Museum of Art