Life must have entertainment.
Aside from proper work and scholarly pursuits, a change of atmosphere and some entertainment can uplift one's spirit.
There are many forms of entertainment, such as drinking, playing cards, chess, singing, listening to opera, painting, and Drinking Tea, each with its own benefits.
But among all these forms of entertainment, if we were to choose one that is both convenient and refined, it might be drinking tea.
01Solo Enjoyment
One doesn't Drink alone, and two don't play cards. Singing and listening to opera require a group to be enjoyable. Even chess requires at least two players; one person cannot enjoy it by themselves.
Only drinking tea is convenient for both groups and individuals. It can be enjoyed alone or with others, without the need for companions.
02No Restrictions on Time and Place
Playing ball requires a court, and listening to opera requires a theater, and both need good weather and specific times. Other forms of entertainment also have their limitations.
Only drinking tea has no restrictions on time or place. It can be done in the morning or evening, indoors or outdoors. All you need is a table, tea leaves, and Teaware, making it very flexible and free.
03Not Expensive
Playing music requires buying various instruments, and painting requires purchasing different colored pencils and watercolor brushes, which can be expensive.
Only drinking tea can be simple or elaborate, and does not necessarily require equipment. A Cup, or even just a lidded bowl, will do. The amount of money spent depends on oneself, and when it comes to tea, what suits you best is the right choice.
No matter how poor or rich one is, everyone can enjoy it.
04Doesn't Take Much Time
Playing cards and painting can be very time-consuming. Unless you don't play cards at all, once you start, you typically play for at least four rounds, sometimes for an entire day or night. To create a good painting, it can take five days to paint a mountain and ten days to paint a river.
Only tea tasting can be done in one or two hours, or even in just ten or twenty minutes. You can also drink tea while working or during meals, without wasting any time.
You can drink whenever you want and stop whenever you want, completely at your own discretion.
05Doesn't Require Much Effort
Writing poetry is certainly joyful, but it can be mentally exhausting. As the ancients said, “To compose five words, I pluck out several strands of hair.” It is not easy to write well without Pouring your heart and soul into it.
The same goes for playing chess, as the ancients often said, “A whole day is spent on a single game,” indicating how much effort it takes.
Only drinking tea allows you to be focused or unfocused, entirely up to you.
06Easy Success and Comparisons
Learning to paint is difficult, and becoming a successful painter is even more challenging. Singing may be a bit easier, but progress is hard to measure. You can't retrieve yesterday's voice today.
Only in tea tasting, by tasting every day, you gradually gain understanding. Compare yourself after a year, two years, and you'll find that you've improved without even noticing.
Before you know it, you've become a bit of a tea connoisseur.
07Beneficial to Mind and Body
Every day, there is much work, either mentally or physically demanding. After completing tasks, one can feel mentally and physically exhausted.
Only through tea tasting, between being focused and unfocused, can one slightly gather their mind and body. Drinking tea is the best way to do this.
In my opinion, while drinking tea may not be the top form of entertainment, it is certainly first-class.
The nature of drinking tea is tranquil.
Unlike playing ball or singing, those who prefer activity can use it as a balance, making life much more interesting.