Presented by Yūyūsai Sen Sosa XV
For Peace and Harmony on Earth

The tradition of the study of the Japanese tea ceremony, referred to as Chanoyu, is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Japan.  Chanoyu bears strong ritualistic connections with the Zen sect of Buddhism and the Shinto religion of Japan.  The connection between the Way of Tea and these religious sects can be seen in the Kencha ceremony.

Kencha originated as a ritualistic offering of tea to a religious deity, or a memorial offering.  The nature of the offering itself is one of gratitude, specifically towards figures of the past to whom the we are indebted in the present.  While Chanoyu does not necessarily have religious objectives, it does intersect the ecclesiastical Zen and Shinto traditions of worship through this expression of thanks.

There are types of tea ceremonies, such as Kucha, that memorialize individuals from the past through offerings.  Kencha is of the highest rank of these ceremonies as the offering of gratitude is made to deities or to important figures of the past.  Given the prestigious nature of the Kencha offering, the presentation is usually reserved for the headmaster and members of his family or direct disciples.