Tea Course- Test 1 Notes

When did the Qing dynasty occur?

"It was established in 1636, and ruled China proper from 1644 to 1912."

What is Cai Xiang known for writing?

"Record of Tea" (Cha lu) on song dynasty tea

How did tea drinking replace alcohol in Chinese society?

-Buddhists sought to substitute tea for alcohol -Tea drinking was new, exotic, and Buddhist, and tied to (what will ultimately be) Chan practice and the literati, and thus the perfect drink to replace alcohol, which had historical social, political, and ritual functions in Chinese society

What is Zhu Yuanzhang known for (both in general and with regard to tea)?

-Founding emperor of Ming dynasty. -Like most commoners in the 14th century, he probably drank loose leaf tea -Ostensibly, he decided that imperial tea would not be in the form of cakes, in order to save the labor of the tea households forced to do the work

What conditions does tea grow in best?

-Grows best in tropical or sub-tropical environments, but can grow in other environments -Prefers acidic soil and requires at least 50 inches of rain a year -Elevation: above 5000 feet

How did connoisseurship develop during the Ming dynasty?

-Increasing prosperity in the Ming led to greater tourism by the educated. -One of Zhu Yuanzhang's sons wrote a work on tea that used the older practice -Tea production for the elite grew in nuance with the shift to whole leaf teas

Why were temples and monasteries good places to grow tea?

-They were up on mountains where tea could be grown -Some Buddhist temples were large and wealthy institutions that accumulated agricultural lands, processing facilities (eg mills), and tenants/manpower

When did William of Rubruk visit the Mongols?

1253-1254

When did Zhu Yuanzhang live?

1328-1398- founding emperor of Ming dynasty

When was the Ming dynasty?

1368-1644. It followed the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty.

When did the Ming court stop ordering tea cups from Jingdezhen?

1620

When did the Qing government re-establish control?

1680

When was the Northern Wei dynasty?

424-535 AD

When was the Liang dynasty [Southern dynasty]?

502-557

When was the Tang dynasty?

618-907 AD

When was the first tea tax?

780. The tax indicates that it was widespread enough for the government to notice

When was the Song dynasty?

960-1279 AD

When did tea spread throughout southern China?

After the Han dynasty fell (so post-220 AD). After the Han fell, southern High culture developed b/c of unification.

How did discussions on water develop during the Ming dynasty?

Although there were earlier discussions of water, these became more developed

How is tea drinking and cultivation linked directly to the spread of Buddhism in China?

Because monks wandered, both to and from China, tea drinking and cultivation were directly connected to the spread of Buddhism in China and the rest of East Asia

How did tea pots change (starting in the Ming dynasty)?

Beginning in the Ming, pots made in Yixing used the local porous clay (zisha) to make tea pots that had good heat retention, and allowed the tea to infuse the pot itself.

Where did Song emperors get their tea from?

Beiyuan (Northern Park) in Jian'an

Describe Zhu Yuanzhang's upbringing.

Born desperately poor, apprenticed to a Buddhist monastery in order to eat

What was tea associated with during the Ming dynasty?

Buddhist monks, literati, temples in the mountains

How was tea viewed during the Song dynasty?

By 960 [beginning of Song dynasty], tea was already a well-established beverage at all levels of society

By what point was southern China developing economically?

By the Sui dynasty (581-618). Note though that China's culture was still centered on the Yellow River and Central Plains

What five health benefits does tea have?

Caffeine benefits-- increases focus, provides energy; promotes digestion, quenches thirst better than water, promotes appetite by cleansing the palate

Who is the first important Song writer on tea?

Cai Xiang. He was a statesmen, scholar, and calligrapher during the Song dynasty.

What can you press dried tea into?

Cakes or bricks

What are the three main varieties of tea?

Camellia sinensis var. sinensis, Camellia sinensis var. assamica, Camellia sinensis var. assamica subsp. cambodiensis [we'll be focusing on the first two in this course]

What did expensive tea cakes usually have added to them?

Camphor, for aromatic properties. Note though that Cai Xiang explained to the emperor that southerners did not do this

Who wrote "Classic of Tea"? When?

