Chagama facts for kids
A Chagama (say "cha-GAH-ma") is a special metal pot or kettle used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. It's usually made of strong cast iron and its main job is to heat the water that's used to make delicious tea.
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About the Chagama
In a tea room, the chagama is heated in one of two ways. It can sit over a portable brazier called a furo, or it can be placed in a sunken hearth called a ro. The choice depends on the time of year.
Chagama kettles are often round or shaped like a cylinder. They have small loops, called lugs, on each side. Metal handles, known as kan, are inserted into these lugs. The kan are used to carry the chagama or to hang it over the ro (sunken hearth). Sometimes, a tripod is used to hold the kettle above the heat source, especially when using a brazier. Some brazier sets are even designed so the chagama can sit directly on them without a tripod.
Heating Methods: Ro and Furo
The way the chagama is heated changes with the seasons. This adds to the beauty and tradition of the tea ceremony.
The Sunken Hearth: Ro
The ro, or sunken hearth, is used during the colder months, like autumn and winter. Imagine a special hole built right into the floor of the tea room, usually in the tatami mats. This is where the chagama sits over the fire.
A box-like frame called the robuchi (say "roh-BOO-chee") surrounds this hole. Using the ro helps the chagama warm up faster and stay hot longer. It also creates a cozy feeling during the chilly seasons. When the ro is used, a special type of incense called Neriko is burned. These are small, kneaded balls made from a mix of woods, spices, and herbs.
The Portable Brazier: Furo
The furo, which is a portable brazier, is used during the warmer months of spring and summer. Furo come in many different shapes. The earliest ones were made of bronze, but later, braziers made of iron and clay became more common.
For formal tea ceremonies, people often preferred unglazed clay furo that were coated with black lacquer. These were placed on a lacquered board to protect the floor from heat. Iron furo were usually set on a paving tile. Inside the furo, a bed of ashes called Hai is carefully laid down. Then, pieces of charcoal, called sumi, are placed on top and lit. A small opening or "fire window" on the edge of the furo helps air flow, keeping the sumi burning well.
The chagama is placed directly on bronze or iron furo. However, if a clay furo is used, a small trivet (a stand) is placed underneath the chagama. Chagama kettles used with a furo are usually a little smaller than those used with a ro. Even though the setup changes, the basic steps for preparing tea remain the same.
