Archery on horseback (Yabusame) and Tea

As if drawing a bow and arrow

The action of standing up the hishaku (bamboo ladle) is one of the characteristics of the Ueda Tradition. It highlights the emphasis on performing a temae (tea preparation ceremony) composed of straight lines. The action is dynamic and beautiful.

When men hold the hishaku and enter the tearoom to perform the temae, they hold the hishaku out in front of them as if they are holding reins riding a horse. When you draw water from an iron kettle or mizusashi and transfer the water in to the tea bowl or iron kettle, you transfer the water and rest the hishaku down with actions that mirror the actions of firing a bow and arrow. 

The symbols of a warlord are a bow and horse. Riding a horse and firing your bow and arrow should be the spirit in your temae from start to finish. This is to strive for ‘stillness in movement’. Women do not perform the same archery-like hand movements in their temae, but the spirit of pursuing ‘stillness in movement’ is the same.

弓を引くように

上田流の特徴である直線から直線の積み重ねが最も良く表れ、動作が大きく美しい所作です。男性は柄杓を持って点前に出る時は、馬上の手綱の位置で持ちます。釜や水指から湯や水を汲み、茶碗や釜に移すとき〝弓を放つ〟所作があります。武将のシンボルは弓、馬です。馬上で弓を放つことを最初から最後まで点前の中で求めます。正に「動中の静」を求めているという事です。女性にその所作はありませんが求める心は同じです。