Kakemono Calligraphy: The Seven Stages of Chado

Several columns of densely arranged characters fill this hanging scroll, rendering a text on the seven stages of the tea ceremony (Chado) – a theme that describes the philosophical depth behind the seemingly simple ritual of drinking tea.

The brushwork is swift and practiced, with clearly legible, evenly distributed characters that suggest an experienced hand. Smaller annotations in finer script along the left edge of the image supplement the main text. The seven stages of Chado describe the complete course of a tea ceremony, from the preparation of the room to the actual serving of the tea, and represent a kind of guide to mindfulness for practitioners.

A calligraphy hanging scroll such as this one is a fitting piece of wall decor for anyone who feels connected to Japanese tea culture, whether as a practicing tea master or as an interested collector.