Which of the following best explains the significance of the Japanese tea ceremony in the medieval period?
The Japanese tea ceremony was a ritual that brought powerful people together in social situations for a variety of purposes.
Tea ceremonies offered new opportunities primarily for the lower classes rather than upper-class members of Japanese society.
Tea culture declined in popularity and became less significant because of the influence of Zen Buddhism.
The Japanese tea ceremony was a new type of cultural performance similar to a Noh or Kyogen performance.