TEA AND BUDDHISM
TEA AND BUDDHISM
History and Spiritual Connection
“Tea and Zen are one taste.” (Classic Zen saying)
ABOUT
The relationship between tea and Buddhism runs deep, dating back over a thousand years. More than just a beverage, tea has long served as a tool for awakening, a companion in meditation, and a silent witness to spiritual refinement. Buddhist monks in China, Korea, and Japan cultivated and drank tea to support clarity during long hours of meditation. Over time, this practical habit evolved into a cultural and spiritual ritual. In Zen temples, tea was not only for sustenance; it became a symbol of harmony, simplicity, and attentiveness. This union of tea and Buddhism gave rise to some of the most refined tea traditions in East Asia. From the solemn silence of a Japanese tea room to the warm hospitality of Korean temple tea, the legacy continues.
HISTORY AND CONNECTION
Tea was introduced into monastic life in China during the Tang Dynasty, where Buddhist monks valued its properties for supporting mindfulness and reducing fatigue. As Buddhism spread, so did tea cultivation, especially near temples in mountainous areas, where monks cared for the land as part of their spiritual practice. Korean monks were among the first to bring Chinese tea seeds and practices back home. Tea offerings to Buddha became common during rituals in major temples, and tea fields were often planted in sacred temple grounds. Monks in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) developed their own ceremonial styles, which later became part of Korean court life. In Japan, tea arrived through Buddhist pilgrimages to China. The Zen monk Eisai played a key role in popularizing tea in the 12th century, not only promoting it as a health tonic but also as a spiritual ally. His writings encouraged its use among monks for meditation and health.
JAPAN: ZEN AND THE WAY OF TEA
Zen Buddhism had a profound influence on the Japanese way of tea. During the Muromachi period, tea gatherings transformed into spiritual rituals influenced by the values of wabi-sabi, simplicity, imperfection, and natural beauty. This transformation culminated in the work of Sen no Rikyū, who shaped chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) into a refined spiritual practice. In chanoyu, every movement, from purifying utensils to whisking the matcha, is done with full presence. The space is minimal, often decorated only with a calligraphy scroll and seasonal flowers. The host and guest enter into a shared experience of silence, beauty, and mindfulness, embodying the Zen teaching that every moment is complete in itself.
Even today, many tea masters consider the way of tea (chadō) to be a form of living Zen.
KOREA: TEA AS RITUAL AND DAILY PRACTICE
Korean tea culture also draws directly from its Buddhist heritage. During the Unified Silla and Goryeo periods, tea played an important role in religious offerings and royal ceremonies. Monks used tea in rituals honoring Buddha, and many temples cultivated tea bushes in the surrounding mountains. Unlike the highly codified Japanese ceremony, Korean tea tradition remained simpler and more intimate. It was practiced as Darye, a “tea etiquette” for daily life, focused on sincerity and naturalness. Korean temple tea rituals were guided by mindfulness rather than strict formalism, often accompanied by conversation, chanting, or quiet reflection. Though traditional practices faded during the Joseon period and the colonial era, recent decades have seen a revival. Today, Buddhist temples across Korea welcome visitors to experience Seoncha — Korean Zen tea — as part of spiritual retreats and cultural programs.
THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF TEA
In both Japan and Korea, tea continues to be more than a drink. It is a ritual of attention, a way to pause, breathe, and reconnect. In Japanese Zen, the tea ceremony offers a path to inner clarity. Preparing and sharing a bowl of tea becomes a meditation in action, reflecting the Buddhist ideal of living each moment with intention and presence. In Korean Seon, tea is a form of communion. Monastics and lay people alike share tea to calm the mind and open the heart. The ceremony may be accompanied by sutra reading, poetry, or silence, each element inviting a deeper sense of harmony.
In both cultures, the act of serving tea becomes an offering: to the guest, to the moment, to the teachings of Buddha.
