[Bangladesh] Akter Nilu, Guizhou University
Under the melodious and placid music of guqin, a seven-stringed plucked Chinese instrument, two tea art masters with fairy spirit demonstrated how to make a pot of tea. Their performance is like floating clouds and flowing waters. With regulated breath and cleared mind, the audience were immersed in the faint fragrance of tea. I had completely fallen into the visual enjoyment brought by Chinese tea art and it was long time before I calmed down.
This was the first time I watched the Chinese tea art performance in its true sense. I think it was also this experience that started the “love knot” between China and me. In fact, I was told long time ago that for Chinese people, the seven most important things in daily life are firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar andtea. I can understandthe first six items. After all, as an old Chinese saying says, “food is the most important thing for the people.” But why is the “tea” so important too?
Before coming to China, my tutor told me that Chinese tea has a long history and so does its culture. After being in Guizhou University, sister Ai Sha told me that as postgraduate students majoring in Chinese language teaching, we would learn a lot of traditional Chinese skills in three years, including tea art performance. As a beginner, I was very excited to hear this. I heard that there would be a fairy-like teacher who liked to wear Hanfu, or cheongsam, to teach us tea art. I was filled with anticipation at that time. But when I really saw what the tea art is, I gradually began to understand why Chinese people value “tea” so much. It is not just a drink, but a life style, spirit and culture.
Then came the long-awaited tea art class. Sitting in the classroom, I looked at the teacher’s smile and listened to her gentle words. All kinds of knowledge about tea came into my mind unconsciously. I began to understand China’s tea culture from a new perspective and learned the names and origins of different teas, such as Longjing in Zhejiang Province, Pu’er in Yunnan Province, Dahongpao in Wuyi Mountain.
I was in Guizhou and it turned out that there are so many good teas here, such as Duyun Maojian and Meitan Cuiya, which are the favorites of local people. I also learned that there are different processing techniques for tea making, such as picking, drying, processing, fixation and so on.
However, what really attracts me is the Chinese tea art performance. I also want to be as elegant and calm as the tea master, who can brew a pot of tea “in a right way” and serve them to the elders, the guests and herself.
I started to immerse myself into the tea art performance from the teacher and distinguished the difference between everyday tea drinking and the art of making tea. Only then did I realize that tea making is kind of art too. The amount of tea leaves, the choice of tea sets, the temperature of water, the movement of hands, and even the time of making tea will affect the taste of tea. I also learned how to hold the tea cup properly, how to sit while making tea and where to put my hands in order to give the best enjoyment to those watching me to make tea. I finally understand why the master told me that tea drinking is not only an art, but also a science and philosophy.
Everyone makes tea in his own way. By watching a person make tea and drinking the tea he made, you can actually feel his mood and know his personality. It’s so incredible. No wonder so many poems and literary works through the ages tackled tea.Thousands of years of accumulation are bound to have the profound “tea culture”. I, like a small fish in the sea of Chinese tea, am swimming freely and happily. The more I understand, the more curious I am, and the more I explore.
My friends often asked me, “Niru, why do you like Chinese tea so much ? How can you make Chinese tea so well?” I think the reason is direct and simple. It is because of love – I love Chinese tea. I love China and the culture of China. I love the warm people I met in China. The things I learned in China can accompany me for my whole life.
Ponder it carefully. Isn’t everyone in China a good interpreter of Chinese tea culture? There are so many Chinese people who choose to make a pot of tea before starting their daily work. The tea is a good company for their arduous job. Many Chinese people pour a cup of tea and read a book during their break time; and many Chinese people have a tea party with friends to share the joy and hardships of life…
Just like tea, no matter it is good or bad, with the right water temperature, the right tea set and the right environment, everything will be right. This is the taste of Chinese people. So what is right? Possibly what you think right is right. During the COVID-19 pandemic starting from January 2020, many Chinese people were trapped at home but had no complaining and worrying. They may make a pot of strong tea and stay with family members.
They did have concerns about the evolution of the epidemic but meanwhile they enjoyed the aroma of hot tea. They quietly waited as they believed that the spring would come and the flowers would bloom. Isn’tthat the philosophy of tea, the philosophy of Chinese people?
I was very lucky to encounter tea in China, where I understand tea, study tea and love tea. Teachers told me that the tea can be tasted with three levels. The first is gratitude, the second contentment and the third happiness.
I am willing to share “my love knot of Chinese tea,” including the fragrance, the culture and the philosophy of tea, with more foreigners who have interest in learning about Chinese tea. I would like to quote the poem of Bai Juyi, a famous Chinese poet, “There is no reason to hold a bowl of tea, which contains my deep feeling to the tea lovers.”
I wish you and me, who love Chinese tea and set up the bond with China, unite together to cultivate ourselves with tea and enjoy life with tea!
The story is from "My Beautiful Encounter with China" Essay Competition organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchanges (CSCSE).
