Zarei is the bow performed while kneeling on the tatami, and it is the basis of both guest and host etiquette. It stands in contrast to ritsurei, the bow made standing, and the depth of the bow is varied by how far the upper body inclines. Almost all greetings at a tea gathering are exchanged as zarei, which makes it one of the first gestures a student learns.
Origins
It is a refinement, as a gesture of tea practice, of the etiquette developed within a way of life spent seated on tatami. Varying the depth according to the person and the situation conveys respect without words. Warrior etiquette and the conventions of Zen temples influenced its present form.
The three depths
Practice distinguishes shin, gyo, and so degrees of bow — the same three-level scale used for procedures and utensils. Which depth to use in which situation is prescribed, and getting it wrong reads as either stiffness or carelessness rather than as a neutral variation.
Sources
- 座礼（デジタル大辞泉 / 精選版 日本国語大辞典） / コトバンク
Supports: 座礼が「座ったままで行う礼」「座っているときの礼儀作法」を指すこと
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
- 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.
- Kaisho (assembly room)kaisho
A large room built for gatherings with many guests; used in contrast with the small and large tea rooms.
- Ma-ai (spacing and timing)ma-ai
The sense of distance and timing in bows and in passing objects; the practical feel of a shared rhythm.
- Saho (etiquette)saho
The prescribed forms — bows, walking, handling utensils — through which respect is shown.