Ad 780 by lu yu, the first book that is specialized on the knowledge of tea. The first great work on tea, and the basis for most of our knowledge concerning its cultivation and preparation, is lu yu s tea classic cha jing, which was published in the 760saccording to a contemporary, his book created a craze for tea sets and other paraphernalia, and by the end of the tang dynasty he was worshipped as a god in. Lu yu lists and ranks tea bowls made in kilns in six prefectures, and the celadon bowls made in yuezhou. Studying the outbound transmission of tea culture in ancient times along with the history of the translation of the classic of tea will provide reference for the telling of chinese. 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. A rare enlarged edition of this important collection of chinese gastronomic classics, dealing with tea, various alcohols, crabs, and vegetables. Learn how and when to remove these template messages. Before lu yu s efforts in compiling this book, methods of growing tea, as well as harvesting and processing tea, were known by tea farmers who had learned through their forbearers and neighbors. As i noted in the first chapter, the history of tea in china begins with the publication of lu yusclassic of teaaround 780. You can find a recent translation here warning pdf. 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. Origins rituals before purchasing it in order to gage. Every aspect of it is a sign of the abundance this world. Reflecting this trend, in his wellknown manual on tea, chajing the classic of tea, written between 760 and 780, the poet lu yu 730scirca 804 elevated the consumption of tea into a ceremony to be celebrated in style.
Lu yu provides tea drinkers with practical and spiritual information about all aspects of tea. In his book, the classic of tea, lu yu explained the mindful execution of the ritual of tea preparation. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The classic of tea was penned by lu yu during the eighth century. The classic of tea project gutenberg selfpublishing. The classic of tea, was written by lu yu between ad 760 and ad 780 during the tang dynasty. This chapter introduces the life and works of lu yu 733804, author of the worlds first book devoted to tea, theclassic of tea chajing as we shall see, both lu s life and his work were strongly shaped by the religious climate of medieval china. According to tea lore, lu yu was an orphan of jinling county now tianmen county in hubei province who was adopted by a buddhist monk of the dragon cloud. During this period, lu yu often brewed tea for his teacher. Grand tea master sen soshitsu begins his examination of tea s origins and development from the eighth century through the heian and medieval eras.
His ideas would have a strong influence in the development of the japanese tea. Lu yu wrote the first book about tea, called the classic of tea or cha ching. Consumption spread throughout the chinese countryside during the tang dynasty from 620907 ad, aided by the publication of lu yu s the classic of tea. Pdf chinese ceramics and tea drinking for china heritage. This chapter introduces the life and works of lu yu, author of the worlds first book devoted to tea, the classic of tea chajing. Til classc of teacha jingtea sutra by lu yu has been. Lu yu wrote in the classic of tea that the purple bamboo shoot. Because of his seminal role, it is appropriate to begin a consideration of the history of tea with him.
This contemplative statue of lu yu is at the great tang dynasty. Nowadays tea production quality has decreased, more important is quantity. The first volume and the first part of the second volume contains the cha jing by yu lu in ten chapters and edited by shixian wang active 16th17th century, who also wrote on botany. Authored by tang dynasty tea expert lu yu 733804, who has been honored as the sage of tea, the masterpiece is the first known monograph on tea in the world. Looking for pdf verson of the classic of teachajing by lu yu. In the early 9th century, chinese author lu yu wrote the classic of tea, a treatise on tea focusing on its cultivation and preparation. It was tang dynasty time during lu yu s time period. Lu yu s book on the cha ching classic book of tea is one of the very best and earliest foundational texts about tea drinking and chinese tea culture. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Pdf tea, liquid jade or green gold, it is called, is the most consumed. The paper describes the investigation on the tea producing area in changxing county,zhejiang province which was recorded in the classic of tea written by lu yu of the tang dynasty. It is regarded as the very first manual on tea in the world. The earliest known treatise on tea is cha ching or the classic of tea, written by the chinese writer lu yu. Lu was orphaned at a young age and was brought up by the abbot of a buddhist monastery.
