Chado
/ˈtɕa.doː/noun
The Japanese tea ceremony, understood as a disciplined aesthetic and spiritual practice centered on preparing and drinking matcha.
Did you know?Japanese tea culture was deeply shaped by Zen Buddhism, especially the ideal of finding profound beauty in simplicity, imperfection, and a single carefully prepared bowl.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
茶
“A word and character associated with tea; its pronunciation later developed into several regional forms.”
Tang Dynasty, 7th–10th Century
Middle Chinese
cha
“Tea, especially the form that spread westward through overland trade routes.”
8th Century
Japanese
茶
“Tea, introduced to Japan from China alongside Buddhist learning and monastic culture.”
12th Century
Japanese
茶の湯
“Tea water or tea gathering; an early expression of the developing Japanese tea practice.”
16th Century
Japanese
茶道
“The Way of Tea, associated with the formalized disciplines and aesthetics of the tea ceremony.”
Modern English
English
chado
“A transliteration of Japanese 茶道, referring to the Japanese tea ceremony and its wider philosophy.”