TEA AND BUDDHISM TODAY
At AN SHIM TEA, we see this living tradition continuing today. In Japan, tea rooms still serve as places of spiritual practice, especially in Kyoto and Uji. In Korea, monasteries integrate tea rituals into their daily rhythm, preserving the lineage of mindful tea. Modern practitioners and tea lovers around the world are rediscovering the connection between tea and contemplation. Whether it’s a formal tea ceremony or a quiet moment with a bowl of green tea, the essence remains the same: presence, simplicity, and respect.
“Tea and Zen are one taste.” (Classic Zen saying)
ABOUT
The relationship between tea and Buddhism runs deep, dating back over a thousand years. More than just a beverage, tea has long served as a tool for awakening, a companion in meditation, and a silent witness to spiritual refinement. Buddhist monks in China, Korea, and Japan cultivated and drank tea to support clarity during long hours of meditation. Over time, this practical habit evolved into a cultural and spiritual ritual. In Zen temples, tea was not only for sustenance; it became a symbol of harmony, simplicity, and attentiveness. This union of tea and Buddhism gave rise to some of the most refined tea traditions in East Asia. From the solemn silence of a Japanese tea room to the warm hospitality of Korean temple tea, the legacy continues.
HISTORY AND CONNECTION
Tea was introduced into monastic life in China during the Tang Dynasty, where Buddhist monks valued its properties for supporting mindfulness and reducing fatigue. As Buddhism spread, so did tea cultivation, especially near temples in mountainous areas, where monks cared for the land as part of their spiritual practice. Korean monks were among the first to bring Chinese tea seeds and practices back home. Tea offerings to Buddha became common during rituals in major temples, and tea fields were often planted in sacred temple grounds. Monks in the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) developed their own ceremonial styles, which later became part of Korean court life. In Japan, tea arrived through Buddhist pilgrimages to China. The Zen monk Eisai played a key role in popularizing tea in the 12th century, not only promoting it as a health tonic but also as a spiritual ally. His writings encouraged its use among monks for meditation and health.
JAPAN: ZEN AND THE WAY OF TEA
Zen Buddhism had a profound influence on the Japanese way of tea. During the Muromachi period, tea gatherings transformed into spiritual rituals influenced by the values of wabi-sabi, simplicity, imperfection, and natural beauty. This transformation culminated in the work of Sen no Rikyū, who shaped chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) into a refined spiritual practice. In chanoyu, every movement, from purifying utensils to whisking the matcha, is done with full presence. The space is minimal, often decorated only with a calligraphy scroll and seasonal flowers. The host and guest enter into a shared experience of silence, beauty, and mindfulness, embodying the Zen teaching that every moment is complete in itself.
Even today, many tea masters consider the way of tea (chadō) to be a form of living Zen.
KOREA: TEA AS RITUAL AND DAILY PRACTICE
Korean tea culture also draws directly from its Buddhist heritage. During the Unified Silla and Goryeo periods, tea played an important role in religious offerings and royal ceremonies. Monks used tea in rituals honoring Buddha, and many temples cultivated tea bushes in the surrounding mountains. Unlike the highly codified Japanese ceremony, Korean tea tradition remained simpler and more intimate. It was practiced as Darye, a “tea etiquette” for daily life, focused on sincerity and naturalness. Korean temple tea rituals were guided by mindfulness rather than strict formalism, often accompanied by conversation, chanting, or quiet reflection. Though traditional practices faded during the Joseon period and the colonial era, recent decades have seen a revival. Today, Buddhist temples across Korea welcome visitors to experience Seoncha — Korean Zen tea — as part of spiritual retreats and cultural programs.
THE SPIRITUAL DIMENSION OF TEA
In both Japan and Korea, tea continues to be more than a drink. It is a ritual of attention, a way to pause, breathe, and reconnect. In Japanese Zen, the tea ceremony offers a path to inner clarity. Preparing and sharing a bowl of tea becomes a meditation in action, reflecting the Buddhist ideal of living each moment with intention and presence. In Korean Seon, tea is a form of communion. Monastics and lay people alike share tea to calm the mind and open the heart. The ceremony may be accompanied by sutra reading, poetry, or silence, each element inviting a deeper sense of harmony.
