Tea Scoop Names (Mei) for April

Table of Contents

• What is a chashaku mei?
• Mei inspired by the twenty-four solar terms
• Seasonal themes for April
• Mei for early April
• Mei for mid to late April

What is a chashaku mei?

What does "mei" mean?

The mei of a chashaku is the name given to the tea scoop.

Types of mei

In tea ceremony, mei generally fall into two broad groups:

1. Seasonal poetic names

• Names that express flowers, birds, wind, moon, and seasonal feeling
• Names chosen to suit each month from January through December

1. Zen phrases or non-seasonal names

• Names drawn from Zen sayings, Chinese poetry, or classical sources
• These are often used for koicha

How is a mei chosen?

A mei may come from several elements:

• Shape and appearance: a name suggested by the form of the chashaku
• Background: when, where, and by whom it was made
• Wordplay and refined association: wit, seasonal words, or literary references
• Zen and classical literature: Buddhist teaching, poetry, or old texts

Why does a mei matter?

The purpose of a mei is to:

• Express the character of the utensil
• Reflect the feeling of the owner
• Create shared feeling with guests
• Add depth and meaning to a tea gathering

A mei is not just a label. It expresses the feeling, season, and sometimes the philosophical meaning held within the chashaku. In general, seasonal words are not used after their proper time has passed.

Mei inspired by the twenty-four solar terms

Seimei (清明 / Clear and Bright)

• Around April 5
• The time when all things seem clear, bright, and lively
• It connects with mei such as Hatsuzakura, Wakatake, and Hanamido

Kokuu (穀雨 / Grain Rain)

• Around April 20
• Spring rain moistens grains, grasses, and trees
• It suits mei related to water, rain, rice-field preparation, and petals floating on rivers

Seasonal themes for April

Kanbutsue (潅仏会 / Buddha's Birthday Ceremony)

• The April 8 ceremony celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha
• It connects with Hanamido and the bright flower-filled atmosphere of early April

Sakura (桜 / Cherry Blossoms)

• The representative flower of April
• It gives rise to mei from first blossoms to layered blossoms, flower brocade, and petals floating on water

Naeshiro (苗代 / Rice Seedling Bed)

• A rice field prepared for growing young seedlings
• A mei that suggests the blessing of water around Kokuu and preparation for the growing season

Mei for early April

Kanbutsue (潅仏会 / Buddha's Birthday Ceremony)

• A Buddhist ceremony celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha
• A clear spring mei for a tea gathering surrounded by flowers

Kaguyama (香具山 / Mount Kagu)

• One of the Three Mountains of Yamato, often appearing in classical poetry
• A mei with classical resonance and the brightness of a spring mountain

Hanamido (花御堂 / Flower Pavilion)

• The small flower-decorated pavilion used in Kanbutsue
• A refined mei for tea gatherings around April 8

Sakura Gasane (桜重ね / Layers of Cherry Blossoms)

• Cherry petals or colors layered one upon another
• A mei for the fullness and depth of cherry blossom season

Hatsuzakura (初桜 / First Cherry Blossoms)

• The first cherry blossoms of the year
• A mei filled with expectation and the joy of spring's arrival

Wakatake (若竹 / Young Bamboo)

• Young bamboo beginning to grow from spring into early summer
• A fresh mei suggesting straight growth and clear green color

Mei for mid to late April

Hana Ikada (花筏 / Flower Raft)

• Fallen petals floating on water like a raft
• A quiet mei combining the lingering feeling of cherry blossoms with flowing water

Sumidagawa (隅田川 / Sumida River)

• A river known for cherry blossom scenery
• A mei that suggests spring riverbanks and blossom viewing

Hana Nishiki (花錦 / Flower Brocade)

• Flowers blooming as beautifully as brocade
• A direct, colorful mei for full spring

Kagaribi (篝火 / Brazier Fire)

• Fire lit at night
• A mei with a warm, mysterious feeling for evening cherry blossoms or a spring night gathering

Oshitsuno (落し角 / Shed Antlers)

• The old antlers shed by deer in spring
• A mei suggesting renewal and the changing life of spring fields and mountains

Shunmin (春眠 / Spring Sleep)

• The pleasant drowsiness of spring
• A soft mei for the hazy, peaceful air of the season

Shunrai (春雷 / Spring Thunder)

• Thunder in spring
• A mei that suggests rain around Kokuu and the force of the season moving forward

Naeshiro (苗代 / Rice Seedling Bed)

• A rice field for raising young seedlings
• A mei that carries the blessing of water and the expectation of new growth