Sitting Posture in Tea Ceremony Etiquette

In tea ceremony performances and tea-tasting gatherings, sitting posture is the foundation of displaying tea ceremony etiquette. A proper tea ceremony sitting posture not only conveys profound respect for tea and others but also helps maintain comfort and focus during tea utensil handling and tea tasting, infusing the entire tea ceremony with an atmosphere of elegance and composure. This article systematically explains the standards, professional tea artist sitting skills and core points of sitting posture in tea ceremony etiquette, helping you master this important etiquette detail that showcases good taste.

1. Core Value and Etiquette Significance of Tea Ceremony Sitting Posture

As an elegant activity integrating traditional etiquette, humanistic culture, and exquisite skills, every detail of the tea ceremony carries the inheritance of traditional culture and sincere respect for guests. As the "first visual language" of tea ceremony etiquette, the importance of sitting posture in tea ceremony etiquette is self-evident.

Firstly, a proper sitting posture is a direct expression of respect. When communicating with tea friends about tea or serving tea to guests, an upright tea ceremony sitting posture clearly conveys attention and politeness to the other party, making the tea-tasting atmosphere more harmonious. Secondly, a correct sitting posture ensures smooth and elegant operations. The tea ceremony involves a series of delicate actions such as taking utensils, warming cups, brewing tea, dividing tea, and serving tea. A stable tea-tasting sitting posture provides solid support for these actions, making the operations more precise, coordinated, and smooth. Furthermore, an elegant sitting posture can enhance personal temperament, showing a calm, restrained, and composed state in tea ceremony activities, which complements the tranquil and far-reaching connotation of tea and is a basic content in tea ceremony etiquette training.

2. Basic Standards and Practical Skills of Tea Ceremony Sitting Posture

Both professional tea ceremony performers and tea drinkers participating in tea tasting need to master basic sitting posture standards to ensure a proper, natural, and etiquette-compliant posture. The following are the sitting standards and practical methods commonly used by tea artists.

(1) Etiquette and Correct Steps for Sitting Down Posture

When sitting down, one should do so gently and orderly, avoiding sudden seating or making loud noises due to excessive force, which is the basic requirement of tea ceremony etiquette sitting posture. Walk to the seat, take a half step back with the right foot, sit down gently and steadily, then adjust both feet to a suitable position. Women can fold their hands gently on their laps, while men can place their hands naturally on their knees or thighs, presenting an overall dignified and graceful demeanor that shows the elegance of tea ceremony etiquette.

(2) Core Body Posture Standards

Upright and stretched upper body: The waist and back are naturally straight, shoulders are relaxed and sink avoiding hunching or excessive stiffness. The head is upright and level, with eyes focused on the tea table or communication partner, showing a focused and composed expression, which is the core point of professional tea ceremony sitting posture.

Moderate waist fit: If there is a backrest, the waist can lightly lean against it, but not fully rely on it; one must maintain the initiative and uprightness of the body. Without a backrest, more attention should be paid to the natural exertion of the waist to maintain a straight and stretched state, which is the key to maintaining a comfortable sitting posture during tea tasting.

Natural relaxation of chest and abdomen: Avoid deliberate chest protrusion and abdomen contraction that cause excessive tension; keep breathing smooth and let the body be in a comfortable and natural state, making the tea ceremony sitting posture both standard and not stiff.

(3) Leg Posture Standards and Gender Differences

Leg posture is a key component of sitting posture. There are slight differences in details between genders, but the core is to maintain dignity and stability, which is an important distinction of sitting posture in tea ceremony etiquette.

Standard sitting posture for women: Feet are Close together or legs are slightly Close together sideways, toes facing forward or slightly tilted, knees Close together and calves are naturally perpendicular to the ground. If wearing a skirt, the hem should be arranged in advance to avoid indecent postures, which is the standard requirement for female tea artists' sitting posture.

Standard sitting posture for men: Feet can naturally be separated shoulder-width apart, toes facing forward, knees bent at about 90 degrees, and calves perpendicular to the ground, showing a calm and generous demeanor that conforms to the characteristics of male tea ceremony etiquette sitting posture.

Forbidden leg movements: It is strictly prohibited to cross legs, shake legs, or stretch legs too long or cross them randomly. Such actions will seriously damage the dignity and etiquette of the sitting posture and are taboos in tea ceremony sitting posture.

