Tea Culture Expo · China Tea Classics

Author: Yu Yue, Editor-in-Chief, Gong Jianhua, Author
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-12-01
Features: The Chinese Tea Treasury not only includes the tea literature and texts commonly understood as tea classics but also incorporates tea legends and tea collections. Without these, the term "tea classics" would hold no meaning. Although the three meanings of "classics" are distinct, it is difficult to clearly separate them, as they inherently interweave with one another. To forcibly label one as literature, another as collections, and the third as legends would inevitably be impractical. For instance, Lu Yu's Record of Guzhu Mountain can be categorized as literature, yet since it primarily discusses tea legends, why couldn’t it also be classified as legends? Similarly, when we speak of qu (a traditional Chinese poetic form), our focus is on its lyrical content, thus placing it in the category of literature. However, from the perspective of its musicality, it is deeply connected to music, making it an art form worth preserving—why couldn’t it also be considered a collection? The interplay of these three is a reality, and what we aim to do is to clearly elucidate the "classics" of tea culture, allowing people to wander among them and pluck a few blossoms. Tea is meant to be savored, for it is through drinking tea that one discovers the essence of life and the depth of existence. To truly appreciate Chinese tea and grasp its profound meaning and subtleties, one must first have some understanding of tea literature, legends, and collections. Su Dongpo playfully referred to tea as "Lord Leaf," a character inherently pure, who carefully selects his friends and is rare to find a true confidant. So let us open the rich treasure trove of Chinese tea culture and immerse ourselves in it, striving to become true friends of Lord Leaf.