Classic of Tea (Chajing) [760] by Lu Yu [nickname: "the god of tea"] (733- 804) -lists people traditionally associated w/ tea, including Shennong (the Divine Husbandman) -cemented tea folklore/mythology in the popular mindset

How did tea cups change (starting in the Yuan dynasty)?

Cups began to be made of true porcelain (though this may have occurred earlier) manufactured in Jingdezhen in the Yuan dynasty

What is decoction [verb] ?

Decoction is boiling materials in water to extract flavors and/or compounds

How and when did tea spread to northern China?

During the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), tea reached northern China, but only really as a medicine. Tea was still seen as a southwestern drink-- it was still mainly connected w/ Sichuan

What is Emperor Huizong known for writing, and when was it written?

Essays on Tea from the Daguan Reign Period (Daguan chalun)- written 1107

What was "Record of Tea" originally written for?

For the Song-era emperor's consideration

When did Cai Xiang live?

From 1012-1067.

How does Buddhism theoretically view eating and taste?

Fundamentally, eating and taste are illusions in Buddhism, that can warp our views, blinding us to the truth that everything is an illusion

Who did Zhu Yuanzhang hate and why?

He hated the wealthy southern elite who hadn't supported him politically. He hated the Mongols and steppe people who had controlled China.

What functions does tea have?

Health benefits, helps facilitate social interaction, has a place in certain rituals

When and how did tea bags first appear in USA?

In 1907, when Thomas Sullivan provided samples of his tea in silk bags

Where was the earliest physical evidence for tea found?

In Han emperor Jing's (188-141 BCE, r. 157-141) tomb

What attitude did the Manchu take with regard to the economy?

In establishing political control, the Manchus wanted to reestablish the economy, so economic interests were also politically important. (Note that tea was fully commodified before the Qing founding.)

What is an infusion?

Infusion is the extraction of flavors or compounds in a solvent: water, alcohol, or oil

Where did tea originate [in China]?

It has southwestern origins. The feudal rulers of Sichuan sent tea to the Zhou king. By the Tang dynasty, at least, drinking tea was seen as a southern custom.

How did Southern tea production change as a result of the increased demand and new trading networks?

It increased

When and how were tea bags introduced to England?

It was only in 1953 that Tetley introduced tea bags as we now know them in England, when rationing ended

Describe the quality of Jingdezhen's local clay.

Jingdezhen's local clay (kaolin) was fine and white, combined with petuntse. When fired at very high temperature 1,200-1,300 C it vitrified [is converted into glass].

Was knowing which tea varieties were "good" important?

Knowing what tea was "good" was an important kind of esoteric knowledge only meaningful to others who knew

How did the Song dynasty obtain horses for its military?

Lacking sufficient pasturage for horse-raising, the Song had to trade with steppe/non-Chinese people to obtain horses

What initiated the genre of tea writing?

Lu Yu's "Classic of Tea"

Did most people consume loose leaf or tea cakes?

Most people consumed loose tea not formed into fancy cakes

What are the Five Moral Precepts in Buddhism?

No killing [no eating meat, no using animal products like milk], stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, or drinking intoxicants... Buddhists- the first vegans

Lecture 7: Was tea just a commodity in the Qing dynasty?

No, although it was ubiquitous, it remained the subject of intense intellectual, religious, and political study

Lecture 1: Are black tea and green tea different teas?

No, although there are two main varieties of tea, the color difference is a product of processing

Lecture 3: Was Buddhism responsible for the rise of tea drinking?

No, though it fit well with Buddhist institutions and practices

Lecture 4: Did commodification break tea's connection with Buddhism?

Not completely, but it did segment the meaning of tea, retaining some Buddhist connection but also breaking the connection for most people by the Song

How can you process tea after you fix it?

Once it is fixed the tea can be dried, ground into powder, shredded, or rolled

What do the Five Pungent Spices do?

Promote sexual misconduct

What dynasty followed the Ming dynasty?

Qing dynasty [Manchu dynasty]. It was the last imperial dynasty of China.

What area was the source for the tea and horse trade in the Song?

Sichuan, since it was near the markets

What Song emperor wrote about tea?

Song emperor Huizong, a highly cultured man interested in controlling/influencing culture, wrote about tea as well

What is steeping?

