the characteristics of temae

*the characteristics of temae
1. Flow and pause
the temae is not performed from beginning to end at a monotonous pace. Some points are performed quickly, there are momentary pauses, and so forth to give it modulation.

2. Symbolic nature
There are processes in the temae that are not utilitarian; for example the tines of the tea whisk actually have been checked in the preparation room beforehand, but they are checked once again in view of the guests in the chasentoshi(茶筅通し) process. Sanitation is held high in chanoyu, and such gestures contain a symbolic expression of this.
3. Physical grace
In that the temae is a form of performance art, an important concern is to achieve gracefulness in the series of movements and one's posture is carrying them out.

4. Inseparability of performer and audience
Chanoyu sometimes is described as ' a script-less performace'. It is not, however, a stage art. Rather, the performer(host) and audience(guests) sit on the same platform(chashitsu), and together create the chakai. There is not pre-defined script. The host and guests converse and act according to the circumstances.

5. Successfully building the performance
Through the agency of the temae, the host and guests together eat and drink and share in conversation, and thus create a special, shared atmosphere within the space of the tea room. This is the meaning of 'successfully building the performance'(ichiza konryu,一座建立). To realize this requires serious training on the part of both the host and guests.

6. A singular moment, a singular meeting
Within the grand expanse of time and space, the meeting of all elements realized by host and guests here and now is never repeatable, even if sometime in the future, at the same time of day in the year, the same people were to have a tea gathering at the same place. This 'unrepeatable quality of the moment' is the meaning of 'a singular moment, a singular meeting' (ichigo ichie 一期一会).