Painting

A gentle breeze sweeps over the central-western part of Raoping County in Chaozhou City, where the vast sea of tea plants in Fubin Town stretches as far as the eye can see, undulating along the mountainside, and the tea fields are filled with a fresh aroma. Following winding mountain roads, the verdant tea trees gradually merge with the blue sky and white clouds, painting a beautiful summer landscape. Recently, relevant leaders of the Chaozhou Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee led a group of deputies to the people's congress and representatives from related departments to conduct the "Green and Beautiful Chaozhou - Deputies in Action" themed activity in Fubin Town, Raoping County, and Fenghuang Town, Guilu Town in Chao'an District. The focus was on a special investigation into the handling of key proposals concerning "Cultivating Tax Sources in the Tea Industry to Promote Fiscal Revenue Growth." During the event, the deputies were constantly on the move, gaining a comprehensive understanding of tea production and sales, tea tax revenue, quality control, brand promotion, and tea plant protection through site visits, listening to reports, and holding symposiums. They actively collected public opinions and fully leveraged their roles as people's congress deputies to empower…

Most Jianshui purple clay artifacts, in essence, are the result of combining “form” with “shape.” Only by achieving as perfect a union of “form” and “shape” as possible can artisans create outstanding Jianshui purple clay works.The two homophonic Chinese characters have different meanings. “Form” refers to the shape of the artifact; it is fixed and static, and can be more broadly understood as tradition. When we speak of a certain form now, we refer to a shape that has been established over the course of history. Only when made in that particular way can it be called that specific form. “Shape,” on the other hand, is changeable and dynamic, with each artifact having a unique shape. Relatively speaking, Jianshui purple clay artifacts offer more expressive space in terms of “shape.” Artifacts of the same form can have one-of-a-kind “shapes” in their decoration, carrying distinct meanings. Negative engraving and positive filling, along with literati painting and calligraphy, make the “shape” of Jianshui purple clay artifacts infinitely variable. The Chinese ink and wash art displayed represents the emotional expression and individuality of the artist. The unique decorative technique of negative engraving and positive filling permanently embeds literati painting and calligraphy into the…

In the season of Great Heat, the scorching sun seems to intoxicate all living things with its endless fervor. Tea is like an elegant hermit who finds a tranquil haven amidst the hustle and bustle, dancing to a melodious rhythm alongside life. Tea is a touch of coolness in the midst of Great Heat, unhurried and unrushed, seeping into every soul that yearns for peace with its unique warmth. On a sweaty afternoon, brew a pot of good tea and watch as the emerald leaves tumble and settle in the water, ultimately finding calm, just like the ups and downs of life culminating in tranquility. This tea not only quenches thirst but also soothes the heart, offering us a glimpse of clarity and profound understanding of life amidst our busyness and restlessness. Life is like the weather during Great Heat, sometimes burning hot, sometimes oppressively stifling. And tea is the harmonizer, allowing us to feel coolness amidst the heat and find comfort in the midst of oppression. Every sip of tea is a taste of life and a reflection on existence. It teaches us that no matter how tumultuous the outside world may be, we must maintain inner tranquility and…

Metal utensils are among the oldest in China, made from materials such as gold, silver, copper, iron, and tin. Before Qin Shi Huang unified China, bronze vessels were already widely used, both for alcohol and for holding tea or water. As tea became a beverage, tea ware gradually separated from other types of utensils. Around the Northern and Southern Dynasties, China saw the emergence of silver and gold tea ware. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, the production of silver and gold utensils reached its peak. From the Song Dynasty onwards, opinions on metal tea ware were mixed. After the Yuan Dynasty, especially starting from the Ming Dynasty, with innovations in tea varieties, changes in tea-drinking methods, and the rise of ceramic tea ware, metal tea ware, including those made of silver, gradually disappeared. Particularly, tea ware made of tin, iron, and lead was believed to alter the taste of tea, leading to their rare usage. Silver and gold tea ware can be classified by material: those made of silver are called silver tea ware, while those made of gold are called gold tea ware. Silverware decorated with gold foil or gilded is referred to as gilded tea ware. Due…

