Cha jing the book of tea

Cha jing the classic treatise of tea by lu yu ad760780 one. Origins and rituals by yu lu book 2 editions published. Cha ching, or the classic of tea, remains the definitive work on the origins and culture, cultivation, processing and ways of preparing and. Wan li yun xiao yi yu mao cha sheng lu yu the sage of tea. Longjing tea was granted the status of gong cha, or imperial tea, in the qing dynasty by the kangxi emperor. English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu 733. And if you cant read classic chinese and still want to read a nice book about tea, then try the book of tea by kakuzo okakura in english. Rikuu 733804, china national tea museum, hangzhou english. Lu yu never occupied a post in the government although he had been offered the position of great supplicator taizhu of the office of imperial sacrifices taichangsi. Once some friends visited him, and they were about to have tea together. The classic of tea or tea classic is the first known monograph on tea in the world, by chinese.

The classic of tea or tea classic simplified chinese. The very first book on tea tea classic cha jing was written during the second half of the eighth century in china. According 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. Table of contents cha jing the classic treatise of tea by lu yu ad760780 one. A little bit like luyu with his cha jing the book of tea, confucius is the sage that all the thinkers who have come after him are quoting, interpreting. May 30, 2005 lu yus cha jing s original version you can read it here and, of course, its in chinese. His book, known as cha jing in chinese and the classic of tea in english, became the very first monograph on tea in the world. Written in 780 ad, during the vibrant tang dynasty, it is still widely regarded as the greatest treatise on tea in china and possibly the world, well over a thousand years later. See also tea classics according to cha jing writing, around ce 760, tea drinking was widespread. The books opening passage is about tea s origins in the south, showing that this has been a longheld theory. This monk was famous for his knowledge and love for tea.

It has ten chapters to talk about the tea history, tea appliances, tea production, tea making, tea drinking, tea export and teaism practice. The chajing is chinas oldest book on tea written by the tang period scholar lu yu. Feb 10, 2014 cha jing the classic of tea is the most important book for tea in the chinese history. Instead, this work is more of an encyclopaedia of tea during the tang dynasty. In the chapter notations on tea, there are dozens of short anecdotes that lu yu.

This year, we wanted to make a greater contribution to cha dao in the west by translating the most important book on tea that has ever been writ ten, the cha jingby master lu yu of the great tang dynasty. At the time, tea drinking was still a luxury enjoyed by the elite classes of chinese society. English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu 733804 required. Born in 733 ad in the tang dynasty 618907ad, lu yu was an orphan adopted by a monk in modern day hubei province. A lot of tea trees were extensively planted and the tea culture developed fast. Dragon well green tea longjing loose leaf tea from china xihu long jing chinese tea lung ching 50g 4.

Apr 07, 2017 since then, shennong often used cha as an antidote. I have been toying with doing a series on the famous classic of tea cha jing. It has ten chapters to talk about the tea history, tea appliances, tea. It also contains a horticultural description of the tea plant and its proper planting as well as some etymological speculation.

The divine farmer who discovered tea first teasenz. This is more than four hundred years earlier than the first japanese tea monograph by eisai. The classic of tea classic and collectors edition chinese. The first western mention of tea was by suleiman in the middle of the 9th century. Cover photograph by matthew london, from the the spirit of tea, his forthcoming book and exhibition. Classic of tea chapter 1 teanamu chaya teahouse, london. This was during the prosperous tang dynasty 618907. As we sit down to brew our special tea, we can imagine a string of yellowish cakes freshly picked just the day before the fact is that the cha jing. Only these top leaves of the longjing tea bush get harvested consequently, with the lower leaves remaining untouched. Cha jingthe classic of tea is the most important book for. In his treatise lu described the different types of tea, its preparation, its uses, and the benefits of drinking it. 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. In the book, there is a detailed description of the formal tea ritual of the time, requiring 27 tools.

Cover photograph by matthew london, from the the spirit of tea, his forthcoming book and. Cha jing the classic of tea and other writings yu lu, others. Cha jing, master lu says the best tea cakes, made from tender, juicy leaves, would have a yellow hue with wavy crests across the surface. According to cha jing an early book about tea written by lu yu a writer lived in tang dynasty, the tea plant and the process of tea were recorded in details. Lu yu cha jing tea classic written in the 8th century and reprinted many times, but mostly in chinese we are not sure if the complete cha jing has ever been translated, but lus book has been the bible of serious tea drinkers for 1200 years. The chaking consists of three volumes and ten chapters. Aaron paul leads an allstar cast in the black book audio drama. The first great work on tea, and the basis for most of our knowledge concerning its cultivation and preparation, is lu yus 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. Sip it slowly, and other lessons from the oldest tea book in the. 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 making of longjing tea was dated back to 1,500 years ago. Sometimes they try to clarify his thoughts, sometimes they build on it and sometimes they also oppose him. The book describes how tea plants were grown, the leaves processed, and tea prepared as a beverage.

Cha jing project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks read. The 3 juan scrolls long book was written by the tang period. Teachat oldest and largest tea forum online best books. Cha jingthe classic of tea is the most important book for tea in the chinese history. English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu 733804. Cha jing yi zhu wai san zhong translation and annotation of cha jing, or the book of tea. Cha jing book tea classical french texts mariage freres. The book describes how tea plants were grown, the leaves processed, and tea prepared as.

