Chinese tea house

Author: Yu Yue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2016-10-04
Features: The essence of Chinese culture is encompassed within the three teachings of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Confucianism's positive attitude toward the present world and its advocacy of harmony with nature, Taoism's detachment and pursuit of worldly happiness, and Buddhism's nature and its teachings of compassion and peace have, without conscious effort, become part of the Chinese people's very being, shaping the flexibility and adaptability of Chinese culture. This is evident in both its food culture, tea culture, and folk culture. The teahouse is a part of the food system, a carrier of tea culture, and an embodiment of folk culture, deeply rooted in cultural heritage and historical. It is forged by these shared elements; at the same time, the teahouse also influences these three aspects, creating an interactive and mutually advancing process.
The teahouse is a place for people to rest, entertain themselves, and pass the time. Confucian harmony, Taoist worldly engagement, and Buddhist compassion have shaped the teahouse into an atmosphere distinct from the Western café, reflecting the Eastern temperament. Leisurely, comfortable, relaxed, and peaceful—these are the unique characteristics of Chinese teahouses, creating an environment where people can immerse themselves in a state of freedom, kindness, tranquility, and effortless action. Within this setting, one can appreciate the beauty of humanity and human relationships, which are often hard to find amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life. One can enjoy the elegance or liveliness of the teahouse, listen to the myriad stories, observe the diverse people, and savor the tea's charm, the elegance of literature, the harmony of music, the depth of emotion, and the essence of the world.
The teahouse is a reflection and condensation of its time. The grandeur of the Tang, the refinement of the Song, the elegance of the Ming, and the leisure of the Qing—all are frozen in the silent images of Chinese hieroglyphs, along with the customs and social trends of those eras. From ancient teahouses to modern tea art studios, how modern people will express their own style, how they will connect with this historical tapestry, how they will continue this legacy, and how they will adorn this small society—all remain to be seen.