日本茶道將飲茶與禪教義理合而為一，將飲茶行為與生命解脫同等看待，充分體現出佛教涅槃之境。茶道從茶庭入口即有一套嚴謹的儀式，作為界定塵囂與佛境之中介，此儀式的過程體驗，是一種中介性質的臨界空間經驗。本研究以近代人類學家特納（Victor Turner）所提出的「閾門」（1iminal）和「類閾門」、「類中介狀態」（1iminoid）的觀念，以及臨界現象來探討茶道文化內涵及茶庭的臨界空間經驗。從這個理論對茶道的儀式進行觀察，能確認茶庭的通關儀式，著實存在著相變與臨界的意義，具有重整身心及邁入新境界的轉換程序。因此可視茶庭為臨界空間經驗的展演及類閾門般作用的顯靈點，都具有重要的中介意義，在這片寧靜和諧的茶庭空間，透過人的視線展演於他的知覺領域，環繞於他的身體周圍，當他能無心忘機地將自我涵融於這個新空間時，自然宇宙的脈動會賦予他回歸清靜無垢的「佗び」（Wabi，寂靜)之境，處處充滿無窮的禪意達到「無」的境界。茶道參與者，各自因循著「和敬清寂」四種旨趣將飲茶的「事物人境」融為一體，歷經茶庭儀式和冥想，有一種入迷（ecstatic）的狀態和統合的感覺（a sense of union），而進入深刻且強烈的感覺體驗，以達到身心寂靜的茶禪一味之境。

Japanese Sado, merging tea drinking into Zen principles and treating tea drinking behaviors as relief of life, fully reflects Buddhist nirvana. In Sado, a series of rigorous ceremony starts from the entrance of tea courtyard, and acts as the medium to set the boarder for the human world and Buddhist world. Fulfilling the process of this ceremony is just like experiencing in an intermediary liminal space.This study explores the culture meaning involved in Sado and the liminal spatial experience in tea
courtyard based on the ideas of “liminoid”, “liminal” and “Critical phenomenon” presented by modern anthropologist Victor Turner.Observing the ceremony in Sado in term of these theories confirms that the meaning of “changes”and “liminal point” do exist in the entry ceremony of tea courtyard which helps refresh body and mind and transfer them into a new state. Therefore, tea courtyard can be regarded as an important medium in
extending the liminal spatial experience and as the point of epiphany for liminoid. The peaceful and harmonious tea courtyard perceived through one’s eyes is sent to consciousness domain and spread fully around bodies. When people merge themselves into this new space unconsciously, the natural pulsation of the universe will render them with the state of wabi, a tranquil and uncontaminated state where Zen is abundant everywhere to help them reach the highest state of “void”. Those who engage in the tea ceremony respectively follow the four features of “harmony, respect, clearness and serenity”and blend the four elements of “things, objects, persons, and states” in tea drinking together. Through the tea ceremony and meditation, the ecstatic state and the sense of union they deeply and strongly experience combine tea and Zen into one unit, and finally drive them to reach the highest state of tranquility in both body and mind.