Illustrated Dictionary of Chinese Tea Culture

Author: Wang Jianrong, Guo Danying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: The Chinese have known about and utilized tea for a very long time. Tea originated from the Shennong family and became known to the Duke of Lu and the Duke of Zhou, with a history of over four or five thousand years. The use of tea has evolved from its initial medicinal and edible purposes to its current role as a beverage. Throughout the production, processing, and consumption of tea, it has interacted with politics, economy, religion, philosophy, literature, and art, gradually forming the rich and unique Chinese tea culture. Especially after tea was integrated into Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism, the connotation of Chinese tea culture became even more profound. Today, tea has permeated every aspect of Chinese life. As a precious gift from nature, its characteristics align well with the moderate and pragmatic temperament of the Chinese people, which is why tea has become the most popular beverage in China. In a sense, tea is a symbol of the Chinese nation. Since tea has been intertwined with the Chinese people, generations of scholars and literati have recorded, described, and studied tea to varying degrees, leaving us with invaluable tea culture materials.