ENJOYTEAINBEIJING.doc

Enjoy Tea In Beijing

CONTENTS

CHAPTER1 TEA CULTURE茶文化 IN BEIJING
CHAPTER2 TEA DRINKING AMONG COMMON BEIJING RESIDENTS居民
CHAPTER3 TIANQIAO AMUSEMENT天桥乐 TEA GARDEN (公园等处的)茶室, 茶叶种植场AND OTHER TEAHOUSES茶室
CHAPTER4 FAMOUS TEA ART HOUSES茶艺馆

Preface

Tea ,a part of Chinese traditional culture ,is a typical[ˈtipikəl]
adj. 1 典型的, 有代表性的 2 特有的, 独特的 

  typical[简明英汉词典]
[ˈtipikəl]
adj. 1 典型的, 有代表性的 2 特有的, 独特的 

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health beverage and a means to  mean to[简明英汉词典]
对…来说很重要

  mean to[简明英汉词典]
对…来说很重要

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promote the Chinese culture .The Chinese have been drinking tea from ancient times and have developed a profound “Tea Culture” that promotes carefree[ˈkɛəfri:]
adj. 无忧无虑的, 快乐舒畅的

  carefree[简明英汉词典]
[ˈkɛəfri:]
adj. 无忧无虑的, 快乐舒畅的

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,exquisite[ˈekskwizit]
adj. 1 精致的, 精美的 2 敏感的, 细致的 

  exquisite[简明英汉词典]
[ˈekskwizit]
adj. 1 精致的, 精美的 2 敏感的, 细致的 

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,refreshing and scholarly characters .The teahouse has been a ideal place for literati through Chinese history to ventvi.
发泄; (水中动物)浮到水面呼吸
out their sentiments[ˈsentimənt]
n. 1 (对怜悯、怀旧等的)柔情 2 态度或意见 3 观点; 意见 

  sentiment[简明英汉词典]
[ˈsentimənt]
n. 1 (对怜悯、怀旧等的)柔情 2 态度或意见 3 观点; 意见 

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and talk about their aspirations .Chinese tea drinkers have developed various varieties of the tea culture .When one comes to a teahouse he will feel he has arrived in an old neighborhood in an ancient city .Most of the teahouses in Beijing have put on a new appearance .But they have preserved the essential elementsessential element[简明英汉词典]
(生命)必需元素;主要元素

  essential element[简明英汉词典]
(生命)必需元素;主要元素

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of those in old times .

ⅠTEA CULTURE IN BEIJING
Part1 Tea Drinking饮茶 in Old Beijing
Part2 Tea Ceremony礼仪, Customs习俗 and Rituals规矩
Part3 Buddhist Temples寺庙 and Tea