"Throughout history, poets have been tea connoisseurs, toasting their friends with a cup of clear tea." In China's thousands of years of history, the humble tea leaf has played an indispensable role. Among the seven refined pursuits of life—music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, and tea—one cannot do without tea! The tea mountains are filled with verdant green after a whole winter of rest and accumulation. It seems that the fragrance of tea wafts from the tenderest and most vibrant branches among the leaves, its subtle aroma enchanting and intoxicating. Spring breezes are delightful, but nothing compares to sipping a cup of spring tea, lost in its floral splendor. What is Pre-Ming Tea? "Pre-Ming Tea" and "Pre-Rain Tea" are terms used in the Jiangnan tea region along the Yangtze River to refer to different stages of spring tea based on seasonal divisions. Due to the climate in the Jiangnan area, some early-emerging tea varieties begin sprouting around the Awakening of Insects and Spring Equinox. Thus, tea harvested before the Qingming Festival is called "Pre-Ming Tea." The appeal of "Pre-Ming Tea" has always been due to its high quality and relative scarcity. Its excellence lies in the tenderness of its buds…

Learning about tea is both an outer form and a deeper inner cultivation. Tea, bitter in the mouth, yet soothing in the heart. Learning about tea is much the same. Finding one’s own "way of tea" and returning to one's true self is a process. Those who start learning about tea are often confused, with one person espousing their beliefs and another singing a different tune. So the first realm of learning about tea is forming your own opinion. Regardless of what others say, consider it thoughtfully, ponder it, and then make a judgment. You don’t have to lean towards any particular side, but at least you have your own perspective! Once you’ve formed your own viewpoint, you’ll start to develop your own identity and circle, encountering those who share your views and those who don’t. This is when you receive the most significant impact, as conflicting theories and perspectives flood in, from idealist viewpoints to materialistic ideologies. Maintain skepticism about explanations of various viewpoints and distrust of so-called masters, possibly even feeling disheartened! From this point on, you won’t miss any opportunity to learn. You buy books, read them, make friends with fellow tea enthusiasts, and draw closer to…

In the vast array of ceramic categories, the decorative techniques used on purple clay pots can be considered the most numerous and richly varied. Some enthusiasts may find their pots attractive but struggle to articulate what makes them so. Today, we will share several decorative techniques with you. Note: Carving, as a separate category, is not covered in this article. Twisted Clay This technique involves combining two or more differently colored purple clay materials through kneading or layering to create a patterned effect. The patterns produced through twisted clay are colorful and rich in texture. Stamping ▲ Stamping This refers to first carving the designed pattern onto a hard material template, such as wood or stone, and then pressing a clay sheet onto it. ▲ Stamping Since the template's pattern is recessed, the resulting clay sheet is raised, as seen in previously mentioned examples like the Man Sheng Crescent Moon and Roof Tile Teapots. Clay Painting ▲ Clay Painting Purple clay is beaten into a paste-like consistency and painted onto the body of the pot according to the design, creating a layered effect that is dense and refined. Applied Sculpture ▲ Applied Sculpture This is commonly used in decorative purple…

The mesh size of the purple clay used in Jianshui pottery is much higher than that of other types of ceramics, usually over 200 mesh and can even reach over 300 mesh. Works made from such finely textured clay have many distinctive features in both craftsmanship and finished products. The foundation of unglazed polishing is fine clay. If the clay has a low mesh size or a grainy feel, it is unsuitable for unglazed polishing. The clay used in Jianshui pottery exceeds 200 mesh and is as fine as ointment. Those who have handled Jianshui purple pottery can personally experience the feeling of touching the surface of a clay pot, which is smooth like jade with no graininess at all. This is why Jianshui pottery can be polished to a luster as smooth as jade and even shiny enough to reflect light. Fine clay offers greater plasticity. Carving and filling on wet clay while preserving the essence of calligraphy and painting is one of the most unique aspects of Jianshui purple pottery. The reason why it's possible to paint, engrave patterns, and fill the clay (multiple times) on wet clay without damaging the body and achieve a high degree of…

We believe that there is a certain standard for tea infusion, and this standard represents the "objective quality" of the tea. This standard is defined as the preferred taste by over 80 out of 100 tea connoisseurs. This standard is within a specific range, not at a single fixed point. If we further discuss the appreciation of the tea infusion, treating it as a piece of work, it should first be brewed to the aforementioned standard concentration. Under such standard concentration, differences in personal preferences for aroma and aesthetic appreciation will arise. Once we enter the realm of appreciation, might some people suddenly think that the tea should present itself one way, then another way? It shouldn't be so. Whether they are the tea brewer or the taster, if their appreciation lacks a consistent standard, saying that one presentation is good at one moment and another is good the next, it indicates an unclear understanding of the tea's quality characteristics. From the perspective of the tea brewer, it means they have yet to effectively grasp the tea's quality characteristics through brewing. It is incorrect to regard occasional presentations as the quality characteristics of the tea. Just like a painting, the…

