Research Guides: Chinese Studies -- Chinese Tea & Tea Culture: Introduction to Chinese Art of Tea

Introduction

China has a long history with tea. The discovery of tea plants was credited to Shennong (literally “Divine Farmer”), a legendary ruler who experimented with many hundreds of herbs. As described in Shennong ben cao jing ("Shennong's Material Medica"), tea was first used as a drug as young tea leaves had the ability to relieve the symptoms of poisoning and reduce the need for sleep. Later with wide cultivation of tea plants, serving tea gradually became a common way of greeting guests, tea culture blossoms. Making and enjoying tea has frequently appeared in literati’ works. Lu Yu's (729-804) Cha jing ("The Classic of Tea"), is the first comprehensive book on tea in the world. In the Song dynasty, caked tea was the main form to be enjoyed. However, loose-leaf tea started to gain popularity and had become the most popular form since the Ming dynasty. Today, the custom of preparing and drinking tea remains an essential part of daily and social lives of Chinese people.

The Library collects many materials on Chinese tea and its related subject areas. To assist you finding books of your interest, some titles have been selected and divided into four categories below: general works of Chinese tea and tea culture, Chinese tea ceremony and teawares, Chinese tea trade, and reference works.

Sources:

Benn, James A. Tea in China : a religious and cultural history. Honolulu : University of Hawaiʻi Press, 2015.

Blofeld, John. The Chinese art of tea. Boston: Shambhala, 1985.

Wang, Jian. All the tea in China: history, methods and musings. New York: Better Link Press, 2013.

Wang, Xufeng. Land of tea. Hangzhou : Zhejiang da xue chu ban she, 2014.

General Works

Blofeld, John. The Chinese art of tea. Boston: Shambhala, 1985. Hamilton, GT2907.C6 B58 1985.

Cai, Peilun. Zhongguo cha dao zhi lü. Taibei: Fu li wen hua, 1991. [蔡佩倫. 中國茶道之旅. 台北市 : 福利文化事業有限公司, 1991.] East GT2907.C6 T65 1991

Chow, Kit Boey and Kramer, Ione. All the tea in China. San Francisco: China Books and Periodicals, 1990. UH Manoa: Hamilton Asia, TX415 .C45 1990

Gang, Fu. Cha wen hua. Beijing: Zhongguo jing ji chu ban shi, 1995. [冈夫. 茶文化. 北京: 中国经济出版社, 1995.] Hamilton East, GT2907 .C6 K36 1995

Jiang, Yufang. Bei zhong qian kun. Guangzhou Shi: Guangdong jiao yu, 2003. [[蒋云舫著.杯中乾坤. 广州市 : 广东敎育出版社, 2003.] East GT 2907.C6 J534 2003

Liao, Baoxiu. Cha yun ming shi: Gu gong cha hua. Gu gong wen wu yue kan selections. Taipei: Guo li gu gong bo wu yuan, 2010. [廖寶秀.茶韻茗事: 故宮茶話.故宮文物月刊. 臺北市: 國立故宮博物院, 2010] Hamilton East Folio, GT2907.C6 L533 2010

Liu, Hanjie ed. Zhongguo cha yi. Rev. ed. Taibei Shi: Fu you chu ban she, 1987. [總編輯劉漢介 ; 攝影吳錦城 ; 插圖嚴德祥. 中國茶藝.台北市 : 婦幼出版社, 1987.] East GT 2907.C6 C477 1987

Liu, Tong. Zhongguo cha wen hua. Taibei: Guo jia chu ban she, 2007. [劉彤著.中國茶文化. 臺北市 : 國家出版社, 2007.] East GT2907.c6 L564 2007

Liu, Zhaorui. Zhongguo gu dai yin cha yi shu. Xi'an: Shaanxi ren min chu ban she, 1987. [刘昭瑞.中國古代飮茶艺术. 西安: 陕西人民出版社, 1987.] East GT2907.C6 L57 1987

