Tea Life: Zen and Tea - Thoughts on a Lecture by Tea Master Genshitsu Sen (Soshitsu Sen XV)

Spirit of the heart, quietness and tranquility -- this is what links together the concepts of Zen and Tea. Going into their history and background would take a long time. However, devotees of Tea are reminded that the art was founded in a troubled period of civil war in the eras of Onin and Bummei (1467-1480). One of the points of etiquette that developed was that no one should take part in the tea ceremony with a sword in his belt.