Tea Ceremony Life

Author: Nan Guo Jia Mu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: A cup of tea, savoring the ups and downs of life; a calm heart, crafting countless worlds! The Chinese tea culture originated in Bashu and flourished in Jiangnan. However, as a culture, it has been deeply influenced by Confucianism, which emerged in Qi and Lu. In China, tea is hailed as the "national beverage" and is regarded as an enjoyment of life, a remedy for health, an energizing drink, a bond of friendship, and a symbol of civilization. In the profound and extensive Chinese tea culture, the Way of Tea (Chado) is the core, which refers to the methods and aesthetics of tea appreciation. It involves cultivating one's character and refining one's nature through tea, elevating the mind to a philosophical realm.
Not jealous of gold, not jealous of jade cups,
Not jealous of dawn’s dawn, not jealous of evening’s stage,
A thousand jealous, ten thousand jealous—
The West River’s water once flowed down from Jingling City.
The Way of Tea emphasizes not only unique tea-drinking methods but also the "tea etiquette," stressing the cultivation of virtue through tea. Thus, a tea drinker should also be a person of "exemplary conduct and frugal virtue," practicing "self-cultivation and introspection" while nurturing civilization in nature. For thousands of years, China’s scholars and literati have consciously pursued, created, and appreciated tea appreciation as an artistic activity that demonstrates refined cultivation, expresses emotions, and showcases the self. It is a Chinese culture that combines Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, folk customs, and local traditions.
Originally, the Way of Tea referred to "the Way of Tea," which is the core of tea culture, the upper realm and purpose of tea culture. However, today, the Way of Tea has evolved into a term that signifies tea cultivation for virtue, emphasizing the methods of brewing tea, the art of tea appreciation, and a set of etiquette for entertaining guests with tea.