Saho is the collective term for the formalised gestures of a tea sitting — bows, walking, handling utensils — through which respect for others is expressed.
In practice
The word is qualified by role and situation: guest etiquette, host etiquette, the etiquette of examining utensils. Details differ between schools.
How it should be learned
Saho is to be acquired as an expression of mind rather than as form, and etiquette that is only form is held to be the thing most to be avoided. This is the standard teaching and also the standard difficulty: the form has to be learned first, and only then stops being form.
About this article
Edited by the operator of Chaen (a one-person operation) / Last updated:
Tea ceremony descriptions can vary by school and source. Where interpretations differ, this glossary avoids definitive claims and focuses on broadly shared understandings. If you notice an error, please let us know viaContact. To learn about our organization, seeAbout Chaen.
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Related terms
- Zarei (seated bow)zarei
The bow made from a kneeling position; the basis of both guest and host etiquette.
- Sorei (collective bow)sorei
A bow made by everyone together at the beginning and end of a sitting, marking its boundaries.
- Sensu (folding fan)sensu
A closed folding fan carried by guests and used to mark greetings and boundaries, never to fan oneself.