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| | | | Tang Dynasty is a very important time for Tea and |
| Every Chinese tea and Japanese tea lover will be | | | | Zen, Tang is also one of the most powerful countries |
| familiar with this writing, in English that’s “Tea | | | | in the world. Its economic was powerful and the more |
| and Zen are the same feelings” or “taste Zen in | | | | important is that it absorbed and syncretized |
| Tea”, it shows the close connection between tea | | | | everything that’s excellent from other races and |
| and Buddhism. | | | | countries. And the most important book of tea---- Cha |
| Do you know where does tea come from? The | | | | Jing was born in Tang as well. |
| legend says Xin Southern and Northern Dynasties, | | | | Cha Jing, also named Tea Classic, was wrote by Lu |
| Dharma slept unexpectedly when he was practicing | | | | Yu in 761 AC, this book is the first book covers the |
| self-cultivation in Shaolin, he was so angry about that | | | | whole tea circle in the world. Lu Yu has a very close |
| and in order to stop sleeping next time he took off his | | | | connection with Buddhism, he was a foundling and |
| eyelids onto the ground. At the next year there was a | | | | was brought up by Zen Master ZhiJi, but Lu Yu |
| tea tree on the ground, and the green tea leaf fell into | | | | didn’t like Buddhism and ran out to be the circus |
| the pan when Dharma’s Service was boiling water, | | | | clown, fortunately Governor Li Qiwu recognized his gift |
| and after drank tea water Dharma found he will not | | | | and let him follow and learn from Zhou Fuzi, Another |
| feel sleepy. That’s the mythic story of the origin of | | | | important man named Cui Guofu also appreciated him, |
| tea. There are some romantic stories between | | | | they’re very important to his growing. Do you know |
| Buddhism and tea. | | | | Lu Yu was not famous for Tea but for his literature in |
| | | | | Tang Dynasty? Surprising? It’s true. He was one of |
| Zen and tea’s fable | | | | the most famous litterateurs, when he came to one |
| | | | | city, the chief will welcome him personally. And |
| The most famous fable about Zen and tea is | | | | certainly tea is one of his hobbies, his Shifu Master Zhiji |
| ZhaoZhou Monk. | | | | loved tea very much and also was a tea Master, so |
| One day two monks came for learning Zen, | | | | Lu Yu had connection with tea in the very young age. |
| ZhaoZhou Monk asked one of them, “have you | | | | One of Lu Yu’s best friends Jiao Ran was also a |
| ever been here?” | | | | Monk, a very famous poetry Monk. If you take a look |
| “Yes.” | | | | at the whole life of Lu Yu, you’ll find the birth of |
| “So go to drink tea!” ZhaoZhou Monk said. | | | | Cha Jing has so close connection with Buddhism. |
| “No, I’ve not been here.” Another man | | | | Could we find Dharma in tea today? |
| answered. | | | | |
| “You drink tea too!” ZhaoZhou Monk said. | | | | Still we can meet Dharma in tea in the 21st Century, |
| “Why do you let them to drink tea no matter they | | | | but you know not every one can hear his voice. In |
| have been here or not?” the abbot wondered and | | | | Jiuhua Anhui Province which is one of the 4 most |
| asked. | | | | famous Buddhism Mountains in China you can take a |
| “You go drink too!” ZhaoZhou answered. | | | | drink of Jiuhua Buddhism tea (Jiuhua Fo Cha), in |
| | | | | HangZhou, you can go to JingShan Temple for |
| Could you get the Zen from what ZhaoZhou Monk | | | | JingShan tea. JingShan Tea Banquet is the origin of |
| said? No matter you understand or not, here is another | | | | Japanese Tea Dao. |
| interesting fable. | | | | |
| One man came to NanYin for studying Zen, NanYin | | | | In Southern Song Dynasty (about 1235 AC), |
| welcomed him with tea, he poured tea water into cup | | | | Japanese Master Shenyi came to China and learned |
| and didn’t stop though the cup was full. The man | | | | from Master Wuzun in JingShan temple. He went back |
| said:” Master, the cup has been fulfilled. ” Master | | | | and introduced The JingShan Tea Banquet to |
| NanYin said :”You’re just like the cup fulfilled with | | | | Japanese and which gradually evolved into Japanese |
| your ideas, if you don’t make it empty, how can I | | | | Tea Ceremony. But for now JinShan tea in China is |
| teach you Zen?” | | | | not so famous as in Japan. |
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| | | | | We have so many more famous teas like Tie Guan |
| | | | | Yin, Buddha Hand, Da Fang tea and so on. There is a |
| Why Monks obsess on tea? | | | | story about the source of Tie Guan Yin which is the |
| | | | | most popular tea in China now. In Qing Dynasty an old |
| Tea has three virtues: for Buddhism, it can help you | | | | man named Wei Yin who believe in Guanyin and offer |
| touch Zen; for body, it can help digest; for soul, it can | | | | a cup of tea everyday morning. One night he dreamed |
| help keep your heart awake. | | | | that he went out and found a tea tree near the river |
| | | | | and at the second day he found the tea tree by |
| | | | | tracing the way in the dream. He moved the tea tree |
| | | | | into an iron pan. He thought the tea tree was gift of |
| | | | | Guanyin, so named it as Iron Guanyin (Tie Guan Yin). |
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