What is the chinese legend about the origin of tea. Til classc of teacha jingtea sutra by lu yu has been. It is divided into three sections and ten chapters, including the origin of tea, tea tools, tea picking, tea cooking, tea ceremony and famous tea producing. He is best known for his monumental book the classic of tea, the first definitive work on cultivating, making and drinking tea. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. For six years, lu yu stayed in huomen mountain studying under the guidance of master zou fuzi. The book embraces philosophy, meditation, and everyday life functions all. Lu yu s tea classic is the earliest known treatise on tea, and perhaps the most famous work on tea. The classic of tea, by chinese tea master lu yu 733804 is not readily. The classic of tea or tea classic is the first known monograph on tea in the world, by chinese writer lu yu between 760 ce and 762 ce, during the tang. I have the chinese version downloaded from the gutenberg website but i dont have the english version. Lu yu tea has become an indispensable drink in peoples lives during the tang dynasty.
Though the work itself is extremely interesting and valuable, the life of lu yu is, by all accounts, fascinating. English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu 733804. The poet lu yu, native of hunan province, in the tang dynasty wrote cha jing the book of tea also called the classic of tea. Yes, we are sorely lacking an accessible english translation of lu yus tea classic. Tea as a beverage was originated from shen nong a medicine book shen nong ben chao stated that shen nong tasted hundreds of herbs, he encountered seventy two poisons daily, he used tea as antidote in chinese legend, shen dong died in tea hill cha lin county of hunan province. For his achievements, he has for centuries been recognized in chinese. It was tang dynasty time during lu yu s time period. Class notes classic of tea the reading is of a tea. Every few months in my blog i present my own translation of a chapter from lu yu s classic of tea, written about ad 760780. Lu yu, the author of the classic of tea, lived during the tang dynasty and died in 804. The classic of tea yu lu, lu yu, demi hitz, francis ross carpenter on amazon. The classic of tea classic and collectors edition chinese. Lu yu, sutra of tea, china tea culture, chinese tea culture.
In chapter 6 the tea saint, lu yu, runs through the history of tea hes describing the boiled tea era in which he lived, of course, which was followed by the whisked tea era, which predated the steeped tea era that we live in now. The classic of tea or tea classic simplified chinese. Lengeman iii in resources and information 2 comments as premium tea has experienced something of a resurgence in popularity in recent years, there has also been a corresponding increase in books on related topics. For my part, there is a tremendous joy in imagining this brightest of characters.
Today, because of the natural beauty of lu shan, a part of the mountain has become a highlevel resort area. This is a very straightforward translation by francis ross carpenter first published in 1974 with reproductions of old illustrations of tea manufacture and. I have been toying with doing a series on the famous classic of tea cha jing because i want to make the riches of this ancient treatise accessible to my nonchinesespeaking tea friends, a sort of easyreference. The book, the earliest, most intact and comprehensive monograph on tea in china and even in the whole world, is finished in the tang dynasty more than 1,000 years ago. For my part, there is a tremendous joy in imagining this brightest of characters sneaking off to brew tea in some hidden corner of the palace.
Sep 25, 2009 an article by latterday tea scholar james norwood pratt states that lu yus the classic of tea known variously as cha ching, cha jing, and the tea classic was a product of five years of hermithood. As the years passed, lu yus skill at preparing tea improved and he developed a great interest in the brew. The term classic is basically the same since it uses the same chinese character, but on the other hand, in this context that word doesnt have much of its original intended meaning which didnt have anything to do with the chajing being a time. Teachat oldest and largest tea forum online the classic. English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu 733. In his late years, lu yu withdrew from the outside world and concentrated on research into tea. View notes class notes from his at wayne state university. Also, lu yu was used to drinking his tea from exquisite porcelain bowls.
The classic of tea by lu yu is the first, earliest, most comprehensive and complete study of tea, acclaimed as an encyclopedia of tea. But now, sitting here in this rustic hut with this rustic fellow and about to drink some local tea made him. The earliest record of tea in european writing is said to be found in the statement of an arabian traveller, that after the year the main sources of revenue in canton were the duties on salt and tea. Lu yu provides tea drinkers with practical and spiritual information about all aspects of tea. The story of lu yu hits home two major points to me. In the book, lu yu tried to comprehensively present all known information about chinese tea culture. Lu yu named his text chajing much alike the heart sutra xinzangjing. Both chiang kaichiek and mao zhedong had summer cottages here, far away from the demands of life in government. The effect of tea is cooling and as a beverage it is most suitable. Jul 28, 2017 lu yu was a selftaught scholar and author of the classic of tea, the oldest surviving guide to tea from traditional china, published sometime in the late 8th century. Adding to the western understanding of tea with the translation of another classic swells our hearts. The book covered everything from how to grow tea plants and cultivate them, brewing of tea and a complicated formal tea ceremony which used twenty seven pieces of equipment. Lu yu noticed that he had not added anything else to the brew. Classic of tea chapter 1 tea saint lu yu s classic of tea chapter 1 in its original text.
