Japan was left in peace for thousands of years because of its geographic isolation.  Toward the end of the twelfth century, the emperor and his court were dominated by a warrior society in Japan.  These developments, especially the power exerted by the warrior society, influenced Japanese art of that time.  We know this group by the name Samurai.  This Shogunate governance period was also marked by the Zen Buddhist religion. An example of this is the tea ceremony.

Discuss what occurs during the tea ceremony. Then explain how this "ceremony" can be considered art and why it is important in Japanese history and culture.  Can you relate it to other arts of the period?  How is it associated with Zen? How is it representative of Japanese taste?