The Art of the Tea Ceremony

Original Chinese text / Gao Yu-wen (高煜玟)
 
People initially consumed tea as a form of medicine. According to Shen-nong's Herbal Classics (神農本草經), the oldest existing Chinese medical text, "Shennong (meaning 'Divine Farmer') sampled hundreds of plants, ingesting 72 poisonous substances in a single day, which he detoxified by drinking tea." This indicates that Shennong was able to cleanse his body of toxins after discovering and drinking tea. According to legend, the development and use of tea in China began during the time of the Yan Emperor Shennong, suggesting that tea's history is as ancient as that of China itself.

Tea began to be consumed as a beverage in China around the Spring and Autumn period, when King Wu of Zhou (c. 1043 BCE) advocated replacing alcohol with tea. From the Qin dynasty to the Three Kingdoms period, spanning more than 400 years, tea drinking gradually became more popular, mainly among the royal court and Buddhist communities. It was not until the Sui and Tang dynasties that tea became a common habit among the general public. By the Song dynasty, tea had become an indispensable necessity for everyday life for the people of China.

According to Su Shiou-huei (蘇秀慧), who has been teaching modern tea culture for more than 22 years (*Note: the article was written in 2007), the taste of "no-self" is the most profound insight of Chan that she has gained through tea. She explained, "There are no fixed rules about who should brew the tea or what it should taste like. Tea, as a material, is selfless. As long as people unlock its full potential with sincerity, tea will unreservedly nourish us with the splendor of heaven and earth that it has absorbed."

Su emphasized that the state of mind of the person brewing tea can influence both the taste and effect of the tea. If the person tends to experience mood swings, the tea may taste "turbulent" and disrupt the drinkers' mood. On the other hand, if the tea brewer is calm and concentrated, the tea they brew may help settle the tea drinkers' thoughts and moods. This is because catechin, a compound found in tea, is a stimulant that, according to traditional medicine, can have two opposing effects — it can be either stimulating or soothing, depending on the state of mind of the person brewing the tea.

Su pointed out that although tea offers many health benefits, it is important to choose a tea that suits one's physical constitution. According to traditional Chinese medicine, people's constitutions can be classified as dry, hot, weak, or cold. Therefore, people should pay attention to whether a tea is suitable for their particular constitution. Moreover, those who are sensitive, easily irritated, experience poor sleep quality, or have weak physical health should avoid or limit tea consumption at night. In addition, drinking tea on an empty stomach can be harmful, especially for those who rarely consume tea, since it can inhibit gastric secretion and hinder digestion. Thus, consuming tea that is unsuitable for one's physical condition may negatively impact health over time.

A person's life background and personal preferences can also shape their expectations and needs for tea. For example, people engaged in physical labor and those whose work requires mainly mental effort will naturally have different needs regarding the concentrations of tea. Meeting the diverse needs of tea drinkers challenges a tea host's compassion and self-restraint: compassion, to consider the needs of others and brew tea that suits them; and self-restraint, to avoid neglecting the guests' needs by serving only the host's personally favored tea. Simply put, a tea host should serve tea that meets their guests' needs rather than satisfying their own wants.

Tea tasting can also help in learning the Chan spirit of letting go. After each tea session, Su serves her guests a cup of plain water, hoping they can let go of the experience and return to new beginnings free from attachment. She explains, "If you weren't impressed with the tea today, please let those feelings dissolve through this cup of water, and avoid prejudice against tea drinking. If you enjoyed the tea, don't become attached to it. Simply look forward to the next tea gathering."


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Related articles:

The Taste of Chan in Tea

Chan in the Aroma and Color of Tea

Tea Regimen

Things to be Aware of when having Tea for Recreational or Medicinal Purpose

Tea and Buddhist Monasteries

Go Have Some Tea – A Gong'an about Tea

The Art of the Tea Ceremony

How to Brew Chinese Tea?



Resource: Issue 291 of Humanity Magazine (November 2007), Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Translation: Li Siang-ling
Editing: Keith Brown, Ven. Yan Siang (演香法師)