A tea room is a place. It is a space.
The entrance is called “nijiriguchi,” and it is made so small that one must kneel to enter.
It can be considered a kind of birth canal.
Invited guests pass through the nijiriguchi and enter the room as individuals.
Once inside, they shed all worldly attributes and face each other as human beings.
They may talk about anything, but what is said must never be disclosed outside.
However, improper behavior is not allowed as a courtesy to the host.
Inside the room, one must follow the etiquette set by the host.
The tea room is neither a place for negotiation nor for debate.
While various topics can be discussed, improper behavior is not tolerated.
The tea room is fundamentally a place.
In the tea room, all unnecessary items must be removed.
Nothing should be placed except what is necessary.
The tea room is empty, and the host merely provides the space.
The tea room is a microcosm.
However, the host makes an effort to create a pleasant atmosphere.
The tea room should not be ostentatious.
It should be a refined space that captures and enhances everyday scenery.
Inside the room, tranquility and calmness are maintained.
In the tea room, there are no enemies or allies, no distinctions of rank, status, or gender. Everyone faces each other as individuals.
In other words, anyone who becomes a guest is treated equally and fairly before the host.
What matters is what one feels as a human being in that space.
That is the essence of mono no aware and wabi-sabi.