Chaji – Shoiri

First entering of the tea room in a tea gathering.

First Seki Iri

SHOZA, SHOIRI, FIRST Sekiiri (席入)

When everything (Jiku, Shiki Ko, Shimeshibai or Makibai, Shitabi, Nuregama, Tana, etc.) is ready in the Seki, Teishu takes Teoke from Mizuya to Nijiriguchi. NO lid on Teoke; Do NOT prepare then leave the teoke outside, even with lid. Teoke tend to leak and leave rings so be EXTRA CAREFUL.

Teishu goes to Tsukubai where he uses the water in the tsukubai and splashes water on surroundings before he purifies his hands left right left, mouth and last the handle of the scoop. Then moves Tsukubai-bishaku to side, pouring contents of teoke into Tsukubai, from crouching, then stand slowly so mizu makes a fresh sound but stays in the tsukubai. Replace tsukubai-bishaku. Dry hands. Take teoke back to nijiriguchi (Hanto can be of assistance here, taking the teoke from Teishu) then go to Chumon.

When Guest(s) hear tsukubai sound, prepare to stand for teishu, Shokyaku moves into roji toward teishu; all Guest(s) should be out of koshikake and be visible to teishu (in case of rain, only Shokyaku comes out with rojigasa). Silent bow exchanged and Teishu, closing chumon but leaving it unfastened, returns to nijiriguchi, climbs in but leaves door open – tegakari. Guest(s) wait and watch until Teishu is out of sight, just to be certain about what route to take.

Returning to the seki thru the nijiriguchi, the Teishu leaves his/her rojizori up against the wall of the seki and closes the nijiriguchi but for tegakari. Then Teishu runs to mizuya to get the shitabi and put them in the Ro or furo. The nuregama is then placed on the gotoku. Last sweep with zaboki. Open kama lid. Retire to mizuya, just as first Guest opens nijiri-guchi.

If for some reason, the Host is still in the tearoom when the Shokyaku opens the nijiriguchi, he/she should not hesitate but just continue entering, Haiken of the tokonoma, until the Host returns to the mizuya.

Tana – mizusashi on bottom shelf, kogo and feather on tana top shelf- (together with usuki, depending on number of shelves) or replaced by usuki after Haiken (SenRikyu kazari’ed kan sometimes)

Back at the koshikake, Shokyaku says to Jikyaku, Pardon me for going ahead of you. (O-SAKI NI)

And turns to lean his enza up against the back wall of the koshikake. Shokyaku proceeds down roji, taking in the freshness and purity. At tsukubai, put fan into obi and take out handkerchief, squat down (tsukubau) and use tsukubai-bishaku to rinse left, right hands, cup left and add water for mouth (just touch lips, spit out if actually imbibing water), then tip remainding water down handle to freshen it up. Return hishaku to same place where Teishu OR previous guest left it (unless it’s mistaken). It should be on its side, with the opening facing left, at a natural, easy to grasp angle, to the right.

Dry hands, take out fan, go to nijiriguchi, open it and put fan inside. Check direction of toko and slide into nijiriguchi. Turn and put roji footwear together below spot to which door opens. Teishu’s footwear should already be there. Proceed to toko and bow, Haiken scroll. Stand and go to kama and haiken it. If there is a tana – haiken it after kama. Go to Kariza.

In case of the hiroma, there is no nijiriguchi and after entering corridor, proceed to door of hachijo, which should be opened slightly-tegakari. Sitting, open and proceed as above. Slide in even though the door is tall.

All other Guest(s) repeat same procedure, allowing time between each for leisurely stroll through roji, use of tsukubai, entrance through nijiriguchi, placement of footwear, and haiken of tokonoma.

Once penultimate Guest has left, Tsume moves up koshikake, laying down all the Enza, stacks them back at the far end and turns the top one over, front to back, then returns the Tabako bon to the top of the stack, facing forward. Tsume also closes and locks chumon- roji gate. After using tsukubai and entering nijiriguchi, closes with a noticeable sound and locks nijiriguchi. At this point, teishu or hanto should come out with another bucket of water and pour it into the tsukubai. Teishu or hanto may pick up Koshikake Tabako bon.

Next: Kaiseki

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