Tea is believed to have a history of over 4,000 years in China. Popular with people from all walks of life, tea has become an essential part of the Chinese culture!
The importance of tea to Chinese couldn’t be more palpable.
A popular phrase the Chinese often refers to when describing a simple life is ‘Chu Cha Dan Fan’, which is translated as ‘coarse tea, tasteless meal’.” From this we know tea has already become a symbol of life for Chinese.
Another phrase often used is “Seven necessities of daily life”. The seven necessities are rice, oil, firewood, salt, sauce, vinegar, and lastly, tea. For some Chinese, tea is something that can’t be missed from daily life.
Today in China, a man of character is admired as one who possesses the refined quality of Chinese tea: pure, balanced, and able to put people at ease.
Ancient Chinese scholars admired that friendship between real friends should be one that was pure as a cup of Chinese tea. Being with such a friend you don’t have to worry about being manipulated or even cheated.
Chinese like to have a peaceful mind, and many find it in tea. As a well-known Tang dynasty poet wrote:”I woke up to a good cup of Chinese tea, and it gives me peace inside and out; with it I won’t be annoyed by anything, even it’s the whole world turning its back on me.”.Obviously, the poet had found his inner peace in drinking tea.
Indeed, tea provided endless inspiration to many poets from ancient China. All his life, the Qing dynasty emperor Qianlong wrote a total of 300 poems on tea. When the emperor decided to lay down his duty at the age of 85, his ministers begged him:”Please stay. The country can’t live a day without your majesty”. To which the emperor replied:”But your majesty can’t live a day without tea”.”
Tea contributed to the development of Chinese literature in more ways than one.
Today Chinese literature classic of ‘A Dream in the Red Mansion’ is known the world over. However, some experts say the book wouldn’t make such a hit if it didn’t elaborate on the extravagant tea parties enjoyed by the Chinese upper class.
The descriptions of the tea parties allow us better understand how tea was prepared in ancient China and what varieties the Chinese most appreciate.
If you visit the Palace Museum in Taipei, you’re sure to be amazed by a beautiful, 800-year-old scroll painting that depicts a grand Chinese tea party hosted by a Song dynasty emperor. An enthusiastic fan of tea, the emperor stated:”You must run the country the same way you make good Chinese tea”.For the emperor, running his country was no different than making a good cup of Chinese tea: everything in the process shall be put be full use.
Out of question, drinking Chinese tea makes a great way to learn about Chinese culture.