CHANOYU CENTER
OF CHICAGO
4901 W. Warwick Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
Phone
Fax

 

773.794.0504
773.794.1950


History

>Chanoyu - A Brief History
Chanoyu incorporates the essence of Japanese culture and its many arts. The tea used in chanoyu, matcha/green powdered tea, was brought to Japan by Zen monks returning from their studies in China. The serving of tea was popular with aristocrats who enjoyed showcasing their expensive tea utensils. The more humble style of tea, wabi tea, was formalized by Sen Rikyu, who identified four basic principles of tea: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. These four principles underlie all the practical rules of Tea and represent, at the same time, its highest ideas. Click here for detailed history.

 
>Chanoyu Center of Chicago - How we began
 In 1970 Rev. Gyomay Kubose, the founding minister of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago, and his wife, Minnie Somi Kubose built an 8-mat tearoom in their apartment on the northside of Chicago. Minnie Kubose began teaching chanoyu and this became the city's first place where Americans could study chanoyu in English. After 12 years of study with her mother, Joyce Sosho Kubose was accepted into and graduated from the Urasenke Midorikai program in 1988 after 3 years of study. She returned to Chicago and taught together with her mother. In 2001 Joyce established the Chanoyu Center of Chicago to continue and to offer more opportunities in the study of the Urasenke tradition of chanoyu in America. Click here for detailed summary
 

 

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