Part1 Tea Drinking in Old Beijing
When we talk about谈论，讨论 tea drinking in old Beijing ,we should start with以…开始 the history of tea茶史 ,tea leaves 茶叶and teahouses 茶室.
The history of tea drinking in Beijng dates back to 追溯到…，从…开始the Sui and Tang dynasties .After the completion of the Grand Canal 京杭大运河 (第2期运河。主要指隋代的运河系统。以东部洛阳为中心，于大业元年(605)开凿通济渠,直接沟通黄河与淮河的交通。并改造邗沟和江南运河。三年又开凿永济渠，北通涿郡。连同公元584年开凿的广通渠,形成多枝形运河系统。)tea leaves were taken to Beijng by boats and sold in the street .Gradually tea drinking became popular.
From the Tang Dynasty until today jasmine tea茉莉花茶，香片 has been the most famous variety品种，种类 of tea leaves in Beijing and loved by beijng tea drinkers .Jasmine tea is made by flavoring green tea leaves优质绿毛茶with jasmine flowers .
Jasmine tea has been popular in Beijing because of two reasons .One is that in old days transportation运输 was slow .New tea leaves鲜叶 picked采摘 in south China around Qingming Festival清明节 contained moisture .On their way to Beijing over more than超过 a month ,weather became warmer and warmer .The moisture confined关起来，受限制 in the tight packages包，包裹 would take away带走，拿走 some of the fresh fragrance of the tea leaves .After a great amount of thinking Beijng tea merchants came up with想出 a good idea —to flavor加味于 the tea leaves with jasmine flowers . The tea leaves flavored with jasmine flowers have a very nice aroma .The other reason is that in old times Beijing residents drank well water井水 . The water from most of the wells tasted bitter and astringent涩 .It spoiled损坏，毁掉 any tea leaves in it .A tea merchant named Chen Guqiu陈古秋 put some dry jasmine flowers in the hot water with tea leaves and the concoction混合，调合物 tasted no more不再 bitter and astringent .Tap water自来水 appeared in the late Qing Dynasty .Though tap water has a better quality ,it is still hard water .It cannot make the tea taste better .Also Beijng residents had become accustomed to jasmine tea .They believed the jasmine tea was the best of all the tea varieties茶类 .
Potable water 生活饮用水for the imperial and noble families皇家贵族 in Beijing came from the springs泉水 in the mountains to the northwest of Beijing or from the several wells with “sweet” water in the city .They could drink tea of better varieties such as the “dragon well” from West Lake西湖龙井 , “Spring Green Snail” from Dongding lake洞庭碧螺春 , “Melon Slice” from Liu’an六安瓜片 and “Iron Guanyin” from Fujian Province安溪铁观音 .
Beijing has had a big population人口 for a long time .The composition of its residents is complex .People from different social status have different requirements for the tea .There used to be过去常常有 various teahouses and their number was once the largest in China .
The earliest teahouses appeared in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty .They developed fast during the Ming Dynasty and saw their heyday最繁荣时期 during the Qing Dynasty .During the Qing Dynasty and the Republic period teahouses could be found everywhere in the city .They were divided into “Grand Teahouses”大茶馆 , “Pure Teahouses”清茶馆 , “Storytelling Teahouses”书茶馆 , “Chess Teahouses”棋茶馆 , “Wine Teahouses”二荤馆 and Wild “Teahouses”野茶馆 .
Most customers to those in the category of “Grand Teahouses” were government officials政府官员 ,merchant ,men of letters and people from the higher social status .They drank tea there as a kind of social activities .One reason was that they felt freer than they did at home or in a guild house ;the other reason was that the cost in the teahouse was lower than that in a restaurant .
In old Beijing there were eight famous teahouses : “Tianquan” , “Tianren” ,and “Tianqi” on Qianmen Street ; “Tianhui” near Di’anmen Gate , “Tianfu” , “Tiande” and “Tianyi” near Fuchengmen Gate , “Tianshou” at Beixinqiao Bridge .Most of them had a large front shop by the street and a courtyard behind it where people could drink tea .
Large teahouses had a huge red brass红黄铜 kettle imprinted铭刻，牢记 with their emblem象征，标记. It was nearly two meter high and one meter wide, with a mouth called “Divine Guardian holding up the sky”. The total girdle带，环形物 of the kettle came to more than three meters. A stove burning charcoal木炭 was put under the kettle to keep the water boiling. The kettle was used as an advertisement too. Every teahouse regarded it as its household家用的 treasure.
