The Song Dynasty, a dynasty known for its cultural prosperity in Chinese history, not only made remarkable achievements in politics, economy, science and technology, but also displayed a unique charm in culture, art and daily life. Among them, the flourishing of tea culture was particularly prominent. Tea ordering, as an important tea drinking method at that time, not only reflected the pursuit of quality of life of the Song people, but also had a profound impact on the tea culture of later generations.
Background of Song Dynasty Tea Culture
During the Song Dynasty, the status of literati and ink masters was elevated to an unprecedented level, and they advocated culture and taste, elevating tea drinking to a high level of art. Tea ordering, as an important technique in Song Dynasty tea culture, is not only so simple as making tea, it contains rich cultural connotations and aesthetic interests. From the court to the folk, from the literati to the people, tea ordering became a popular way of life, showing the love of life and the pursuit of beauty in the Song Dynasty.
Tea ordering utensils and preparation
The process of ordering tea required a series of specialized utensils, which were not only practical, but also reflected the Song Dynasty's pursuit of quality of life. The main utensils include flasks, tea brushes, tea spoons, tea boxes, tea cups, tea marigolds and tea towels. Each piece of utensil has its specific purpose and use, and their design and production are extremely elaborate, reflecting the exquisite craftsmanship of the Song Dynasty.
Tea ordering steps in detail
The process of ordering tea is a ritual, an art and an enjoyment of life. The following are the basic steps in ordering tea:
- Warm the tea.: First, warm the tealight with hot water to ensure that the tealight is at the right temperature, which is conducive to the retention and savor of the tea broth.
- Add tea powder: Take an appropriate amount of tea powder and put it into the tealight according to your personal taste. There are various types of tea powder, so you can choose according to your personal preference.
- pour water into a paste: Fill with a small amount of water and use a teaspoon to make a tea paste, paying attention to the temperature of the water and the fineness of the tea powder.
- stir up trouble in secret: Fill a second time to 2/5 of the water level, and use a specific technique to strike the tea broth to create a rich foam.
- Enriched Soup Flower: Fill the water for the third time to half the water level and continue to whisk for a denser foam.
- Adjustment of flowers in the soup: Depending on the foam, inject water for the fourth time and adjust the whisking speed to achieve the desired foam richness and fineness.
- Appreciate the Tea Soup: After finishing ordering tea, you can appreciate the beauty of the color and foam of the tea broth, as well as taste its flavor and experience the essence of Song Dynasty tea culture.
The Cultural Significance of Ordering Tea
Ordering tea is not only a way of drinking tea, but also a reflection of life attitude. It requires people to find a kind of tranquility and elegance in the busy life, to cultivate themselves through the process of making tea, and to improve the quality of life. The process of tea ordering is a pursuit of beauty and a love of life.
The tea-dotting culture of the Song Dynasty not only influenced the development of Chinese tea culture, but also had a significant impact on international tea culture such as the Japanese Matcha Ceremony. Today, although we are unable to completely restore the tea-dotting scene of the Song Dynasty, by understanding and learning this traditional technique, we can better understand and appreciate the profound heritage of Chinese tea culture, as well as find a kind of elegance and serenity of our own in modern life.
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