Elegant readers of this blogspot will, of course, never be so vulgar as to use teabags and will have beautiful bone china teapots in which to make their cuppas.
One of China´s greatest emperor´s, Qianlong, 1736-1795, was a great lover of tea and of literature. He wrote more than 200 poems about tea. In the Museum of Tea in Hong Kong a teapot that was made for Imperial use is on display. There are exquisite enameled decorations and on one side are the characters of a poem “Watching tea plucking at Lengquan Ting.” The poem was written by the emperor himself after he had traveled in disguise to the city of Hangzhou and had seen the hard work of the farmers plucking the tea leaves and making Longjing tea. On the other side, in another panel, is a painting of a garden pavilion with flowering trees and a man being served with tea.
Recently, in Suzhou, north of Hangzhou and west of Shanghai, sitting down for a rest in a beautiful pavilion in the Garden of the Humble Administrator, steaming fragrant tea provided a treat for a weary traveler. The day was cold and the trees were bare, awaiting the return of spring. In the distance a pagoda was framed on the horizon, with the eyes led to it by the still waters of a lake. This is known to Chinese garden fans as a “stolen view” in that the focus is not within the garden itself.
As the tea warmed the traveler, a young man and woman came into the pavilion, carrying traditional musical instruments and in traditional dress. They sat down and began playing Suzhou songs just for themselves and for the traveler.
Soon the branches would be dotted with blossom.
***
©Phillip Bruce 2009
One of China´s greatest emperor´s, Qianlong, 1736-1795, was a great lover of tea and of literature. He wrote more than 200 poems about tea. In the Museum of Tea in Hong Kong a teapot that was made for Imperial use is on display. There are exquisite enameled decorations and on one side are the characters of a poem “Watching tea plucking at Lengquan Ting.” The poem was written by the emperor himself after he had traveled in disguise to the city of Hangzhou and had seen the hard work of the farmers plucking the tea leaves and making Longjing tea. On the other side, in another panel, is a painting of a garden pavilion with flowering trees and a man being served with tea.
Recently, in Suzhou, north of Hangzhou and west of Shanghai, sitting down for a rest in a beautiful pavilion in the Garden of the Humble Administrator, steaming fragrant tea provided a treat for a weary traveler. The day was cold and the trees were bare, awaiting the return of spring. In the distance a pagoda was framed on the horizon, with the eyes led to it by the still waters of a lake. This is known to Chinese garden fans as a “stolen view” in that the focus is not within the garden itself.
As the tea warmed the traveler, a young man and woman came into the pavilion, carrying traditional musical instruments and in traditional dress. They sat down and began playing Suzhou songs just for themselves and for the traveler.
Soon the branches would be dotted with blossom.
***
©Phillip Bruce 2009
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