Presentation Schedule
Why Do We Drink Tea? – Hermeneutical Interpretations of the Tea Ceremony in the Context of Religious Rituals (104485)
Session Chair: Sentijungla Sentijungla
Monday, 11 May 2026 15:55
Session: Session 4
Room: Room G403 (4F)
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
The fifteenth grand master of the Urasenke school, Sen no Genshitsu, once declared that tea is a religious act, regardless of how others may perceive it. At first, such a statement may appear extreme: how can an activity as ordinary as preparing or drinking tea be regarded as a religious practice?
Scholarly analyses of the tea ceremony have addressed this question from various perspectives. D. T. Suzuki’s phenomenological approach emphasized metaphysical arguments through intuitive insight but has often been criticized for its dogmatic tendencies and lack of empirical validation. More recently, anthropological work—such as that conducted by Jennifer Anderson—has sought to analyze the tea ceremony through observable social functions and cultural practices, offering suggestions more empirically grounded but sometimes overlooks the subtle experiences practitioners undergo.
This study aims to integrate above and related discussions by presenting a hermeneutical interpretation of the tea ceremony grounded in textual analysis, ritual studies, and performance theory. Rather than viewing the tea ceremony solely as an expression of ineffable Zen experience or as a socially constructed procedure, I propose that the practice functions as a ritualistic activity designed to evoke specific embodied and pragmatic effects for its participants. Through highly prescribed forms, symbolic minimalism, ritualized egalitarianism, and heightened awareness, the tea ceremony cultivates modes of perception and comportment deeply informed by Zen Buddhist philosophy.
Authors:
Eiji Suhara, Arizona State University, United States
About the Presenter(s)
Dr Eiji Suhara is a University Assistant Professor/Lecturer at Arizona State University in United States
See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule
Conference Comments & Feedback
Place a comment using your LinkedIn profileShare this Presentation
Comments
Powered by WP LinkPress