“Amidst the wild springs, fires, and white clouds, I sit drinking fragrant Tea and loving this mountain.”
In ancient times, people valued not only the tea but also the setting. The setting refers to the environment, the artistic conception, and even more so, the state of mind. Zhu Quan of the Ming dynasty said: “All those who are like cranes and phoenixes, poets and hermits, can transcend the mundane world and dwell beyond material things, refusing to be part of the masses or tainted by the secular world.”
Besides elegant rooms and refined cottages, natural landscapes, forests, springs, gardens, and countryside were all natural spaces for tea.
Regardless of the season or weather, a bowl of tea brings not only physical pleasure but also a harmony between the soul and nature. Sitting amidst the mountains and waters, one drinks tea and engages in spiritual communion with heaven and earth.
Setting up / Welcoming the New
Seeking: Affection for Mountains and Waters
“The wise find joy in water, the benevolent find joy in mountains.”
Mountains and waters are the confidants and spiritual havens of Chinese literati. They can be places for leisurely wandering, sightseeing, quiet contemplation, seclusion, and elegant gatherings—a sanctuary for the soul.
Wandering amidst the mountains and waters, one “looks up to the vastness of the universe and down to the richness of life” (Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection, Jin Dynasty, Wang Xizhi), “not knowing in this life, both body and mind are unencumbered, drinking and eating as we please, letting our forms roam freely beyond the confines, and moving between streams and mountains without emotional attachments.” (Brush Dust, Ming Dynasty, Mo Shilong)
Chinese literati always share a common breath and resonance with nature. Although planted by humans, tea grows naturally. Tea is often grown in mountain forests near clear streams, nourished by the essence of mountains and waters.
Alcohol is like a hero, bold and exuberant; tea is like a recluse, deep and reserved. Since ancient times, literati have loved both wine and tea.
“Purity cannot be defiled, drinking it cleanses the heart from dust… I rejoice in growing among the grass, able to converse with the reclusive.” The high purity and solitude of tea resonate strongly with the literati.
Mountains, waters, and tea are all kindred spirits, together forming the romance and elevated sentiments of Chinese literati.
The clear sounds of nature and the elegant tunes of tea flow and linger within poems and writings.
Photography / Duo Duo
“We clear the Flower-covered paths, enjoying the courtyard's shade. The cool breeze follows us, and the sunlight lingers with our merriment. We lie amidst the green mist, sit while plucking flowers, hear orioles near our seats without them flying away, and red petals brush against our clothes without scattering.” (Tea Banquet Preface on the Third Day of the Third Month, Tang Dynasty, Lyu Wen)
This was a spring tea banquet held over a thousand years ago during the day of purification.
Sipping fragrant foam in a plain cup, tea can intoxicate without the need for alcohol.
Indulging in the beauty of nature, a bowl of clear tea refines the spirit and fills one's life with joy.
“In a bamboo grove, speechless and drinking purple tea, far surpassing sages drunk on rosy clouds. The heart is cleansed, and the enjoyment is boundless, with cicadas chirping under a slanted shadow.” (Tea Banquet with Zhao Ju, Tang Dynasty, Qian Qi)
In a secluded bamboo grove, sipping tea with good friends, the heart is cleansed, and there is no desire to leave, filled with a sparse and free, carefree disposition!
Tasting tea can also illuminate truth and wisdom, akin to reading (depicted here is a section of Writing Sutras in Exchange for Tea, Ming Dynasty, Qiu Ying)
Similar scenes are commonly seen in Ming dynasty paintings of tea affairs. In tranquil settings, brewing clear tea, admiring serene landscapes, or drinking alone, or gathering elegantly, the mind is clear and at ease—this is the main theme of Ming dynasty tea paintings, which can be glimpsed in the works of top artists such as Qiu Ying, Tang Yin, Wen Zhengming, Zhou Chen, and others, including Tang Yin's Tea Affairs and Tea Brewing, Wen Zhengming's Huishan Tea Gathering and Forest Pavilion Tea Brewing, and Qiu Ying's Tea Brewing Amidst Pines.
Literati broke free from the shackles of fame and fortune, turning from temples to the embrace of nature.
Dense forests, bamboo groves, verdant willows, red flowers, flowing springs, layered rocks, clear moons, breezes, banana rain, pine snow, birdsong, and insect melodies… in the vast natural spaces, through a cup of clear tea, they expressed their affection for the mountains and waters, dispelled worldly troubles, and returned to their true selves.
Photography / Zhou Ang
Crafting: Savoring the Four Seasons
The historian Wang Renxiang said: “To obtain an excellent dining environment, one must seek and create. Seek the beauty of nature and create the beauty of settings. Whether it's natural or artificial, beauty is everywhere, and through seeking and crafting, one can achieve the best dining environment.”
The same applies to Drinking Tea. One can seek it out or craft it.
Whether in open spaces like courtyards, waterside pavilions, terraces, or enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces like pavilions, studies, mountain halls, tea houses, tea huts, temples, and shrines, great emphasis is placed on the harmony between humans and their surrounding natural environment.
“Fresh bamboo reflects in the pond, fragrant hibiscus near the eaves about to turn red.” (Tea Banquet in the East Pavilion, Tang Dynasty, Bao Junhui)
“Under the green canopy in the quiet courtyard, I lie listening to bees until late afternoon.” (Tasting Tea, Song Dynasty, Dai Bing)
“I disperse with the birds in the morning and lodge with the clouds at night.” (Tea Hut, Tang Dynasty, Lu Jiumeng)
Photography / Ear Dong
Ming dynasty literati went to great lengths to create ambiance, truly embodying the “strongest atmosphere group.”
Xu Chishu listed 24 most suitable scenarios for tea, such as bright windows and clean tables, small bridges and painted boats, lotus pavilions for summer retreats, famous springs and strange rocks, clear winds and bright moons, paper beds and paper quilts, bamboo and stone pillows, and renowned flowers and rare trees as “good companions.”
Whether mountains or gardens, there is a cycle of the four seasons, and with it, the changing scenery that leaves a unique impression in the depths of one's heart.
“Spring has a hundred flowers, autumn has the moon, summer has a cool breeze, winter has snow. If there are no idle worries hanging over your heart, then it is a fine season to be alive.”
There are four seasons