Buy the classic of tea 1st edition by yu lu, francis ross carpenter isbn. Translation and research of tea classic promoted chinese. Tea was used mostly for medicinal purposesenjoyment of tea for. Due to its popularity, tea is taxed for the first tax in china. 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. According to tea lore, lu yu was an orphan of jinling county now tianmen county in hubei province who was adopted. Lu yu, the author of the classic of tea, lived during the tang dynasty and died in 804. For six years, lu yu stayed in huomen mountain studying under the guidance of master zou fuzi.
The regulation of tea and its health related claims in the. Lu yu s cha jing classic of tea is often cited as the bible of the tea world. Tea classic by lu yu and other tea literature of tang dynasty. Ad 780 by lu yu, the first book that is specialized on the knowledge of tea, tea. The first part is devoted to exploration biography of lu yu and history of the classic of tea. In his book, the classic of tea, lu yu explained the mindful execution of the ritual of tea. Dec 21, 2007 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu 733. In this book, lu yu summarizes everything known at that time about every aspect of tea planting and preparation.
Among the work related to tea, the classic of tea or cha jing written by lu yu between 760 ad and 762 ad is considered the most significant and oldest of them all carpenter, 1974. Lu yu became an expert in tea, poetry, and calligraphy. According to tea lore, lu yu was an orphan of jinling county now tianmen. Lu yu wrote in the classic of tea that the purple bamboo shoot guzhu zisun tea which grew on these bamboocovered hills was the best in china. The spread of tea across the globe and its effect on politics and international trade is a truly fascinating story. Ukers goes into exhaustive detail, giving dates and names for just about every tea history topic that you could think of. Instead, this work is more of an encyclopaedia of tea. Among the works on tea, that which is regarded as both the oldest and the greatest is thechajing, the classic of tea. Lu yu was an orphan during the tang dynasty, raised by an abbot in the dragon cloud monastery.
Written in the eighth century, this fascinating book looks at the in. The classic of tea translated by francis ross carpenter, by lu yu the classic of tea, or chajing tea dictionary, by james norwood pratt not exactly something you read cover to cover, but really handy to have onhand. The book seems scarce again now but is a classic that students of tea would do well to track down. It is not just an element of the tea tradition lore, that later spread to neighboring countries, but also a valuable literary piece that kickstarted an array of tea books and tea literature. 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.
Yes, we are sorely lacking an accessible english translation of lu yu s tea classic. Among the works on tea, that which is regarded as both the oldest and the greatest is thechajing, the classic of tea lu yu, its author, esteemed as the progenitor of the drinking of tea, was a tang dynasty scholarofficial of the eighth century also known as lu hongjian. Lu yu refined the process and popularized it amongst the literati and royalty of his day, and his book was a huge successwidely distributed even long after he was gone. The cha jing is known to be the first written account on tea culture in the world and speaks of the benefits of drinking tea. An investigation on the tea growing area of zhejiang province. Jul 21, 2020 the classic of tea was compiled by writer lu yu and was first published in 780. Lu yu describes in his writings not only how to brew green tea, but how to cultivate it, the tools needed, and even the health benefits of green tea known at the time.
It has influences tea drinking and practices greatly, including those that eventually permeated japan and evolved into the japanese tea ceremony. Spiritually, tea was believed to be an elixir of immortality. Consumption spread throughout the chinese countryside during the tang dynasty from 620907 ad, aided by the publication of lu yu s the classic of tea in the eighth century. English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu.
