Chinese tea culture refers to the methods of preparation of tea, the equipment used to make tea and the occasions in which tea is consumed in China. The terms ChaYi "Art of Tea" and "Tea Ceremony" have been used, but the term "Tea Culture" includes more than just the ceremony. According to legend, tea was first discovered by the Chinese emperor and inventor Shennong in 2737 BCE. It is said that the emperor liked his drinking water boiled before he drank it so it would be clean, so that is what his servants did.
One day, on a trip to a distant region, he and his army stopped to rest. A servant began boiling water for him to drink, and a dead leaf from the wild tea bush fell into the water. It turned a brownish color, but it was unnoticed and presented to the emperor anyway. The elements of the Chinese tea ceremony are the harmony of nature and enjoying tea in an informal and formal setting. Tea ceremonies are now being revived in China's new fast-paced culture, and continuing in the long tradition of intangible Chinese art.
The emperor drank it and found it very refreshing, and tea came into being. The Erya, a Chinese dictionary dated to the 3rd century BCE, records that an infusion of some kind of leaf was used as early as the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). While historically the origin of tea as a medicinal herb useful for staying awake is unclear, China is considered to have the earliest records of tea drinking, with recorded tea use in its history dating back to the first millennium BC. The Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) used tea as medicine. The use of tea as a beverage drunk for pleasure on social occasions dates from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) or earlier.
One day, on a trip to a distant region, he and his army stopped to rest. A servant began boiling water for him to drink, and a dead leaf from the wild tea bush fell into the water. It turned a brownish color, but it was unnoticed and presented to the emperor anyway. The elements of the Chinese tea ceremony are the harmony of nature and enjoying tea in an informal and formal setting. Tea ceremonies are now being revived in China's new fast-paced culture, and continuing in the long tradition of intangible Chinese art.
The emperor drank it and found it very refreshing, and tea came into being. The Erya, a Chinese dictionary dated to the 3rd century BCE, records that an infusion of some kind of leaf was used as early as the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE). While historically the origin of tea as a medicinal herb useful for staying awake is unclear, China is considered to have the earliest records of tea drinking, with recorded tea use in its history dating back to the first millennium BC. The Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) used tea as medicine. The use of tea as a beverage drunk for pleasure on social occasions dates from the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD) or earlier.
Chinese tea culture has a long history. Through your posts, I believe that you are very interested in tea culture and drinking tea. Your post is very helpful for the readers to know about the Chinese tea culture even for Chinese people. I know that the types of Chinese tea are very various. Such as Longjing green tea, Bi Luo Chun, and so on. Additionally, the process of drinking tea is very complicated. It needs much time and steps. So, drinking tea needs people to be with patience. I know that British people has a habit to drink black tea as well. They will spend much time to drink it with some sugars and cold milk on every day's afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd better post some information about the relations between tea and social media, which can help Chinese tea culture to go abroad, and let more and more people know and love Chinese tea and traditional culture.