Chinese tea ceremony

Author: * Hainrus Minamoto - 1 Post on this thread out of 4 Posts sitewide.
Date: Feb 24, 2005 - 15:18

I wish to give a brief personal account how I came to be introduced to this the wonderful art of Chinese tea drinking ceremony. Although it should strictly speaking be made here, but the Chinese tea ceremony is such an ancient institution that I think one might mention it here.

From the outset it is necessary to say I am a white westerner that had some interest in Oriental cultures, religion and history. About six months ago I attended a retreat (about an hours drive from where I live) at a Chinese Buddhist Temple. During the retreat we (the participants) were introduced to the Chinese Tea Ceremony.

What a delight! The mindfulness of preparing the perfect cup of green tea (setting the cups, teapot and water up, waiting the required time for the water to cool, allow the tea to draw and the eventually drinking, after a smelling it and a prayer)is something that should be experienced to be appreciated. I concede that it might not be everybodies cup of tea (no pun intended), but practicing the ceremony (even on your own) is calming and beneficially.

Being a westerner who loves his pasta, wine and espressos I had my doubts whether one will be able to go for "strange eastern artforms". Since experiencing the Chinese culure at close quaters I had a change of heart. Espressos (and coffee generally) feature less and less on my daily intake and in fact I only consume one cup a week. In my view the Chinese way of living is generally healthier. Eastern art forms like Tai Chi, origami, bonsai etc had over the last 40 to 50 years exponentially increased in the West. My western eyes have opened to the ancient arts of the orient.

Thank you for this opportunity to briefly share my experience of an eastern culture in my own country.