In both cultures, the act of serving tea becomes an offering: to the guest, to the moment, to the teachings of Buddha.
TEA AND BUDDHISM TODAY
At AN SHIM TEA, we see this living tradition continuing today. In Japan, tea rooms still serve as places of spiritual practice, especially in Kyoto and Uji. In Korea, monasteries integrate tea rituals into their daily rhythm, preserving the lineage of mindful tea. Modern practitioners and tea lovers around the world are rediscovering the connection between tea and contemplation. Whether it’s a formal tea ceremony or a quiet moment with a bowl of green tea, the essence remains the same: presence, simplicity, and respect.
SEONCHA: KOREAN ZEN TEA
Seoncha, meaning "Zen tea" in Korean, refers to the meditative tea practice rooted in Korean Seon Buddhism, the Korean counterpart to Chinese Chan and Japanese Zen. More than a style of drinking tea, Seoncha is a spiritual practice that integrates tea into the rhythm of monastic and mindful life. While Japan's chanoyu is structured and ceremonial, Seoncha is more fluid, quiet, and personal, embodying the Korean aesthetic of jeong (deep affection and connection) and the Seon ideal of direct experience beyond words and rituals.
Seon Buddhism emphasizes simplicity, discipline, and insight through meditation. In this context, tea is not a performance, but a natural extension of daily mindfulness — a companion to meditation, chanting, and quiet reflection. Historical records trace tea’s integration into Korean monastic life as early as the 7th–9th centuries, especially in temples like Ssanggyesa on Mount Jirisan. Tea trees were often planted near temples, tended by monks who used tea both as an offering to the Buddha and as a support for long hours of sitting meditation. In Seon tradition, the preparation and sharing of tea is viewed as a non-verbal Dharma teaching — a living example of presence, respect, and unity.
Seoncha is still practiced in Korean Buddhist temples, especially during templestay programs, where lay visitors experience monastic life. Monks and nuns often lead tea meditation sessions, introducing guests to the calm and simplicity of this living tradition. In a fast-paced world, Seoncha offers a space for slowing down and reconnecting. It teaches us that peace doesn't require elaborate rituals, only sincerity, awareness, and the willingness to be fully present with a bowl of tea.
Seoncha, meaning "Zen tea" in Korean, refers to the meditative tea practice rooted in Korean Seon Buddhism, the Korean counterpart to Chinese Chan and Japanese Zen. More than a style of drinking tea, Seoncha is a spiritual practice that integrates tea into the rhythm of monastic and mindful life. While Japan's chanoyu is structured and ceremonial, Seoncha is more fluid, quiet, and personal, embodying the Korean aesthetic of jeong (deep affection and connection) and the Seon ideal of direct experience beyond words and rituals.
Seon Buddhism emphasizes simplicity, discipline, and insight through meditation. In this context, tea is not a performance, but a natural extension of daily mindfulness — a companion to meditation, chanting, and quiet reflection. Historical records trace tea’s integration into Korean monastic life as early as the 7th–9th centuries, especially in temples like Ssanggyesa on Mount Jirisan. Tea trees were often planted near temples, tended by monks who used tea both as an offering to the Buddha and as a support for long hours of sitting meditation. In Seon tradition, the preparation and sharing of tea is viewed as a non-verbal Dharma teaching — a living example of presence, respect, and unity.
Seoncha is still practiced in Korean Buddhist temples, especially during templestay programs, where lay visitors experience monastic life. Monks and nuns often lead tea meditation sessions, introducing guests to the calm and simplicity of this living tradition. In a fast-paced world, Seoncha offers a space for slowing down and reconnecting. It teaches us that peace doesn't require elaborate rituals, only sincerity, awareness, and the willingness to be fully present with a bowl of tea.
Andrei Ivanov
Founder of AN SHIM TEA
AN SHIM TEA ARTICLES
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