2022-10-23
Wakin
- When exiting for haiken, as in earlier notes, press the top of the wakin with R ring finger.
- There is no particular orientation for the chashaku. The idea of having the tsuyu over the chaki is only something we do in gyo no gyo (maybe in juuden).
- You should avoid when going to mizusashi.
- The entire group is precious (nakatsugi, chashaku, wakin). The wakin is the most important piece, but in totality, it’s precious.
- However, avoiding the wakin is too large and awkward. Avoid the nakatsugi when you go around, and that should be sufficient.
Other random notes:
- 4.5 mat room layout - Furo layout is different than ro layout!
- Furo: The hanjo is at the fumikomi-datami, and it’s oriented to face along with the temae-datami (ie a big runway). The remaining three mats are arranged as a sanjo, ie one horizontal kinindatami and two vertical tatami adjacent.
- Ro: This one is the mandala orientation, with the hanjo in the center (and the heri on the hanjo oriented parallel to the temaedatami).
- Shikaden, using your fukusa is OPTIONAL.
- Tenmokujawan, when wiping both with ring finger and with chakin, you should wipe around the rim. Rather than catch the drip by drawing a “stripe” up the chawan, you should start around 2 o’clock and wipe around the entire rim.
- Drinking from a rakujawan, you should place a hand down when responding for ofukukagen. You do not do this with tenmokujawan.
- When using a shomenguchi in okuden:
- Mawarisado, you always turn the same direction, ie with your back facing the guest.
- With shomenguchi, you have the opportunity to turn either direction (as you need to turn 180).
- He is okay with me turning toward the guests with some things, away from the guests with other things. This is not an orthodox setup anyway.
- Holding the dai:
- I like the idea of “no thumb in the udon” when you’re turning with a bare dai, but bringing your thumbs in completely when you have a laden dai (for stability).
- He said he’s fine with it, so this is how I’m going to do it.
- Urasenke always uses a shin chasen, even for koicha, for all temae.
- Hishaku handling:
- Okibishaku final positioning should be just below the fushi. Not all the way down as I was originally trained.
- Kiribishaku, you should make an L instead of a V (ie horizontal thumb). Also, do not slide down the hishaku! Stay in one place.
- Otoshikomi, the chashaku doesn’t need to be on it’s side or anything. Placing it in the bowl, it’s okay if the tsuyu faces upward (vs staying nestled in the tea and on its side).
- During haiken, chashaku should be at 7 sun, which is exactly half of the ro.
- This is my hand span (14 mei), which makes this rather easy.
- Corollary, kantsuki is also my hand span deep.
Teaching notes:
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On having one sensei in the room, and guests feeling like they need to comment on temae:
There are two important tatami in the room; the temaedatami and the kyakudatami. Knowledge flows out of the temaedatami and into the kyakudatami. You may feel like you know what’s going on when you sit on the kyakudatami, but somehow when you sit on the temaedatami, it all leaks out.
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On emotions:
As a teacher, you’re also sometimes therapist and psychologist. […] Sometimes you need to deprogram them from their old habits and show them that it’s safe.
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On teaching:
You need to be strict, kind, and welcoming.