CHINESE TEA CULTURE DURING THE TANG DYNASTY
CHINESE TEA CULTURE DURING THE TANG DYNASTY
The Chinese art of tea drinking began to take shape under the rule of the Tang Dynasty (618–907), that is, during the heyday of feudalism. The economic, social and cultural prosperity of the country, as well as vibrant relations with foreign countries at this time, created the basis for the spread of the tea ceremony.
During this time period, tea was grown in forty-two prefectures across the country, and tea drinking traditions permeated the daily lives of people from all walks of life. The Later Tang emperors, who were especially fond of tea, ordered that all regions where tea grew should send leaves of the earliest (and best) varieties of tea to the palace, and on April 5, the palace hosted a banquet dedicated to the Qingming Festival, during which the deceased were remembered. This holiday also had another name - the festival of plants. Some officials even received promotions after bringing tea as a gift to the emperor. One satirical poem said: “A father gets promoted through tea, which also makes his sons richer; Therefore, why don’t educated people take the same shortcut instead of studying “Spring and Autumn” and “The Horseman’s Path from the Yellow River” for many years?” To win the love of the emperor, the concubines racked their brains over how to improve the methods of making tea, and soon this developed into a game called the “Tea Competition.” During the Tang era, educated people who wanted to occupy bureaucratic positions went through a strict selection process. They passed exams, and those who showed the highest results received a position in the capital at the court of the emperor. During the examination, which took place under the supervision of court officials, candidates were locked in isolated rooms to prevent any kind of fraud. They could only take with them a supply of solid food. An exception was made only for tea, which was brought to the examinees' rooms so that they could refresh themselves and strengthen their strength. Following the example of the emperor, princes and ministers were also proud of their passion for tea. Li Deyu, the great councilor, even used the purest spring water from springs thousands of li[1] away from the capital to make himself a cup of tea. Guests were also usually treated to tea, and it was considered extremely impolite not to do so.
Initially, tea drinking was promoted only by educated people, and during the Tang era, the art of tea, as well as poetry, reached its peak. Previously, poets drank alcohol to inspire them, but during the Tang era, alcohol was officially banned and the production of alcoholic beverages was sharply reduced because it used too much grain. Tea, a much cheaper mental stimulant, was used as an alternative to alcohol. This was the heyday of Buddhism; In temples, monks were supposed to meditate for hours. However, they did not have dinner. But for young monks this presented a certain difficulty. Therefore, in the Ling-Yan Temple on Mount Tai, as an exception, the monks were allowed to drink tea during evening prayers. Very soon other countries around the country began to do this, and it became a common practice. Gradually, tea began to be brought as a gift to Buddha, and especially important visitors to temples began to be treated to it. In connection with the consumption of tea, monks in temples began to grow tea trees themselves. Since, as a rule, temples were located in the mountains, where there is a lot of rain and sun, very high quality tea was always grown in the temples. It is not surprising that the Taoists, who also lived in seclusion in the mountains, were good gardeners and well versed in tea.
As the popularity of tea grew among ordinary people, tea shops began to appear everywhere, even in the provinces of the central plain, such as Shandong, Hunan and Shanxi, where tea production was at a relatively low level.
The tea trade became a means of replenishing the state treasury of the Tang Dynasty; tea was also a way to develop ties with neighboring ethnic groups. At this time, barter transactions were common: trading tea for horses.
The unusual love of the Tang people for tea gave impetus to the study of this plant and its properties. The ten main properties of tea were as follows:
1. Tea is good for health, cleanses the human body, relieves headaches and fatigue.
2. Tea can reduce the effects of alcohol and help you stop drinking it.
3. Served with various gravies and sauces, tea is a very nutritious product and satisfies hunger.
4. Tea makes you feel better during the summer heat.
5. Tea refreshes and banishes drowsiness.
6. Tea helps people cleanse their spirit and drive away worries.
7. Tea helps digest fatty foods, making it an integral part of life for China's ethnic minorities, whose usual diet is milk and meat.
8.
During this time period, tea was grown in forty-two prefectures across the country, and tea drinking traditions permeated the daily lives of people from all walks of life. The Later Tang emperors, who were especially fond of tea, ordered that all regions where tea grew should send leaves of the earliest (and best) varieties of tea to the palace, and on April 5, the palace hosted a banquet dedicated to the Qingming Festival, during which the deceased were remembered. This holiday also had another name - the festival of plants. Some officials even received promotions after bringing tea as a gift to the emperor. One satirical poem said: “A father gets promoted through tea, which also makes his sons richer; Therefore, why don’t educated people take the same shortcut instead of studying “Spring and Autumn” and “The Horseman’s Path from the Yellow River” for many years?” To win the love of the emperor, the concubines racked their brains over how to improve the methods of making tea, and soon this developed into a game called the “Tea Competition.” During the Tang era, educated people who wanted to occupy bureaucratic positions went through a strict selection process. They passed exams, and those who showed the highest results received a position in the capital at the court of the emperor. During the examination, which took place under the supervision of court officials, candidates were locked in isolated rooms to prevent any kind of fraud. They could only take with them a supply of solid food. An exception was made only for tea, which was brought to the examinees' rooms so that they could refresh themselves and strengthen their strength. Following the example of the emperor, princes and ministers were also proud of their passion for tea. Li Deyu, the great councilor, even used the purest spring water from springs thousands of li[1] away from the capital to make himself a cup of tea. Guests were also usually treated to tea, and it was considered extremely impolite not to do so.
Initially, tea drinking was promoted only by educated people, and during the Tang era, the art of tea, as well as poetry, reached its peak. Previously, poets drank alcohol to inspire them, but during the Tang era, alcohol was officially banned and the production of alcoholic beverages was sharply reduced because it used too much grain. Tea, a much cheaper mental stimulant, was used as an alternative to alcohol. This was the heyday of Buddhism; In temples, monks were supposed to meditate for hours. However, they did not have dinner. But for young monks this presented a certain difficulty. Therefore, in the Ling-Yan Temple on Mount Tai, as an exception, the monks were allowed to drink tea during evening prayers. Very soon other countries around the country began to do this, and it became a common practice. Gradually, tea began to be brought as a gift to Buddha, and especially important visitors to temples began to be treated to it. In connection with the consumption of tea, monks in temples began to grow tea trees themselves. Since, as a rule, temples were located in the mountains, where there is a lot of rain and sun, very high quality tea was always grown in the temples. It is not surprising that the Taoists, who also lived in seclusion in the mountains, were good gardeners and well versed in tea.
As the popularity of tea grew among ordinary people, tea shops began to appear everywhere, even in the provinces of the central plain, such as Shandong, Hunan and Shanxi, where tea production was at a relatively low level.
The tea trade became a means of replenishing the state treasury of the Tang Dynasty; tea was also a way to develop ties with neighboring ethnic groups. At this time, barter transactions were common: trading tea for horses.
The unusual love of the Tang people for tea gave impetus to the study of this plant and its properties. The ten main properties of tea were as follows:
1. Tea is good for health, cleanses the human body, relieves headaches and fatigue.
2. Tea can reduce the effects of alcohol and help you stop drinking it.
3. Served with various gravies and sauces, tea is a very nutritious product and satisfies hunger.
4. Tea makes you feel better during the summer heat.
5. Tea refreshes and banishes drowsiness.
6. Tea helps people cleanse their spirit and drive away worries.
7. Tea helps digest fatty foods, making it an integral part of life for China's ethnic minorities, whose usual diet is milk and meat.
8.