Before the water, before the room is warm — sit. Let the day land. The tea does not begin until you have stopped arriving.
於水之前，於室未暖時——先坐。讓今日落下。茶不始於沏，而始於您不再趕赴。
00:00 · stillness
Choose the porcelain you have not used in a while. Hold it. Decide whether it is ready for you, or whether you are ready for it.
取一只久未啟用之器。手中托住。問它是否為您而備；或，您是否為它而備。
02:00 · vessel held
Heat water until it whispers, not until it sings. The verse decides the temperature; not the kettle.
煮水至其低語，未至其歌。溫度由序所定，非由壺。
05:00 · 90°C — 95°C
Open the vessel slowly. The aroma above the leaves is the first sentence of the verse — it should not be hurried.
緩啟雙罐。葉上之韻，是序文的第一句——不可催促。
05:40 · breath, not breath in
One spoon, level. We do not weigh — we recognise. The hand knows what the season requires.
一匙，平度。我們不秤量，我們辨識。手知今日之所需。
06:20 · 3 g
From a height that lets the water and leaf greet each other. Not from too high; that would be theatre.
高度，足以讓水與葉彼此致意。不可過高——過高即作態。
07:00 · 20 cm above
Three to five minutes. Do not check. The verse cannot be rushed by glancing.
三至五分。勿頻看。序，不因頻顧而早至。
10:00 · 3 — 5 min
Pour into the cup with the wrist, not the arm. The first cup is always for the room — never for the drinker.
以腕傾，非以臂。首盞，敬於室；非予飲者。
11:20 · cup one — for the air
Let it sit on the tongue for the length of one breath before you allow it. What you taste in that pause is the verse.
含於舌上，凡一息之長，方許其下。此息之中所感者，是序。
12:00 · the verse