ABSTRACT
The concept of chadō is heavily related to Zen Buddhism: its philosophy, aesthetics, and training style. This chapter considers in greater detail how Zen Buddhism influenced chadō, and further examines how Christianity and Taoism have also had an impact on this particular traditional art. Readers will also explore the sense of daily practice (keiko) emphasizing observation, imitation, and repetition with practitioners’ point of view. By introducing ethnographic discussion, it will further focus on bodily memory and the strength of ritual from Edith Turner’s (1992) perspective and evaluate the psychological aspects of chadō, including the possibilities of mental healing from chadō.
