Waiting for Spring in the Cold: A Tubular Tea Bowl and the February Tea Ceremony

February is also known as "Kisaragi" and is the season when the calendar marks the beginning of spring. While hearing the word "risshun" brings to mind the arrival of spring, it is actually the coldest time of the year. The cold of winter still lingers in the wind, mornings and evenings are bitterly chilly, and it is not uncommon for it to snow. However, even in the midst of this cold, there are times when you can suddenly feel signs of spring.

In the world of tea ceremony, the change of seasons is expressed through tools and setting. During this time of year, the "tube tea bowl" is used as a way to ward off the cold. A tube tea bowl has a small diameter and a deep cylindrical shape, and is characterized by the fact that the water inside the bowl does not cool down easily. When you take a sip of matcha tea brewed in this tea bowl on a chilly winter morning, the warmth of the rising steam will slowly seep into your body.

Tubular tea bowls reflect the atmosphere of the season not only through their shape, but also through the color and texture of the glaze. For example, tea bowls with deep lapis lazuli or black glazes are reminiscent of winter night skies and frozen earth. On the other hand, tea bowls with white glazes or powdered glazes seem to express the tranquility of a snowy landscape. When you pick up such a tea bowl, you will feel a quiet sense of anticipation for the coming of spring in the midst of the cold.

The hanging scrolls in the alcove and the flowers at the tea ceremony also cherish the elegance of waiting for spring. Sometimes a hanging scroll with the words "Playing with flowers fills your clothes with fragrance" is hung. This means that when you pick up a flower, its fragrance fills your clothes, and it makes you feel the arrival of spring. When this hanging scroll is hung in the tea room, it suddenly feels like spring is just around the corner, and you can't wait for the warm breezes.

A single camellia placed in the limited space of a tea room reflects the image of a flower enduring the cold while waiting for spring, and it leaves a deep impression on the viewer. In particular, the swollen bud just before blooming exudes a sense of life, and its modest beauty harmonizes perfectly with the atmosphere of the tea ceremony.

In general, flower arrangements are often made with blooming flowers in lavish arrangements, but at tea ceremonies, buds are used to express a refined aesthetic. Camellia buds are said to contain more lively energy than blooming ones, and their appearance, combined with the tranquility of the tea room, creates a dignified atmosphere.

A tea ceremony in February can be said to be a time to find and feel the signs of spring, even though it is still bitterly cold. As you place your hand on the cylindrical tea bowl, feeling its warmth, and suddenly discover signs of spring in the scenery before your eyes, it is moments like these that are the charm of the tea ceremony, unique to this season.

It is in the cold that we truly appreciate the value of hot tea. And by feeling the seasonal flavors contained within it, we can more deeply appreciate the transition from winter to spring.