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About Us > Chinese Tea cluture |
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The Chinese have a saying: 'Firewood, rice, oil, salt,
sauce, vinegar and tea are the seven necessities to begin a day.'
Though tea is last on the list, we still can see the importance of
tea in daily life.
A simple meal in Chinese is Cu Cha Dan Fan, namely coarse tea and
tasteless dinner. Even a simple meal is finished off with tea so its
importance is obvious.
For the Chinese, tea drinking and tea tasting are not the same. Tea
drinking is for refreshment and tonic effect.
Tea tasting has cultural meaning. Tea and tea wares should match surrounding
elements such as breeze, bright moon, pines, bamboo, plums and snow.
All these show the ultimate goal of Chinese culture: the harmonious
unity of human beings with nature.
Tea is compared to personal character. The fragrance of tea is not
aggressive; it is pleasant, low-keyed and lasting. A friendship between
gentlemen is also like a cup of tea. With a cup of tea in hand, enjoying
the green leaves in a white porcelain cup, you will feel peace. Fame,
wealth and other earthly concerns are far away. Tea is the symbol
of elegance.
Tea is regarded as the most Zen-like drink. As early as the Tang Dynasty,
a reputed Zen master answered three monks of different status with
"Go and have your cup of tea!' This same answer was meant to
clear up the perceived inequality among monks. After all, we all are
born equal.
Aside from mention in specific how-to books, tea is frequently discussed
in poems and novels and appears in paintings.
In The Dream of the Red Chamber, one of four ancient Chinese classic
novels, the author, Cao Xueqin revealed his knowledge of and insight
into tea, as well as his knowledge of the tea-drinking customs of
the Qing Dynasty.
People of varying ages or status had tea made with different water
in various tea wares. Miao Yu, a nun in the novel, treated aristocratic
friends with either well-preserved rainwater from the previous summer
or with snow water collected from snow on plum blossoms! This tasteful
interest was a privilege of the past when the air was free of pollutants.
We also find from the novel that Thai tea was imported to China and
enjoyed by the rich. One of the heroines from the wealthiest family
in the city was bold enough to dislike this Thai tea; the rebellious
hero also made negative comments about the tea. Maybe it had less
to do with the taste of the tea than with their psychological makeup.
Tea is a mysterious but harmonious combination; it is spiritual as
well as material, and invigorating as well as pacifying. Its character
is flexible in different environments. For example, as tea goes in
a different direction, a different tea culture is formed. In Japan,
the rigorous tea ceremony reflects the nation's character of making
full use of every resource, while tea also represents peace of mind.
In the West, tea with sugar and milk may be served with desserts to
create a leisurely and romantic atmosphere. |
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