Time Schedule:
Timothy P. Olson
ART H 317
Seattle Campus
History, theory, and practice of chado, or Way of Tea, a Zen-inspired art that has had notable effects on Japanese society. Lectures on esthetics and cultural history supplemented by participation in chado, with the goal of developing sufficient understanding and skill to continue chado as a discipline.
Class description
NOTE: There is a $150 studio fee for this course.
You must be able to sit in a kneeling position for up to 15 minutes to take this course.
Instructor email address: tpo@u.washington.edu
If you are trying to get into the class, you should plan to attend the first class meeting since the first lecture is very important and it will be difficult for you to catch up if you miss it.
The course traces the evolution of tea drinking in Japan from the monastic ritual imported from China and an amusement among the early Samurai to its culmination as an aesthetic and ethical discipline which has had profound influence on the arts of Japan since the 16th Century through the �Wabi� ideal of beauty and the spirit of Zen. Patterns of movement for guest and host, the aesthetics of the tea setting and utensils are experienced first hand in the studio. Weekly lecture: Tuesdays, 2:30-4:20 , weekly studio (off campus-Seattle Japanese Garden): Wednesday 2-3:50pm, Thursday, 2-3:50pm and Friday, 2-3:50pm.
Because of space and equipment limitations for the studio sections, NO ADD CODES can be given for this course. Students may switch to a studio other than the one signed up for only if they can find a student in the desired studio section willing to trade with them.
Studio is located in the teahouse of the Washington Park Arboretum Japanese Garden (approximately 15 minutes from campus by car, up to 1 hour by bus). Carpooling possibilities explored at first lecture.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Weekly lecture explores the history and aesthetics of the way of tea through talks, slides, and films. Studio sessions acquaint students with actual tearoom practices through one-on-one instruction and performance of the roles of guest and host.
Recommended preparation
The ability to sit, Japanese-style (kneeling position), on the tatami floor is required. Experience in Japanese language, culture, or art history is useful but not necessary. Most of the lecture material will be completely new to you, there is a lot of it, and much of the terminology is Japanese, so fluency in English, and excellent note-taking skills and memorizing ability are necessary for success in this course.
Class assignments and grading
Required reading in _Tea in Japan_ (available to borrow in the Art Library or for purchase at the Bookstore) and studio handbook (available from instructor) supports both lecture material and studio practice. A short (six- to seven-page) research paper will be assigned)
Results of mid-term and final exams, research paper, studio performance are given equal weight and averaged to determine the final grade. Lecture material as assembled by instructor is not readily available elsewhere (i.e., on a website), so attendance at lectures is critical to success in the examinations.
