Tea was introduced to Japan from China in the 7th century. In the 12th century, a man named Eisal wrote about tea's health benefits and his student Do-gen brought tea ceremony rituals from China. Do-gen established a tea ceremony tradition called Cha-no-yu that focused on harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. The tea ceremony is a complex ritual with many steps, including cleansing, preparing powdered green tea, and sharing tea in a social yet status-blind setting.

1. By: Matthew H. and Minjie Y.