As tea culture continues to evolve, people’s requirements for tea ware have become increasingly higher. Not only is there a demand for its functionality, but also for its aesthetic value. It can be said that the more exquisite the tea ware, the more pleasant the tea tasting experience becomes. Therefore, fine tea ware often adds much enjoyment to tea drinking. Due to their different materials used in production, tea wares can be categorized into earthenware tea ware, porcelain tea ware, metal tea ware, glass tea ware, and bamboo & wood tea ware. Each type has its own unique charm and brings a different kind of enjoyment during tea tasting. 1. Earthenware Tea Ware Earthenware tea ware is the earliest type of tea ware in China. As early as the initial period of Northern Song Dynasty, earthenware tea ware had already taken shape. Since it is fired at high temperatures and densely sintered, it is both leak-proof and has microscopic pores invisible to the naked eye. This means it neither heats up too quickly nor gets too hot to handle. Furthermore, the shapes of earthenware tea ware are often simple yet elegant with various forms and colors that are rustic and…

Many newcomers to the tea ceremony often ask, what type of tea ware is suitable for beginners? Here's a small suggestion: when starting your tea journey, consider beginning with acquiring a host cup. So, what is a host cup? By definition, it's a cup specifically used by the host, distinct from those used by guests. It's a cup that represents your taste and personality on the tea table. There's a well-known saying in tea circles: "Without a personal cup, there's no complete tea session." On the tea table, you can often see that the cup used by the person brewing tea (the host) is different from the cups used by the guests. If you pay close attention, you'll notice that the host cup tends to be somewhat more exquisite than the cups used by guests. This article will introduce host cups based on their characteristics and types. How does a host cup reveal the host? A host cup can generally give an idea about the host's identity, taste, and preferences. Host cups come in various materials and designs, some featuring painted or carved patterns such as flowers, birds, mountains, and streams. The owner of such a cup usually has artistic…

In early winter 2018, we held a tea gathering in front of the Mogao Caves, titled "Glimmering Light - A Visionary Experience." The tea practitioners scooped up the sand from Mogao and placed it into a glass hourglass. As the hourglass was turned over, the tea ceremony began. Water was poured, tea liquor extracted, served, and sipped. We did not invite many people; just a few tea lovers who had traveled far to sit with us in the desert. The transparent glass frames held tea notes, with sand and wind swirling outside, and the corners of the tea practitioners' robes and their footsteps. The tea wasn't scalding hot, but it still warmed us. Thinking about this tea, I returned again. Yangguan – Flickering Fires in the Wind I've been to Yangguan several times, each time bringing tea and a pot of wine. Zhao Wen carried her zither, saying she would play "Three Stanzas of Yangguan" there. On a clear winter day, the wooden walkway on the Gobi Desert was empty. The brown-red Gobi was protected by the boardwalk, the sandy and gravel ground layered deep and shallow, extending all the way to the horizon. Within these layers, air currents made…

Pu'er tea is most intriguing due to its transformation, from raw to ripe, from new to aged, constantly evolving and painting a rich landscape of the Pu'er world. We often see the results of this transformation easily, such as the change in infusion color to orange-red or the emergence of plum, fruity, and woody aromas. But where do these flavors come from? What changes are occurring within the Pu'er tea? Let’s take a look together. 1 Dry Matter Loss During storage, there are many reasons for dry matter loss in Pu'er tea. Pu'er tea consumes oxygen and releases carbon dioxide; some proteins and amino acids deaminate and release ammonia; pectic substances decompose and release methanol; certain organic acids are oxidized and release carbon dioxide, among other reactions. In the storage process, hydrophilic colloids in Pu'er tea undergo decomposition. The water that was originally bound with the colloidal substances becomes free, leading to a “self-moistening” phenomenon in stored Pu'er tea. As this self-moistening occurs, water-soluble colloidal substances in the tea may undergo hygroscopic dissolution (this is particularly noticeable when storing Pu'er tea with low maturity). All of these factors contribute to dry matter loss. During storage, the amount of dry matter…