(4) Key Points and Coordination Skills for Hand Placement

Hands should be placed naturally and coordinately, forming a harmonious echo with the overall sitting posture, which is a detail that cannot be ignored in tea ceremony sitting posture.

Hands can be naturally placed on the thighs, palms down or lightly clenched; or the right hand can be gently placed on the left hand, folded on the lap, maintaining a relaxed and not tense state that conforms to the elegant principles of tea ceremony etiquette.

During tea ceremony operations, hand movements should naturally extend from the sitting posture with moderate range, avoiding disrupting the body's stability due to excessive movements, and ensuring the coordination and unity of operations and sitting posture.

3. Sitting Posture Adjustment Skills and Etiquette Requirements in Different Scenarios

Tea ceremony activities have diverse scenarios, such as professional tea ceremony performances, daily tea-tasting exchanges, and formal tea parties. Sitting posture needs to be flexibly adjusted according to specific scenarios to adapt to environmental needs and activity nature.

(1) Sitting Posture Requirements and Standards in Tea Ceremony Performances

In formal tea ceremony performances, sitting posture requirements are more rigorous and standardized, which is a must-master skill for professional tea artists. Performers need to maintain an upright upper body throughout, keeping a suitable distance of 30-40 centimeters from the tea table to facilitate tea utensil operations. Leg postures strictly follow gender norms, and hand movements are gentle and smooth during operations, echoing the stable sitting posture to jointly display the solemn beauty and cultural heritage of the tea ceremony, which is an important part of tea ceremony performance etiquette.

(2) Sitting Posture Scale and Etiquette Points in Daily Tea Tasting

When tasting tea and communicating with tea friends daily, the sitting posture can be relatively relaxed but still needs to maintain basic dignity, following the norms of tea-tasting etiquette posture. The waist and back posture can be slightly adjusted according to the comfort of the seat, without excessive formality, but indecent postures such as random leaning and slouching must be avoided. Leg and hand postures maintain basic standards, allowing communication to proceed in a relaxed, pleasant, yet etiquette-compliant atmosphere that reflects the cultivation of daily tea ceremony etiquette.

(3) Sitting Posture Etiquette and Precautions in Tea Party Occasions

In formal occasions such as tea parties, sitting posture needs to balance etiquette standards and communication needs, which is an important embodiment of tea ceremony social etiquette. After sitting down, keep the body upright and maintain an appropriate distance from neighbors to avoid physical collisions and disturbances. When others are serving tea or speaking, one should maintain a focused sitting posture with the head slightly tilted forward to show listening, fully reflecting respect for others and conforming to the tea ceremony etiquette requirements of formal occasions.

4. Practical Notes and Training Methods for Tea Ceremony Sitting Posture

Avoid excessive stiffness: Although the sitting posture needs to be upright, it should not be deliberately tense. One should maintain natural relaxation on the basis of being straight, keeping the body in a comfortable state; otherwise, it is easy to cause fatigue and affect the activity experience. Beginners can find the balance between standard and comfort through repeated practice.

Maintain focus and composure: Sitting posture is not only a body posture but also reflects the state of mind. In tea ceremony activities, one must keep the mind calm, allowing the sitting posture to naturally show a calm and composed temperament, integrating with the elegant artistic conception of tea, which is one of the core goals of tea ceremony etiquette training.

Adapt to seat types: Different seats (such as Taishi chairs, round-back chairs, futons, etc.) have different requirements for sitting posture. After sitting down, one needs to quickly adapt to the characteristics of the seat, adjust the body's center of gravity, ensure a stable and appropriate sitting posture, and master the tea ceremony sitting posture adjustment skills in different scenarios.

Posture connection in dynamic movements: During dynamic processes such as getting up to get tea or passing tea utensils, one should first adjust the sitting posture, then get up gently and slowly, avoiding disrupting the overall etiquette standards due to hasty movements, and achieving etiquette coherence between movement and stillness.

Mastering the sitting posture norms in tea ceremony etiquette is the foundation for starting an elegant tea-tasting journey and an embodiment of tea artists' professional skills and personal qualities. It is not only a display of external demeanor but also a natural expression of inner respect for tea, culture, and others. Through repeated practice, let proper sitting posture become an instinctive habit, so that in every encounter with tea, one can show the unique charm and humanistic connotation of the tea ceremony.