For the Chinese, tea is far more than just a
kind of drink. The spirit and verve of tea is deeply branded in the national
character of the Chinese people. When we look back to the developing journey of
Chinese nation, we discover that, since the time of Shen Nong, every historical
phase reflects the impact of tea; every ideological trend renovates the connotation
of tea; every regional group has its specific understanding of tea; and every
detail in life is wrapped with the thin aroma of tea. From picking, making,
cooking to drinking, every step conveys profound cultural implication. The
Chinese discover and make tea, and tea slowly changes the life of the Chinese.
Stemming from remote mountains, tea absorbs
the essence of natural molding. Going through manual work, tea condenses human
intelligence and talent. Tea, in which nature and nurture co-exist in harmony
and simplicity and sophistication combine in perfection, best symbolizes the
unique Chinese culture of "integration of nature and man."
Confucius—founder of Confucianism who lived
more than 2.000 years ago—said, "the bygone is like this, day and night without
stop," regretting that time was like flowing water, endlessly going ahead. A
Chinese folk say also has it "a piece of time is like a piece of gold, but
this piece of gold is not enough to buy this piece of time." Ancient
Chinese accentuated the value of time and advised people to seize every chance
because lost chance never came back. This is well reflected in tea picking.
Time plays an essential role in tea picking. Picked several days earlier, the
leaves are peerless treasures. But if puked several days later, they are no
better than common. What tea-picking requires is accurate grasp of chance.
Fame teas are mostly from famous mountains.
Since "water and soil in a certain place raise certain kind of
people." the development of humans is closely bound up with natural
environment. Northern people are generous and straightforward while southern
people are reserved and mild. Tea leaves produced from different regions also
take on strong local characteristics, in response to the characteristics of
local people.
Lu Yu said that good tea leaves didn't rely on producing places and that making techniques and tea sets were the real
key factor to decide the quality of tea leaves. Tea leaves should be deprived
of their "green," like crude jade should be carved and refined.
People also became tranquil and philosophical after a life of tempering. The
ancients believed in "similar in nature but far apart in culture,"
saying that the power that shaped our personality and quality was postnatal
experience and effort. Tea frying demands the right degree of heating. Tea
cooking asks for the right water temperature. The Chinese stress the right
degree in everything. "For those walking 100 Li (a Chinese measurement in
length about 500 meters), 90 Li is only half the distance." If tea is not
heated enough or water isn't hot enough, tea fragrance can't be fully exerted.
"Better lack than shoddiness." "Excess is worse than
inadequacy." If tea is heated too much or water is too hot the original
taste of tea will be spoiled and thus affecting the taste of tea.
While cooking tea, water should be absolutely dean and apparatus
should be repeatedly waited as well. This is in accordance with Confucius'
theory of "three times of self-reflection a day," unremittingly
striving for moral purification.
Tea ceremony, which agglomerates the marrow of Chinese culture, is
not a complicated ritual but an enjoyment pleasant to both body and mind. All
Chinese people, male and female, old and young, have a special affection for
tea. Various kinds of tea can respond to various phases of life.
In adolescence, people are like green tea, immature and simple.
They don't know much but start to understand. They are still natural and this
naturalness is displayed in every movement. Although not so strong in flavor,
they are pure and lovely upon careful savoring.
In youth, people are like flower tea, in their flowery years with
flowery scent and flowery dreams. Countless possibilities are in store for
them. Whatever we add in the tea-jasmine, sweet- scented osmanthus or rose,
this cup of tea is always redolent, admirable and appealing.
In middle age, people are like black tea, salmon in color and full
of aroma. They are not as dear and fresh as green tea, but they have a mature
charm of their own.
In old age, people are like Pu'er Tea, the older the better.
Filled with all kinds of stories, elder people minutely represent traces of
age. Though dry, old and thin in appearances, they are very intense and mellow
in taste, able to stand up to repeated appreciation.