It was proved that lu yu was familiar with the changxing zhejiang province among all the tea producing area in tang dynasty. Teachat oldest and largest tea forum online best books. The book seems scarce again now but is a classic that students of tea. It became the favorite tea of the tang emperors and the first imperial tea factory was built here to ensure a supply of this tribute tea. It is very comforting to be the recipient of a gift passed down for more than a millennium. The second part is devoted to comparison of tea making process and used tools in the period of tan dynasty and nowadays china. Ceramic tea bowls are mentioned in the first major text on tea, the classic of tea compiled between 75860ce by lu yu 733 804 of the tang dynasty, this work had a profound effect on the diffusion of the tea drinking. Both lu s life and his work were strongly shaped by the. T his is one of the most monumental issues of global tea hut ever. The classic of tea or tea classic simplified chinese. He is best known for his monumental book the classic of tea, the first definitive work on cultivating, making and drinking tea. Sep 25, 2009 an article by latterday tea scholar james norwood pratt states that lu yu s the classic of tea known variously as cha ching, cha jing, and the tea classic was a product of five years of hermithood. Lu yu s tea classic is the earliest known treatise on tea, and perhaps the most famous work on tea.
Tea drinking becomes very popular at court, inspiring the custom of tribute tea, whereby tea growers donate their very best tea to the emperor and the imperial court. 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 world in your cup notable people in tea history. This is a very straightforward translation by francis ross carpenter first published in 1974 with reproductions of old illustrations of tea manufacture and. I will discuss lu yus life and how he came to compose this work in a later chapter, but here we will consider the significance of some of the works claims. During this period, tea had become such an important cash crop that the government imposed the first known tea tax. Specifically, he is known for his detailed account of tea in his book the classic of tea. The major turning point in tea history was the publication of the first tea book, cha jing, which is now known as the classic of tea, by lu yu 733804 ad ouyang, 1998. The book embraces philosophy, meditation, and everyday life functions all in their proper relation to tea. The book describes the mythological origins of tea, as well as its horticultural. Tea classic by lu yu and other tea literature of tang. My edition is the 1995 reprint of the long out of print 1974 edition by francis ross carpenter. Buddhist philosopher lu yu wrote cha ching, the classic of tea between 760 and 780 a.
Before lu yu s efforts in compiling this book, methods of growing tea, as well as harvesting and processing tea, were known by tea farmers who had learned through their forbearers. Lu yu is almost completely irrelevant for tea drinkers for probably 800 years now. Cha jing the classic of tea and other writings yu lu, others. Aug 06, 2018 the book is separated into eight sections ranging from the genesis of tea to a listing of paintings and songs. Jul 20, 2010 tea saint lu yu s classic of tea chapter 1 in its original text. Translation and research of tea classic promoted chinese tea. It offers comprehensive information about how different varieties were grown, processed, rated, cooked and tasted, as well as how tea sets should be designed and produced. Dong shuting 20, cha jingzhongde chanzong sixiang yiji fanyi buchang yanjiu waiguo yuyanxue ji yingyong yuyanxue. In imperial china, governments were marked by dynasties, and many of the major developments in tea culture particularly in tea production do indeed take place from one dynasty to another. 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.
Teachat oldest and largest tea forum online the classic. From the longer wikipedia article 1 the classic of tea or tea classic simplified chinese. Lu yu believed in the purifica tion of every aspect of tea, and by concentrating on the refinement of the tea, the water, the fire, etc. This poem by wang wei is listed in the anecdotes of chapter 7 in lu yus cha ching, or, the classic of tea. Almost a millennium before the perfection of chado the way of tea by sen rikyu 15221591, the chinese scholarofficial lu yu d. Oct 04, 2017 fashion for tea drinking in the tang dynasty. Ten sites of origin are considered to locate between the two valleys in guzhu mountain. Cha jing or tea classic is an important part of tang china cultural heritage.
Besides the goal of yielding a pleasanttasting tea, lu yu preached that inner harmony could be attained through the expression of careful, attentive tea preparation. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. I have the chinese version downloaded from the gutenberg website but i dont have the english version. Tea saint lu yu s classic of tea chapter 1 in its original text. An investigation on the tea growing area of zhejiang. A comprehensive look at tea history, production and the tea culture of tangera china, the books ten chapters take a look at. The first tea specific manuscript, the classic of tea cha jing, commissioned by tea merchants and written by the poet lu yu was published.
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