Stepping into the Mezijing Tea Mountain in Xiaomengtong Town, Yongde County, tender green tea leaves quietly unfurl at the tips of branches, gradually spreading out under gentle sunlight and bursting with vitality. Laughter and joy fill the tea groves as the tea farmers skillfully pick the leaves, painting a picturesque rural scene of industrious harvest. Visiting Mezijing Village once more, I am still captivated by the integrity culture embedded within. Vivid integrity-themed murals and richly meaningful integrity landscapes integrate visual integrity elements into the village construction. Walking through the scenery, integrity arises from the heart, and under the guidance of the tour guide, everyone embarks on an extraordinary journey of integrity culture. "Mezijing Village has adopted the concept of integrating 'integrity' and 'scenery,' creating integrity walls, Pure Breeze Pavilion, Pure Heart Tea Room, and other tea-integrity cultural tourism landscapes that combine sightseeing, leisure, and education. This not only allows party members and villagers to be subtly influenced by integrity education, making the folkways more simple and the social atmosphere more upright, but also creates a strong atmosphere of integrity for rural revitalization. It broadens the path of integration between tea, travel, and integrity, enabling empowerment through integrity, prosperity through tea,…

Situated in southeastern Tibet, Motuo County lies at the easternmost end of the Himalayas and within the heart of the world's largest canyon—the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon. Benefitting from high-altitude mist and a pristine ecological environment, Motuo tea is in high demand. In the ethereal tea garden of Gelin Village, Bei Bang Township, tourists are experiencing the art of tea picking and processing. A lady from Chongqing remarked, "Even though it’s winter, many of the tea plants here have sprouted new buds, full of vitality. Here, one can not only enjoy the scenery but also experience the joy of picking tea leaves, while also taking in sights like Mount Namjagbarwa and the Yarlung Zangbo River—it has truly been a worthwhile trip." In recent years, Motuo County has actively developed its “three bases and one chain” highland subtropical specialty industry. The local tax bureau has closely followed the development of local industries, focusing on addressing the urgent needs and concerns of taxpayers and fee payers. They have implemented a service model of "one list per industry, one consultant per enterprise," precisely delivering "policy finds you" and "policy delivered to your doorstep" services to ensure that tax and fee reduction benefits reach…

The Aroma Achieved Through Baking The tea processing of Xinyang Maojian not only preserves the tenderness of the buds but also enhances their aroma to a certain extent, creating a fresh, smooth, and mellow taste for Maojian tea. The production process of Xinyang Maojian is very meticulous. Before stir-frying, the fresh leaves are sorted according to variety, weather at the time of picking (rainy or sunny), time of day (morning or afternoon), and freshness. They are then graded using bamboo sieves and kept separately. The sorted tea leaves are spread out on a tray; those picked on rainy days should be spread thinly, while those picked on sunny days can be spread more thickly. Once the leaves become soft and have lost some moisture, they are ready for stir-frying. The stir-frying directly determines the quality of Xinyang Maojian, as it is the process that enhances its aroma and also makes the tea suitable for long-term storage. Its technique is also unique, consisting of three steps: raw pan, mature pan, and baking. Although this sounds simple, the actual process is particularly complex. Furthermore, the stir-frying and baking techniques of Xinyang Maojian combine elements from the production methods of Lu'an Guapian and…

Yixing Zi Sha is an art form with a long history and rich appeal. The decorative arts have been developed through the research and creation of Zi Sha artisans over time. Different decorative arts have different effects when applied to different themes. This method of aligning decoration with the subject, the teapot, and the intention adds a cultural dimension to the Zi Sha teapot. The development of Zi Sha art has led to various decorative techniques, which are detailed as follows: Engraving: This is one of the main decorative techniques of Zi Sha. It uses a knife instead of a brush and engraving instead of painting, integrating poetry, calligraphy, painting, and engraving into a harmonious whole, with a strong national style and regional characteristics. Known as "Man Sheng Hu", "characters are passed down along with the teapot, and the teapot becomes valuable because of the characters," it made a historical contribution to the art of Zi Sha engraving. After the Qing Dynasty, Zi Sha engraving decoration became a specialized production process. The subjects and forms are extremely varied. Landscapes, flowers and birds, figures, and ancient patterns are all potential subjects for painting, while calligraphy is an indispensable decorative element. Regular…