The inspiration for this structure is an Athanor, or alchemical chamber where elements combine to form new substances greater than the sum of their parts. Preparing tea itself is alchemy in that the preparation is a dance of the five elements to transform inert dried dead leaves and tasteless water into liquid gold that has the capacity to bring clarity and delight to the drinker.

The Tea Temple's structure as a tent consciously pays homage to those tea houses of ancient times: temporary structures for travelers temporarily in the same place and time on the road of life. Such was the case along the thoroughfare of tea traders on the Silk Road, which joined the Middle East to the entire Asian continent from India to China. Along these paths of desire, where goods, spices and herbs flowed, true global culture thrived as a confluence of ethnicities and spiritual traditions. As such we hope to be such a waystation for travelers, a cup to hold the warmth of humanity.

Based on the Eastern Buddhist / Western Alchemical Mandala, Water will be the eastern quadrant of the temple, symbolized by the color white. Earth will be the southern quadrant of the temple, symbolized by the color yellow. Fire will be the western quadrant of the temple, symbolized by the color red. Wind will be the northern quadrant of the temple, symbolized by the color green. The center area is the location of the element Space, which is symbolized by the color blue. With this layout the Temple literally and metaphorically becomes an elemental mandala, expressing the presence and confluence of the five elements.

There will be prayer flags over every post of the corresponding color, and these tent poles will also secure four altars that will evolve over the course of the event to become small shrines. Sculptures representing each element will hang above a small altar table that will serve both as a place setting for sacred objects and also for tea cups—the sacred and the humble innextricably combined.

Over the center of the tent will be a wind driven prayer wheel with the mantra of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara on it "OM MANI PEME HUNG HRI" of which each syllable corresponds to each of the elements. Over the center of the tent will be a light sculpture sign like the one above, which states in Latin "I Never Sleep," or colloquially, "don't sleep!"

The whole Temple will be set by compass, so that the gates geomantically set the space to the vision of the polar coordinates. Large steel prayer bells will anchor each of the four corners of the tent, and provide the opportunity for tea drinkers to manifest their prayers and wishes through deeply resonant, enduring tones.

The center of the Temple will house an octagonal serving table where the rare oolong teas will be served. Tea Master Jon Oda and others will be preparing semi-oxidized rare oolong and serving it there, according to the dictates of Chinese Tea Art protocol. We hope to serve hundreds and become a sort of oasis for people to chill and meet day and especially at night as a kind of cozy oasis for those crossing the cold playa.

Food will occasionally be served by chef Greg Holmes, now famous for his South-East Asian street food carts over the past few years.

The whole structure will attain it's fullest expression on Friday night, as the full Tea Alchemy ceremony will commence. Five specially-transported ice sculptures of Tara, the female Buddha of Longevity will be consecrated and as the water melts, collected. This melted water will be boiled, the water thus passing through all stages from solid to gas, and finally infused into tea, liquid gold, the elixir of immortality, and shared by all participants.

More resources:

• Tea Master Jon Oda
• Photos of the Elemental Shrine (2003)
• Chef Greg Holmes