Tea Culture

The Origin of Tea China is the hometown of tea and is the first country in the world to plant and use tea. With a history of discovering and using tea that spans more than 4,700 years, China has maintained a prosperous status and spread tea all over the world. In Lu Yu's "The Classic of Tea" in the Tang Dynasty, it is said that "tea, as a beverage, originated in the era of Emperor Shennong." Subsequently, its development can be traced: "It was heard of during the time of the Duke of Zhou, flourished in the Tang Dynasty, reached its peak in the Song Dynasty, and developed during the Ming and Qing dynasties." Its Growth during the Reign of Emperor Shennong In ancient times, Emperor Shennong, who discovered fire and brought benefits to mankind, was also known as the "Yan Emperor." Legend has it that one day, Shennong was sitting under a tea tree and boiling water in a pot. Some soft leaves fell into the water, making the water clear and fragrant. After taking a sip, he felt refreshed, and thus tea was discovered. In the book "The Book of Edible Things by Emperor Shennong," it is said that "Regularly drinking tea can bring strength and delight the soul." Another saying is that Emperor Shennong had a "crystal-clear belly" and could see his internal organs. When tasting tea, he discovered how it could cleanse his internal organs. As stated in Emperor Shennong's "Classic of Herbal Medicine," "Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, and 72 of them poisoned him in one day, but tea saved him." This book is believed to have been written in the early Western Han Dynasty, indicating that our ancestors knew the medicinal value of tea at that time. It Was Heard of during the Reign of the Duke of Zhou The Duke of Zhou (Dan) was the son of King Wen of Zhou, the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, and a renowned politician, military strategist, philosopher, and educator in the early Western Zhou Dynasty. He is considered a forerunner of Confucianism. In the book "Mianji" attributed to him, tea was mentioned in the list of products

 

China is recognized as the birthplace of tea, being the first country in the world to cultivate and utilize tea leaves. The history of tea in China spans over 4,700 years, and it continues to thrive and spread globally. The Tang Dynasty text "The Classic of Tea" by Lu Yu states, "Tea as a beverage originated during the reign of Emperor Shen Nong," followed by its evolution: "It was known during the time of Duke Zhou, flourished in the Tang Dynasty, reached its peak in the Song Dynasty, and developed further in the Ming and Qing Dynasties."

During the reign of Emperor Shen Nong, tea's growth was significant. In ancient times, Shen Nong, known as the "Divine Farmer," is credited with discovering fire and its benefits to humanity. Legend has it that one day, while sitting under a tea tree, he boiled water in a pot, and some soft leaves fell into the water. The liquid transformed into a clear and fragrant brew, and upon tasting it, he felt invigorated, thus discovering tea. In his work "The Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica," he stated, "Regular consumption of tea can bring strength and delight to the soul." Another account suggests that Shen Nong possessed a "crystal-like stomach," allowing him to see his internal organs, and while tasting tea, he observed how it cleansed his insides. As noted in Shen Nong's "Classic of Herbal Medicine," he tasted hundreds of herbs, with 72 of them proving fatal within a day, and it was tea that saved him. This text is believed to have been written in the early Western Han Dynasty, indicating that our ancestors recognized the medicinal value of tea at that time.

During the reign of Duke Zhou, tea was also mentioned. Duke Zhou (Dan) was the son of King Wen and the brother of King Wu, a prominent politician, military leader, philosopher, and educator in the early Western Zhou Dynasty, recognized as a pioneer of Confucian thought. In his work "The Book of Rites," tea leaves are included in the list of products, indicating their status as a gift to the court. According to the "Chronicles of Huayang - Ba Tradition," after 1025 BC, King Wu sent his relatives to the Ba region (located in present-day Sichuan and its northern areas), where the ruler paid tribute to the court, which included grains, cattle, silk, fish, salt, gold, paint, honey, tea leaves, turtles, and rare animals.

Tea culture reached its height during the Tang Dynasty. Poets remarked, "Since the birth of Lu Yu, people have learned new ways of tea." In the mid-Tang Dynasty, the publication of "The Classic of Tea" led to an unprecedented development of tea culture, marking the beginning of the formation of tea culture during this period. This work combined natural sciences with humanities, exploring the art of tea drinking and its cultural significance.