Steeping is soaking a solid in a liquid to release flavors or compounds

What did Mongols and other steppe groups add to their tea?

Taken together, Mongols most notably, but other steppe groups as well, put milk in their tea or simply used milk instead of water

What benefits did tea add to steppe culture?

Tea became a standard part of hospitality, a regular source of calories from the milk, functioned to flavor drinks, and added the usual health effects

How were tea wares viewed in Ming society?

Tea wares also became central areas of discussion and production

Why did tea catch on w/ Buddhists?

Tea was a substitute for drinking prohibited alcohol and milk

Was tea culturally Manchu or Chinese?

Tea was both authentically Chinese and authentically Manchu/steppe, though because it was produced in China, it remained more Chinese

Where was tea produced and processed during the Song?

Tea was produced and processed in the south and Sichuan and shipped all over the empire

What religious value did tea have?

Tea was seen as helpful to meditation and clearing or cleansing one's mind

Who did China trade their tea with?

Tea was traded with the steppe and Tibet, it was a luxury good for rulers

When and where does tea first appear in written records?

The Book of Poetry, which has 305 poems composed between c. 1000 and c. 600 BCE

Who designated Longjing tea as an imperial tea?

The Kangxi emperor (1654-1722).

How did the Qing dynasty emperors try to portray themselves, culturally speaking?

The Qing rulers sought to portray themselves as both Manchu and Chinese emperors

What major military problem did the Song face?

The Song dynasty could not produce enough horses for its military

Who first drunk tea in China (traditionally)? When?

The legendary Shennong (ca. 2737 BCE) in northern China

How do you get black tea?

The longer the tea is allowed to oxidize, the blacker it becomes

What main good was traded in exchange for horses?

The main trade good used in exchange for horses was tea, and this was traded to the Tibetans

What relationship did the southern economy have w/ the northern economy during the Tang?

The southern economy and population began to surpass the north

What region did northern China have strong cultural ties to?

The steppe.

When was the word for tea invented?

The word for tea is a Tang innovation. Note that it's not a Buddhist word though.

What divided Northern and Southern dynasties?

These two regimes were divided at the Yangzi River

What cultural/ethnic background did the Qing dynasty rulers come from?

They were Manchu, not Chinese.

Were tea bricks considered low or high quality, and why?

They were considered to be low quality, both because they were being sent to barbarians and because they were being traded for quantity, not quality

How could temples follow strict dietary practices?

They were wealthy institutions with productive lands. Tea became a cash crop for these temples.

Why did the Mongols try to not drink pure water?

This may have been because they regarded rivers as sacred (or good sanitary practice)

What is fixing?

This process by which you stop oxidizing- you kill the bacteria through heating

How can you stop oxidizing?

This process of oxidizing is stopped by killing the bacteria through heating (fixing)

What major transport network was built during the Sui dynasty? What was its purpose?

Under the Sui dynasty (581-618), a canal was dug connecting the south with the north, in order to bring southern goods to the capital in the north

What is oxidization (with regard to tea)?

When tea is first picked, bacteria and microorganisms begin to oxidize or break down the buds/leaves

To what height do wild tea plants grow?

Wild tea plants can grow to 20 feet tall (sinensis) or 98 feet (assamica)

What is William of Rubruk known for (with regard to tea)?

William of Rubruk (c.1220-c.1293) noted in his account of his 1253-54 trip that Mongols tried not to drink pure water. This may have been because they regarded rivers as sacred (or good sanitary practice)

When did Lu Yu live? What is he known for?

Wrote "Classic of Tea". Lived from 733 to 804.

Lecture 2: Was tea originally used as medicine?

Yes, and it continues to have that function even today

Lecture 5: Was tea connoisseurship a reaction to commodification?

Yes, as tea became a regular beverage and trade good literati sought to distinguish their consumption

Lecture 6: Did Tea-drinking change because of the First Ming Emperor?

Yes, because he rejected elite tea drinking practices

When did William of Rubruk live?

c.1220-c.1293

What are the Five Pungent Spices?

garlic, onions, scallions, chives, and leeks

When did Emperor Huizong reign?

r. 1101-1126