Pan, Weiping. Zhongguo cha dao = The art of Chinese tea. Shanghai Shi : Shanghai gao jiao dian zi yin xiang chu ban she, 2005. [潘伟平编导; 张德明监制. 中國茶道 = The art of Chinese tea. 上海市 : 上海高教电子音像出版社, 2005.] AV Center DVD 14390

Peltier, Warren V. The ancient art of tea : discover happiness and contentment in a perfect cup of tea. Tokyo ; Rutland, Vt. : Tuttle Pub., c2011. LCC: General Collection GT 2907.C6 P45 2011

Reid, Daniel P., and Janzen, Chris. The Art and Alchemy of Chinese Tea. London ; Philadelphia: Singing Dragon, 2011. Asia GT 2907.C6 R45 2011

Yang, Kunning. Zhongguo cha wen hua yi shu lun. Kunming: Yunnan jiao yu chu ban she, 2006. [杨昆宁.中国茶文化艺术论.昆明: 云南教育出版社, 2006.] Hamilton East, GT2907.C6 Y364 2006

Yao, Guokun, Wang, Cunli, Cheng, Qikun. Zhongguo cha wen hua. Shanghai: Shanghai wen hua chu ban she, 1991. [姚國坤, 王存禮, 程啓坤　编著. 中国茶文化. 上海: 上海文化出版社, 1991.] East GT2907.C6 Y25 1991

Zhang, Hongyong. Cha de li su. Sanchong Shi: Cha xue wen xue, 1987. [張宏庸編纂. 茶的禮俗. 三重市: 茶學文學, 1987] East GT2907.C6 C458

Zhongguo cha ye bo wu guan. Tu shuo Zhongguo cha yi: Zhongguo cha ye bo wu guan cha yi ji jin. Hangzhou: Zhejiang she ying chu ban she, 2005. [中国茶叶博物馆. 图说中国茶艺: 中国茶叶博物馆茶艺集锦. 杭州: 浙江摄影出版社, 2005.] Hamilton East, GT2907.C6 T82 2005

Zhongguo guo jia tu shu guan ed.. Zhongguo gu dai cha dao mi ben wu shi zhong. Beijing: Quan guo tu shu guan wen xian suo wei fu zhi zhong xin, 2003. [中國國家圖書館 ed. 中國古代茶道秘本五十種. 北京 : 全國圖書館文獻縮微複制中心, 2003.] East GT2907.C6 Z56 2003

Reference Books

Chen Zongmao ed. Zhongguo cha ye da ci dian. Beijing : Zhongguo qing gong ye chu ban she, 2000. [陈宗懋主编. 中国茶叶大辞典. 北京 : 中国轻工业出版社, 2000.] Hamilton East Reference Folio SB272.C5 Z468 2000

Xu, Xianyao. Zhongguo cha shu ti yao. Taibei Shi: Bo yuan chu ban you xian gong si, 1990. [許賢瑤. 中國茶書提要. 臺北市: 博遠出版有限公司, 1990.] Hamilton East Z5074.T4 C46 1990

Xu, Hairong, ed. Zhongguo cha shi da dian. Beijing : Hua xia chu ban she, 2000. [徐海荣 ed. 中国茶事大典. 北京 : 华夏　出版社, 2000.] Hamilton East Reference GT2907.C6 Z47 2000

Ye, Yu. Cha Shu Ji Cheng. Di 1 Ban.. ed. Cha Ban Shu Xiang. Haerbin Shi: Heilongjiang Ren Min Chu Ban She, 2001. [叶羽编著; 正南方工作室策划.茶书集成. 哈尔滨市 : 黑龙江人民出版社, 2001. ] Hamilton East GT2907.C6 C489 2001

Zhu, Shiying ed. Zhongguo cha wen hua da ci dian. Shanghai: Han yu da ci dian chu ban she, 1992. [朱世英 ed. 中国茶文化大辞典. 上海: 汉语大词典出版社, 2002.] Hamilton East Reference GT2907.C6 Z58 2002