Dongpo

Everything has its destiny, and so does tea. My life is intertwined with tea, a bond of fate between me and it. A pot of hot tea, a set of tea ware, a pouch of tea leaves. All my beautiful moments in life originate from tea. Drinking tea involves a sense of affinity and wisdom; to find kinship with tea is a blessing. As Bai Luomei said, "Tea has its own destiny, pots have their own cause and effect, and passersby have their own commitments. Everything in the world has its own faith and mission." All meetings in the world are due to past dispersals, and all partings are for the sake of finding one's final destination. When the tea brews its first bubbling and the stove fire turns red, every cup of tea we encounter in our lives is pure, beautiful, and compassionate in its own way. A tea lover always carries tea in their heart, thus tea is always present in their life, wherever they go, they yearn for a whiff of its fragrance. A tea lover's affection and obsession with tea have long transcended the mundane, becoming an inevitable part of their destiny. Su Dongpo said, "Fine…

Hunan native Ye Dehui (1864-1927) wrote a poem about tea titled "A Poetic Response to Elder Wuyuan Ming's Sitting Session, in the Same Rhyme, Dedicated to Wei Zhai." From the title, we can infer that this poem was inspired by a tea session and chat with Elder Guyi. "Elder Guyi" refers to Li Guyi. Wei Zhai is Fei Shun, who comes from a prominent Suzhou family; his father-in-law is Wu Dajin, and his cousin-in-law is Liu Yazhi. His circle of friends includes Yunnan native Li Genyuan. "Who will drive away the demon of sleep? The tea god Lu Yu sends two mandarin ducks flying." These lines refer to using tea to stay alert and dispel drowsiness. "Two mandarin ducks" refer to a pair of waterfowl. "Flying mandarin ducks" alludes to Wang Qiao of the Han dynasty, who served as a county magistrate and was known for his magical abilities, including the ability to ride a pair of mandarin ducks to meet the emperor regularly. The phrase "flying mandarin ducks" is often used to describe a county magistrate taking office or leaving it. Mentioning the tea deity Lu Yu indicates the use of tea to ward off the demon of sleep.…