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Japanese Tea Ceremony
The Japanese ideal of life converging with art is best embodied in the tea ceremony, or chanoyu, where setting, utensils, and attendants join together to create a living art form. Evidence suggests tea-drinking began in Japan at the start of the 9th century. However, it was not until the introduction of Matcha (powdered green tea) by the priest Jojin, studying in China in the11th century, that tea-drinking began for medicinal use, and as an aid in Zen meditation.
Early Tea Masters and Wabi Tea
A student of Zen, tea master and early founder of chanoyu Murata Shuko (d1502) is credited as being the father of wabicha. Wabi as an aesthetic concept developed out of the Renga, No, and Waka arts; its meaning was refined over time by critics, tea masters, and artists. While difficult to summarize, Wabi came to describe a beauty of poverty, imperfection, mystery, asymmetry, and austerity, and is a sensibility that greatly characterizes Japanese aesthetics to the present day. 
In Shuko's time, the highest form of tea celebrated karamono: prized, imported, exquisitely formed Chinese objects. Shuko at the same time recognized the beauty of Wabi-spirited wamono: Japanese arts of rough and earthy forms such as the stonewares of Bizen or Shigaraki. In time the popularity of Wabi style tea increased, and Wabi was further developed by Sen no Rikkyu (1522-91), who would become the most legendary tea master. Rikkyu's tea ceremony is remembered in part for his introduction of koraimono (Korean objects, which he purported held qualities markedly different from those of Japanese and Chinese arts) and in his promotion of the new pottery known as Raku, which would eventually become the preferred pottery form for tea bowls, or chawan.
Tea Utensils
The appreciation and value of the utensils of tea: tea bowls, tea jars (chaire), and water jars (Mizusashi), to name a few, are not only in their aesthetic properties, but in their use and exchange in tea ceremony. Utensils are shared, and then evaluated by the group; considerations for a Raku tea bowl, for example, include its ease of fit in the hands, the rim and its gentle meeting at the mouth, its weight, glaze and texture, and the form of the footrim (kodai), a place of particular importance for potters to express both skill and style.
The most renowned tea utensils gained fame from their history and use by famous chajin (practitioners of tea) in memorable and historic tea ceremonies. Early European observers were astounded by the value and affection bestowed on pieces, some holding the worth of small domains. Further reflecting the preciousness of tea utensils was their treatment when damaged; rather than be discarded, they were artistically mended with gold and lacquer, reflecting both the care of owners through time, and the imperfect beauty of Wabi tea.
by Janel Houton
The above text is excerpted from an introductory essay for the special auction "Traditional Arts of Japan" which appeared on Sothebys.com April 3-17, 2001.