Shoro-an
The Hilo Tea House in Lili`uokalani Gardens
History
Shoro-an (The Pine Ocean House) the Hilo tea house in Lili`uokalani Gardens is a place specifically created for the teaching and practice of Japanese tea ceremony in the tradition of the Urasenke School of Tea.
Built in 1997, it was a gift from Sen Soshitsu XV, the fifteenth grand master of the Urasenke School of Tea in Kyoto Japan. Dr. Sen started Urasenke in Hawaii in 1951. Multiple donations from the community contributed to the building of Shoro-an.
The tea house garden was designed and installed by Fred Nonaka of Waimea, Hawai`i Island. He was a longtime friend of Kazuo Nakamura, a notable landscape architect from Kyoto Japan who built the first tea house’s garden in 1972. Many of the rocks, walkways, as well as the tsukubai (water basin) from the old tea house garden were relocated in the present one.
Urasenke Tankokai Hilo Association was organized in 1971.
The Urasenke School of Tea
The Urasenke teachings of Chado come from a long tradition. From its introduction into Japan in the early ninth century and until the twelfth century, the drinking of tea was confined to the Japanese court aristocrach and Buddhist ceremonies. The Rinzai Zen tradition, one of three sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism, was introduced to Japan from China along with matcha, the powdered form of tea.
In the sixteenth century, tea master Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591) established the foundations of Chado as we know them today. After his death, his descendants established three schools in Kyoto: Urasenke, Omotesenke, and Mushakojisenke.
In the twentieth century, his descendant Tantansai (1893-1964), the fourteenth-generation grand master, began introducing the tradition of Tea abroad. He gave his heir Hounsai the mission to spread international appreciation of the Way of Tea. Through his dynamic efforts Urasenke has become the largest tradition of Chado both in Japan and around the world.
Hounsai brought the Urasenke tradition to Hawaii in 1951. He later became the fifteenth-generation grand master Sen Soshitsu XV. His first steps onto Hawaiian soil were also the first steps of his dream of making Chado an international bridge for peace. In 2002 his son, Zabosai Sen Soshitsu XVI, succeeded as the sixteenth-generation grand master in the Urasenke line.
Photo above is Otemae with Dr. Genshitsu Sen, retired Grand Master of Urasenke, with K.T. Cannon-Eger, sensei Clara Koga, and Amy Nishiura. photo by Philippe Nault 2014
The Philosophy of Chado
The underlying philosophy of tea evolved from Zen Buddhism. Zen is the Japanese counterpart of the Chinese word chan, which is a translation of the Sanskrit word dhyana, meaning meditation that leads to deep spiritual insight. Both Tea and Zen emphasize a way of training body and mind in awareness that has the potential to become a rigorous spiritual discipline.
Wabi-Cha: Since the introduction of tea from China by Buddhist monks in Japan in the 9th century, tea ceremony developed as a transformational practice and began to evolve its own aesthetic, in particular that of wabi meaning quiet or sober refinement, or subdued taste.
Ichi-Go Ichi-E: By the 16th century, tea drinking had spread to all levels of society in Japan. Urasenke founder Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), perhaps the most well-known and still revered historical figure in tea ceremony, followed his master Takeno Joo’s concept of ichi-go ichi-e, a belief that each meeting should be treasured, for it can never be repeated.
The philosophy of Chado is summarized into four concepts: Harmony, Respect, Purity, and Tranquility that comes with the realization of the first three principles.
Chado, the Japanese Way of Tea
Chado (“cha” tea + “do” way) is the Japanese “Way of Tea.” Also known as chanoyu or tea ceremony, it is simply a ritual that features preparing a bowl of tea and serving it to guests. The type of tea used in chanoyu is matcha, which is powdered tea whipped into hot water.
Served with a respectful heart and received with gratitude, a bowl of tea satisfies both physical and spiritual thirst. The tea ceremony is traditionally performed in a cha-shitsu, a detached tea house or more simply a dedicated tea room inside a house. Built with great care, a tea room is designed with the appreciation of beauty in the refined simplicity of natural materials.
The Tea Plant
The tea plant (Camellia Sinensis) probably originated in the mountainous region of southern Asia and from there was brought to China. At first it was used as medicine, but by the Tang dynasty (618-907) it came to be drunk mainly for enjoyment of its flavor.
As time passed, Asian countries developed many ways to prepare tea such as “cake” tea, steeped tea leaves, or fermented tea leaves. Tea was so important that it was the subject of a three-volume work called Chajing, the Classic of Tea. At that time, tea leaves were pressed into brick form. To prepare tea, shavings were taken and mixed with various flavorings, such as ginger or salt, and boiled. Later during the Song dynasty (1127-1280), green tea leaves were steamed, dried, and then ground into powder.
The tea used in chanoyu is picked fresh, steamed and then ground into a green, chlorophyll-rich powder called matcha.
1972 Origins
An Urasenke tea house has been part of Lili`uokalani Gardens since 1972. The original tea house was destroyed by arson in 1994. The rebuilt Shoroan was opened here in a more accessible and visible location in 1997. Tea classes are held four times a week: twice in Japanese and twice in English. See schedule and contact information below.
Classes at Shoro-an
The Urasenke Tankokai Hilo Association classes are held at Shoro-an Tea House in Lili`uokalani Gardens, Banyan Drive, Hilo on the following days:
Japanese speaking classes: Monday 9 a.m.-12 pm.
English speaking classes: Tuesday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Contact Us
Mail
101 Hoaloha Street
Hilo HI 96720
Location
Liliʻuokalani Gardens
Banyan Drive
Hilo, Hawaiʻi
County of Hawai`i, Department of Parks & Recreation: All members of the public shall be entitled to the equal benefit of the park facilities. The volunteer groups shall not favor or discriminate against any person or group of persons on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, or national origin regarding such use or access. “Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.”