Tea Scoop Names (Mei) for July

Table of Contents

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

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 and seasonal festivals

Tanabata (七夕 / Star Festival)

• The July 7 seasonal festival
• It is connected with the meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi and with prayers offered to the stars
• It suits mei such as Amanogawa, Ose, Orihime, Ginga, Hoshimatsuri, and Sasabune

Shosho (小暑 / Lesser Heat)

• Around July 7
• The time when summer heat begins to become serious
• It connects with mei that seek coolness, such as Uchimizu, Furin, and Asase

Taisho (大暑 / Greater Heat)

• Around July 23
• The hottest period of the year
• It suits powerful midsummer mei such as Natsugumo, Doyoboshi, and Semi Shigure

Seasonal themes for July

Tanabata Decorations

• Writing wishes on strips of paper and tying them to bamboo
• A theme that brings starry, graceful feeling to early July tea gatherings

Uchimizu (打水 / Sprinkling Water)

• Sprinkling water on the garden or path to invite coolness
• A summer gesture of hospitality and refreshment

Semi (蝉 / Cicadas)

• Cicadas calling loudly in midsummer
• Their sound becomes a seasonal landscape in the phrase Semi Shigure

Mei for early July

Amanogawa (天の川 / Milky Way)

• The river of stars seen across the night sky
• A cool, expansive mei for Tanabata tea gatherings

Ose (逢瀬 / Meeting)

• The once-a-year meeting of Orihime and Hikoboshi
• A Tanabata mei with feelings of waiting and joy

Orihime (織姫 / Weaver Princess)

• The princess of the Tanabata legend
• An elegant mei suggesting weaving, thread, and stars

Ginga (銀河 / Galaxy)

• A literary word for the Milky Way
• A mei that suggests glittering stars and a wide night sky

Hoshimatsuri (星祭 / Star Festival)

• Another name associated with Tanabata
• A bright, pure mei for making wishes to the stars

Sasabune (笹舟 / Bamboo Leaf Boat)

• A small boat made from a bamboo grass leaf
• A cool mei suggesting Tanabata bamboo and water play

Mei for mid to late July

Uchimizu (打水 / Sprinkling Water)

• Sprinkling water to bring coolness
• A mei that suggests care for guests in the summer heat

Asase (浅瀬 / Shallows)

• A shallow part of a river
• A mei that lets the coolness of water be felt at one's feet

Furin (風鈴 / Wind Bell)

• A summer bell that rings in the breeze
• A mei for taking coolness through sound

Natsugumo (夏雲 / Summer Clouds)

• Clouds rising in the summer sky
• A mei for the strong light and high sky around Taisho

Doyoboshi (土用干 / Midsummer Drying)

• Drying clothes, books, or plums during the hottest days
• A mei with the feeling of bright midsummer sun and seasonal household rhythms

Asagao (朝顔 / Morning Glory)

• A flower that opens in the summer morning
• A mei for morning coolness and fleeting beauty

Yugao (夕顔 / Evening Gourd Flower)

• A white flower opening in the evening
• A quiet mei for summer dusk, also carrying a classical literary mood

Semi Shigure (蝉しぐれ / Shower of Cicada Voices)

• Cicada voices heard as if falling like rain
• A strong mei for the soundscape of midsummer