Winter solstice: a stitch of tatami mats

Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

It indicates the turning point going towards spring and we say:

“After the winter solstice the sunlight into the room lengthens as long as a stitch of  tatami mats per day.”

In the tea ceremony the stitches of tatami mats are used to measure the distance.

According to the standard procedure of the tea ceremony, the placement is fixed and you need to find the right place to go ahead each step. For instance, you should sit down at the place of the 16th stitch from the border of the tatami mat, put your folding fan at the first stitch, and so on.

Through paying attention to the stitches of tatami mats, tea people feel the change of the seasons.

Beauties of Nature
– Fumiyaen –