Page 9 - 伊利沙伯中學舊生會湯國華中學

HKCYAA Writing Competition 2025 - Gold

A Memorable Journey to Learn
A Memorable Journey to Learn

from Ceremonies
from Ceremonies

4C Ng Hei Yeung

Last summer, I had the unforgettable to everyone in the tea room, a moment of
opportunity to visit Kyoto, Japan, a city peace and respect rarely found in our noisy,
renowned for its rich history, stunning KPI-driven world.
temples, and serene landscapes. Initially, I Another example was the Misogi, a
was hesitant about the trip because I only purification ritual that involved standing
wished for a holiday doing nothing. However, under a cold waterfall at a shrine to cleanse
my Japanese teacher signed me up for the the body and mind. The coldness was
exchange program and my parent willingly shocking, and resisting, and the initial
endorsed it. urge to retreat was difficult. But hearing

During my visit to Kyoto with my from a temple priest about how this ritual
classmates, I experienced several traditional symbolized washing away impurities—
ceremonies that initially felt unfamiliar and both physical and spiritual—and reminded
a bit uncomfortable, but as I learned their practitioners to live with purity and humility
stories and cultural significance, I gained a made me see it as an act of self-healing and
deep respect for their importance in honoring respect for the community. The priest asked,
humanity and spiritual connection. “Who has not ever had any regrets?”

One such ceremony was the Chado, the This question silenced many of us. The
Japanese tea ceremony, held at a serene priest went on,
tea house near Kiyomizu-dera. The process
involved meticulous steps: preparing the
matcha (green tea) with precise movements,
bowing deeply before entering the tea room,
and sitting in a traditional seiza position—
kneeling with legs folded underneath. At
first, sitting in this position for an extended
period was uncomfortable, and the formality
felt rigid. However, as we listened to the
story behind the ceremony—its roots in
Zen Buddhism emphasizing mindfulness,
humility, and respect—we realized it was
more than just making tea. It was a ritual of
humility and appreciation for every moment
and the present, fostering a sense of
shared humanity. None of us left early, and
although we were not tea experts, we were
touched by the profound attention to details
of the host and the respect we tendered

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