The tea ceremony is based on the idea of “ichigo, ichie” or “one encounter, one opportunity.” 
Founded by Murata Juko during the Muromachi Period (1338-1573), the tea ceremony was brought to maturity by Takeno Joo and Sen no Rikyu. 
According to the tea ceremony culture, unique to Japan, drinking tea cultivates the mind and refines relations between people. 
Tea-drinking originally was a showy pastime, but it came to incorporate the spirit of Zen and spread as “wabicha” with an emphasis on simplicity and stillness.