Jian Wang - All the Tea in China: History, Methods and Musings

Copyright 2013 Shanghai Press and Publishing Development Co., Ltd.

All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.

This book is edited and designed by the Editorial Committee of Cultural Chinaseries.

Managing Directors: Wang Youbu, Xu Naiqing

Editorial Director: Wu Ying

Editors: Zhang Yicong, Yang Xiaohe

Compiled by Wang Jian

Translated by Tony Blishen

Paintings by Zhang Lifeng

Photographs by Wang Jian, Getty Images, Quanjing

Designer: Wang Wei

Cover Image: Getty Images

ISBN: 978-1-60220-137-8

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There is a kind of contentment called leisure and a kind of happiness known as savoring.

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What is the flavor of life? Look back on all its twists and turns and it is without incident.

Tea not only quenches thirst and cleanses the palate, it also raises the spirits, clears the mind and keeps the body fit. It is the worlds most welcome beverage as well a unique cultural vehicle.

China has a long history of tea drinking. In the beginning, because of its detoxicant and thirst-quenching properties it occupied a major place in the physical world of Chinese food and drink; later it combined with poetry and art and tea tasting gradually permeated the spiritual and cultural world, forming and developing a unique Chinese tea culture.

Today, tea is still a major and indispensable factor of Chinese life.

Consequently we have produced this book in the hope that we can share the fascination of tea and bring the reader to a fuller understanding, greater intimacy and love of tea.

In this book we quote proverbs, poetry and stories about tea from both past and present, dynasty by dynasty and period by period. Through this the reader will be able to experience the spiritual appreciation and joy that tea has brought to the Chinese people at different places and times and thus realize the spiritual context that tea has come to acquire.

Do not envy the full fruit of others, take ones ease beneath ones own trellis.

At the same time, the books illustrations and text present the origins, varieties, manufacturing processes and etiquette of tea drinking so that the reader can gain practical information about what tea is, how it is drunk and tasted and understand how the tea culture came about.

It should be explained that this book is both systematic and yet diffuse. It is systematic in its arrangement of quotations, proverbs and poetry by historical period in order to allow prominence to the characteristics of each dynasty. It is diffuse to the extent that in order to meet the demands of the tempo of life, each illustration and piece of information stands independent of the rest so that the reader can read from any point or page without fear that the logic of the narrative has been disturbed.

Nevertheless, the book as a whole displays a multi-faceted, three-dimensional image of Chinese tea culture.

Make a pot of tea, open the book and let us together enjoy the gentle delight, tranquility and spiritual appreciation of Chinese tea.

Without the sour taste of an unripe persimmon who can know the beauty of its matured flavor?