Shomen refers to the principal face of a bowl, natsume, or thick-tea jar — the side turned toward the guest. The part with the best keshiki is chosen, and the host presents this front to the guest.
In practice
The host sets a utensil out with its front facing the guest, and the guest turns the bowl so as to avoid drinking from the front. Not putting one's mouth to the front is an expression of respect for the host's care.
Why it matters
The front is not a property of the bowl; it is a decision the host makes for this guest on this day. A bowl may be presented with a different front at a different gathering. This is why turning the bowl is a response to a choice rather than compliance with a rule about bowls.
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.
Term info
- Category
- Term
Related terms
- Chado (The Way of Tea)chado
The Japanese practice of preparing and serving powdered green tea, treated as a lifelong discipline rather than a beverage ritual.
- Wabiwabi
Finding sufficiency of mind within insufficiency and plainness; one of the root concepts of tea practice.
- Ichigo ichie (one time, one meeting)ichigo ichie
The principle that every gathering is unrepeatable, and should therefore be treated as if it will never occur again.
- Tomobako (original box)tomobako
A box made specifically for a utensil by its maker or owner and inscribed by them; irreplaceable once lost.
- Kakitsuke (written attestation)kakitsuke
Writing about a utensil by a school's head or a recognised authority; decisive for attribution and rank.
- Mikomi (interior of a bowl)mikomi
The inside of a bowl, especially the centre of the base, where the tea pools and the glaze shows.
- Keshiki (the 'landscape' of an object)keshiki
The collective term for what is worth looking at in a utensil — glaze flow, distortion, kiln effects, age.