During the tang dynasty, a buddhist monk, lu yu 733804 composed the cha ching or classic of tea treatise. Lu yu was a selftaught scholar and author of the classic of tea, the oldest surviving guide to tea from traditional china, published sometime in the late 8th century. Lu yu is known for his monumental book the classic of tea, the first definitive work on tea. Chinese oolong tea semioxidized, chinese white tea, flavours, rose petals, raspberries, mallow flowers. Written in the eighth century, this fascinating book looks at the intricacies involved in brewing tea, describing precisely how the perfect tea should be made.
An article by latterday tea scholar james norwood pratt states that lu yus the classic of tea known variously as cha ching, cha jing, and the tea classic was a product of five years of hermithood. He is a respected figure on the subject of tea to this day. Ad 780 by lu yu, the first book that is specialized on the knowledge of tea. Many tea masters were eagerly awaiting this work and lu yu was sure that his name would go down in history as the tea master of tea masters as well it did.
During this period, lu yu often brewed tea for his teacher. Catherine changthe epoch times when speaking of tea, lu yu is an important person to give thanks to. Pdf tea has always been a friend to china jennifer. Lu yu, 733804, whose courtesy name was hongjian, was born in todays tianmen city of hubei province. He is best known for his monumental book the classic of tea, the first definitive work on cultivating, making and drinking tea biography. For lu yu, tea symbolized the harmony and mysterious unity of the universe. Lu yus tea classic was the earliest treatise on tea in the world. Pdf tea, liquid jade or green gold, it is called, is the most. Buy the classic of tea 1st edition by yu lu, francis ross carpenter isbn. The first book about the rules of successful tea brewing was called tea classic cha jing. It is how gong fu cha, the chinese tea ceremony, was developed.
It goes well with fresh fruit salad, fruit and custard tartlets, cookies with pistachios or pine nuts. The monk who adopted lu yu was a tea lover and lu yu prepared tea for him from childhood. Yes, we are sorely lacking an accessible english translation of lu yu s tea classic. The emperors treatise on tea is one of the most important tea texts in history. Lu yu 733804 born in tang dynasty, was known as tea saint, he wrote the first definitive work on cultivating, making and drinking tea cha jing also the classic of tea. The original book of tea march 01, 2002 by james norwood pratt. Written in the eighth century, this fascinating book looks at the in. Lu yu and the classic of tea on september 25, 2009 october 31, 2011 by william i. The fruits of his research were written down in his masterpiecethe classic of tea. Luk yu tea house was established in 1933 on wing kut street in central district where business men meet every morning and over lunch daily. Unusual chinese scroll depicting famous chinese personality lu yu of 8th century respected as the sage of tea for his contribution to chinese tea culture. Tea tempers the spirits and harmonizes the mind, dispels lassitude and relieves fatigue, awakens thought and prevents drowsiness, lightens or refreshes the body, and clears the perceptive faculties. It is very comforting to be the recipient of a gift passed down for more than a millennium. It was tang dynasty time during lu yus time period.
Beautifully illustrated by demi hitz published by little brown company 1974 very good condition. The tea culture reflects the oriental traditional culture, combining the tea with tao wisdom, pronounced in chinese as dao, which is an integral part of the chinese culture. The book is an important document both for historical purposes and as an insight into the lives of a country which introduced tea to the world. Marco polo records the deposition of a chinese minister of. A comprehensive look at tea history, production and the tea culture of tangera china, the books ten chapters take a look at. The book embraces philosophy, meditation, and everyday life functions all in their proper relation to tea. Class notes classic of tea the reading is of a tea making. The classic of tea was penned by lu yu during the eighth century. The francis ross carpenter translation has been out of print for a while so used editions are quite expensive, but you can still find them in libraries. Lu yus friends in the city were used to adding all sorts of things to their teasuch things as ginger, orange peel or even small onions.
It took yu 20 years to finish this book and was a huge success. The tea culture was highlighted in a book by lu yu 780 a. During the tang dynasty 618907 the tea sage lu yu wrote of the delicious nature of lu shan tea. He is respected as the sage of tea for his contribution to chinese tea culture. It is especially fitting for persons of selfrestraint and inner worth. Written in the eighth century, this fascinating book looks at the intricacies. You need to be somebody before you could book a table as most tables are being booked daily. The classic of tea written by lu yu and translated and introduced by francis ross carpenter. The book detailed exactly how a cup of green tea should be made and how it should be served. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. Dec 21, 2007 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Download the classic of tea pdf ebookthe classic of tea the classic of tea ebook author by yu lu the classic of tea eb. The book is not large, about 7000 chinese characters in the literary language of the tang dynasty, a condensed, refined and poetic style of chinese. It is why lu yu has been lifted to the station of saint of tea. En shi yu lu is a very unique tea that originates from en shi city ba jiao village area of hubei province. This book is the reason tea is the way it is today. Book has cloth boards and is in excellent condition. It was not until the 14th century that green tea became accessible to the general public for enjoyment and medicinal purposes. The book discusses comprehensively the history, origin, current status, production technology of tea as well as the skills of tea drinking and the tea ceremony. English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu. History of tea in china chinese food history, story and.
276 907 441 1242 465 732 704 165 109 180 760 1276 1079 854 511 307 162 55 987 1415 617 496 400 254 624 1174 588 229 1381 566 339 849 1178 210 1117 681 1182 1148 1050