break between light meal and tea serving in formal tea ceremony
Specific term in the context of a formal tea ceremony (茶事). Refers to the interval after the light meal (懐石) and before the thick tea (濃茶) is served, during which guests may rest or refresh.
During the break between the light meal and the tea serving, the guests go out into the garden to take a breather.
Standard kanji spelling for this tea ceremony term.
Variant spelling; less common but attested. Can be confused with 中立 (ちゅうりつ, 'neutrality').
Compound of 中 (naka, 'middle') and 立ち (tachi, 'standing'), referring to the interval or pause in the tea ceremony proceedings.