The classic of tea yu lu, lu yu, demi hitz, francis ross carpenter on. The oldest document in reference to tea written in 780 bc by lu yu 733804, translated directly from chinese for the. The first great work on tea, and the basis for most of our knowledge concerning its cultivation and preparation, is lu yus tea classic cha jing, which was published in the 760saccording to a contemporary, his book created a. Please come to our tea house in chai wan for a complementary brewyourown jasmine blossoms tea. Rickard nygards has recently published a translation of lu yus famous book on tea entitled cha jing. In the 8th century a chinese buddhist monk named lu yu composed cha jing, the classic book of tea.

In this book, lu yu summarizes everything known at that time about every aspect of tea planting and preparation. 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 monastery. But, we hear nothing more outside china for another 700 years. Dragon well tea is fully produced in the span of one day. Since the practice of tea was new and complexe during this period, only the emperor, members of the royal family, important artists or affluent. He developed the idea of holding a special tea ceremony with a small group of friends and giving it a spiritual element as a way to experience in microcosm the.

In the ten chapters of cha jing written over a thousand years ago, it covers a series of subjects ranging from tea culture, tea art, tea history, botany, biology, agriculture, medicine, geography. The book is the quintessence of tea saint lu yus tea knowledge. Before the tang dynasty there was very little information available regarding tea, at least in written form. The first tea monograph cha jing by tang dynasty writer lu yu was completed around 760 ce. The book is not large, about 7000 chinese characters. Oct 27, 2014 once designated for tribute tea, it is frequently found listed among the ten famous teas of china or zhong guo shi da ming cha.

Tea saint lu yus classic of tea chapter 1 in its original text. Ii, cha jing shui bian record of water for brewing tea, written in 814 by youxin zhang, was directly inspired by lus book. This chapter covers the mythological origins of tea in china. Addicted to the art of tea, lu yu even paid close attention to the best water to use for brewing tea. Cha was known by people because of him, but with a different character. Lu yus cha jing classic of tea is often cited as the bible of the tea world. Lu yus tea classic is the earliest known treatise on tea, and perhaps the most famous work on tea. Long jing dragon well tea one of the most famous chinese. The cha jing is known to be the first written account on tea culture in the world. He wrote the worlds first tea monograph, the classic of tea cha jing around ad 760. Tea became a wider drinking beverage in peoples daily life. The harvest standard is one bud with one or two top tea leaves. It is said that longjing tea was recorded as early as song dynasty in the world first tea book, cha jing the tea scripture written by lu yu.

The second chapter of lu yus classic of tea cha jing documents the tea equipment in use in the 7th century a. According to the legend, 3 the kangxi emperors grandson, the qianlong emperor, visited west lake during one of his famous holidays. Dec 01, 2010 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. The legend about long jing teadragon well esgreen blog. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the. The reverence felt for this sophisticated book, and the importance of tea for the chinese, is made clear by its very title placing it on the same hallowed level as the. This chapter expounds the mythological origins of tea in china. He enlightened lu yu on how tea is grown, picked, and made.

English edition of cha jing the book of tea by lu yu. It is a mindblowing experience that might change the way how you see tea. Large medium small in the ten chapters of cha jing written over a thousand years ago, it covers a series of subjects ranging from tea culture, tea art, tea history, botany, biology, agriculture, medicine, geography, hydrology, pottery, tea farming machinery to tea production. According to records, lu yu was abandoned as a baby at a temple and was adopted by a monk. After the morning harvest, the tea leaves are withered in a cool, dry climate for about 5 hours. During the tang dynasty around 760, writer lu yu wrote cha jing the classic of tea, an early work on the subject. Long jing tea was made famous by the qing emperors who loved hangzhou city, most notably by emperor qian long. The book is not large, about 7000 chinese characters in the literary language of the. Lu yu wrote the book on tea, a drink that had been enjoyed 1500 years in china by the time he wrote the book in the 8th century in chinas t ang dynasty.

Specifically, lu yu was known for his detailed account of tea written in his book the classic of tea or cha jing, and for perfecting the craft. Gawsewitch, 2004 isbn 2350037 francogallice edward denison ross, z. In the sequel to that book 1434 the year a magnificent. He has since been worshipped as the tutelary god of the. I have the chinese version downloaded from the gutenberg website but i dont have the english version. It was impossible for us not to stop off there and wander in the tea gardens, especially because its on this particular mountain that the most ancient tea trees of china grow.

This book advocates the benefits of tea drinking and systematically describes the cultivation of tea plants, the processing of its leaves, the skills needed for its preparation and its enjoyment as a daily beverage. Theyre a bit more rudimentary but basically the same as the equipment still being used today. At that time, drinking tea was a nationwide tradition. 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. He invested the cha ching with the concept that dominated the religious. Our tea masters will guide you through the making of this tea. The book of lu yu cha jing or classic of tea, is covering everything related to tea during that time, from the proper techniques to growing plants to brewing tea. The tang dynasty writer lu yu s 729804 cha jing is an early work on the subject. 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. The chajing classic of tea is one of the most famous ancient chinese books on tea. The chajing collection pays homage to the classic of tea cha jing by lu yu.