Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 2.djvu/290

 salver," with their three varieties of "genuine," "abbreviated," and "cursive"—corresponding to the three styles of calligraphy—which the passed-master had to be familiar with. These, which, in truth, are nothing more than a multitude of conventions and ceremonials, cannot possibly be set forth in any volume of ordinary dimensions, and would be utterly wearisome to the reader. A brief general sketch will be sufficient.

The ceremony has various names according to the time of its performance. There is the "morning tea" (asa no Cha-no-Yu, or ake no Cha-no-Yu, or asa-gomi), which takes place at any hour between three and eight There is the evening tea (yo-gomi). There is the kashi no Cha-no-Yu, or tea with cake, which follows the morning or afternoon meal, and is thus between eight and ten o'clock in the forenoon, or between two and four o'clock in the afternoon. Then there are the casual cup (fuji no yakusoku), which is practically the same as the post-prandial; the mid-day cup at the hour of the Horse (noon); the "evening chat," at the hour of the Cock (from six to eight o'clock ): the atomi, or "after glance," which is a sort of second-hand entertainment after some guest of note has departed ; and finally the kuchikiri, or "firstlings," which takes place when the jar containing the new leaf is opened for the first time in the tenth month.