Many scholars would hold “poetry get-togethers”,“pen get-togethers” and “riddle get-togethers” in the teahouses .They gave the teahouses an air of fine cultural tastes and attracted many tea drinkers interested in 对…有兴趣culture .
The main business of a “Pure Teahouses” was to sell tea without the accompaniment伴随物 of refreshments茶点，点心 .Those in the category种类，类别 of “Pure Teahouses” were quiet without storytelling说故事 and music playing .Hanging in front of their entrance were lacquered涂漆于 boards written on which the tea brands they served ,such as “Fluffy Tea fluff:茶（叶）尘
Tips” or “Green Spring Snails” .Attached to依附，贴在…上 the boards were bright red鲜红，大红 tassels穗，缨，流苏 .Most of the customers in these teahouses were idlers懒汉，无所事事的人 ,including young men from rich families .They came there to talk about birds or just chit-chat闲谈，聊天 .Some people came there to talk about business ,exchange information or look for jobs .
In a “Story-telling” teahouse the customers listened to story telling over a cup of tea .Those of this category had the characteristics特点，特征 particular to Beijing .The most well-known such teahouses were the “Guangqingxuan” in Yiliu Lane near Di’anmen Gate and the “Dongyuexuan” outside Donghuamen Gate .Both the storyteller and the customer had refined tastes .No accomplished聪明的，娴熟的 storytellers dared to work in these teahouses because when they made a mistake the customers would point it out指出 .
The teahouses opened to business usually in the afternoon and at evening .Its owner would invite some entertainers艺人 to perform in his teahouse .Most of them were storytellers .They would tell stories adopted被采用的 from novels such as “The Romance of the Three Kingdoms” , “Pilgrimage to the West” , “Deification”奉若神明， and “Legend of Monk Jigong” .At the closing time of the teahouse they would round up their narration at a crucial moment of the story with the words: “Come to find out the outcome next time” .The customers were anxious to find out the outcome of the story so they would come the next day .The customers paid the teahouse owner for the tea as well as the service of the storyteller .Sometimes the teahouse owner would invite opera singers or folk vocal artists to perform .A man would collect money from the audience after each episode was over .The charge was not high ,only one or two copper coins.
Those in the category of “Chess Teahouses” were places for chess games or discussion of cultural subjects .Traditionally the chess play and tea drinking are closely related in China .During the Qing Dynasty some chess teahouses around Shichahai Lake served exclusively scholars and court officials .Cool breeze from the lake came in through the window .In a clear day green mountains were visible in distance .Tea became more enjoyable in such a nice environment .Most of the chairs in these teahouses were made of bamboo or rattan .The customers might spend a whole day there drinking tea and playing chess .
During the Republic period,with the disappearance of the court officials,the chess teahouses declined and degraded.The low-grade chess teahouses were concentrated at the Tianqiao area and most of their customs were people of low social status.A feature of the chess culture is that the chess can be played by people of all social strata,low or high.There are many good chess players among the common people.Those chess teahouses had simple and crude furniture.The chessboard was a square wooden board propped up by bricks or wooden stakes.Customers played the chess while drinking tea.Such teahouses only charged for the tea leaves.Most of the customers came to them in the afternoon and leave at dusk.The business was slack.
Wine teahouses sold tea as well as wine.They had only refreshments to accompany the wine and tea.When a customer wanted to have something solid to eat,the boss would send a waiter to buy some meat and vegetable at the market and let the teahouse kitchen cook them for the customer.The customer would pay for the cooking.Customers would buy some wine from the teahouse to go with the dishes.
Some wine teahouses did not cook for the customers.They sold only tea and wine.Some peddlers would prop up a stall and sell cooked sheep head and donkey meat and beef.Tea drinkers would buy some meat and bring it into the teahouse to accompany the wine.
