ARTH 032. Matcha and Sencha: The Arts of Japanese Tea Culture

This course explores the rich cultural practice of chanoyu, the “Japanese tea ceremony,” which emerged around the preparation of powdered green tea. We will examine the ritual, aesthetic, and institutional history of this practice from the 12th century to the present and consider the various cultural forms-painting, calligraphy, ceramics, architecture, garden design, religious ritual, performance, food preparation, and flower arrangement-that were integrated into and developed through chanoyu. Discussions will include the place of Zen Buddhism in the history of chanoyu, the role of chanoyu in Japanese aesthetic discourse and art collecting practices, and the impact of chanoyu on contemporary productions of architecture, lacquerware, metalware, and ceramics. We will learn the formal procedures of preparing tea (temae) and visit Shofuso, the Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia.
Arts and Humanities.
Writing course.
1 credit.
Fall 2026. Sakomura.
Fall 2027 Sakomura.
Catalog chapter: Art History
Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/art-history

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