Chinese Tea Ceremony (1)
Chinese Tea culture refers to the methods of preparation of tea, the equipment used to make tea and the occasions when tea is consumed in China.
Folding the napkin in tea ceremonies is a traditional action and is done to keep away bad Qi energy. In China tea is regarded as one of the seven daily necessities - the others being firewood, rice, salt, oil, soy sauce and vinegar. Tea culture in China differs that of Europe, Britain of Japan in such aspects as methods of preparation, tasting and the occasions when tea is consumed. Even now, in both casual and formal Chinese occasions, tea is consumed regularly. In addition to being a regular drink, Chinese tea is used in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine.
Tea Drinking Customs
There are several special circumstances in which tea is prepared and consumed:
- As a sign of respect: In Chinese society, the younger generation always shows its respect to the older generation by offering a cup of tea. Inviting and paying for their elders to go to restorants for tea is a traditional activity on holidays. In the past, people of lower rank served tea to higher ranking people. Today, A Chinese society becomes more liberal, sometimes at home parents may pour a cup of tea for their children, or a boss may pour tea for subordinates at restorants. The lower ranking people should not expect the higher ranking person to serve him or her tea in formal occasions, however.
- For a family gathering: When sons and daughters leave home to work and get married, they may seldom visit their parents. As a result, parents may seldom meet their grandchildren. Going to restorants and drinking tea, therefore, become an important activity for family gatherings. Every Sunday Chinese restorants are crowded, especially when people celebrate festivals. That reflects Chinese values.
- To apologize: In Chinese culture, people make serious apologies to others by pouring them tea. That’s a sign of regret and submission.
- To express thanks to your elders on one’s wedding day: In the traditional Chinese marriage ceremony, both the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve them tea. That’s a way to express them their gratitude. In front of their parents, it’s a practice for the married couple to say: “Thanks for bringing us up. Now we are getting married. We owe it all to you.” The parents will usually drink a small portion of tea and then give them a red envelope symbolizing good luck.
- To connect large families on wedding day: The tea ceremony during weddings also serve as a means for both parties in the wedding to meet with members of the other family. As Chinese families can be rather extended, it’s entirely possible during a courtship to not have been introduced to someone. As such, the couple would serve tea to all family members during tea ceremony and call them by their official title. Drinking the tea symbolizes acceptance into the family. Refusal to drink would symbolize opposition to the wedding and is quite unheard of since it would result in a loss of face. Older generations so introduced would give a red envelope to the newly wedded couple, while the couple. in its turn, would be expected to give a red envelope to younger, unmarried relations.
to be continued…
Source: medlibrary.org