Wild teahouses were found mostly in the suburbs.Wild meant natural environment.With farmland all around them,their customers could enjoy the quiet and pleasant natural scenery.The wild teahouses were mostly thatched houses with a reed awning on bamboo poles.Around the teahouse were trees and floral plants.City people would have a bowl of the thick bitter tea and chat with local farmers when they left the city for an outing.What they saw were crops in the fields and green mountains under a clear sky,and what they heard was the chirping of cicadas,the croaking of frogs and the barking of dogs.
During the Qing Dynasty,Beijing had several well-known wild teahouses.
The Maizidian Wild Teahouse was located outside the city gate of Chaoyangmen.It was surrounded by ponds grown with reeds.City people liked to rod fish in these ponds.They would bring their catch to the teahouse and ask the owner to cook them.When it rained heavily they could go to the teahouse to wait the rain over.This teahouse was much liked by the anglers.
The Liulipu Wild Teahouse half kilometer outside the city gate of Di’anmen stood amidst vegetable plots.People came here to drink tea and play gambling games,not for the stakes,only for fun.At sunset,the winner would buy wine and some cooked meat.They would go home in a pleasant yet drunk mood.
The Sanchakou Wild Teahouse stood by the road outside the city gate of Deshengmen,facing east with a grove of trees behind it.It did a brisk business.Its customers were city idlers and merchants going in or out of the city.
The Baishiqiao Wild Teahouse was located by Baishiqiao Bridge.In those days a river flew through under the bridge and willow trees grew on the banks.There were fat fish in the deep water.People could get on a boat to angle on the river after they were satisfied with the tea.
Putaoyuan Wild Teahouse was located between the city gates of Dongzhimen and Chaoyangmen by a river.To its east and south were lotus ponds and to its north was a garden with 100 grape vines.It boasted the finest scenery among all the wild teahouses in Beijing.In summer scholars and men of letters often held “poetry get-togethers”, “chess get-togethers”, “lantern riddle get-togethers” in this teahouse.
Time has changed.Teahouses declined and vanished gradually.But the tea culture of Beijing has been preserved thanks to the oral and written records of tea lovers.
Part2 Tea Ceremony, Customs and Rituals
Beijing residents of higher social status are particular about对于…很认真 the way they drink tea.That is the tea ceremony.The tea ceremony is closely related to与…密切相关 the rich丰富的 historic and cultural heritage历史文化遗产 of Beijing.
Old Beijing residents have different explanations about the tea ceremony.The difference shows different feelings态度，看法 about the tea and different understanding of the tea culture.
One explanation goes, the tea ceremony is an art displayed展览，显示 with body movements in steeping tea leaves, presenting介绍，显示 the tea and appreciating欣赏，体会 the tea. It contains four essential 必不可少的factors—aesthetics审美, social intercourse社交, etiquette礼仪 and self cultivation自修.
Another explanation has it说 that the tea ceremony is a ritual 仪式，例行公事through which people learn good manners and achieve ethical伦理的，道德的 attainments成就，造诣.The fundamental基本的，必要的 spirit of the tea ceremony is “honesty诚实 and frugality节俭,beauty美 and genuineness名副其实, harmony和睦，融洽 and unity和谐, civility礼貌，客气 and courtesy谦恭有礼.”
But some tea drinkers are against giving tea ceremony too “heavy” meanings.Zhou Zuoren周作人,famous writer who lived in Beijing for a long time,was addicted to沉迷于 tea and styled称呼，命名 himself as “An Old Man in a Bitter苦的 Tea Hut小屋，棚屋”苦茶庵老人（晚号）.He understood the tea ceremony very well and explained it this way: “The meaning of tea ceremony, to explain it with common words, is a way to snatch a little leisure from a busy life忙里偷闲, to seek joy amidst sorrow苦中作乐, to enjoy a little bit of beauty and harmony in incomplete不完全的，未完成的 reality不完美的现实, and to experience体会，感受 eternality永恒 in a fleeting moment瞬间.” Teaism:茶道的意思，用平凡的话来说，可以称作“忙里偷闲，苦中作乐”，在不完全的现世享乐一点美与和谐，在刹那间体会永久。

The essence of tea ceremony, in fact, is the way the tea is taken and the mood of the tea drinker. Tea ceremony involves many forms without unified criteria统一标准. For instance, there are no regular patterns规定的样式 for steeping浸泡 tea leaves. The tea ceremony practiced in Beijng today has been introduced引进 from South China.
Tea makers泡茶，沏茶匙 in the teaho