1st August, 2008: China’s Tea Culture Part Two
Tea Culture is about history, economics, harmony and spirituality. It embraces the tea, the paraphernalia, the customs, ceremonies and occasions for consuming tea; becoming finally, an integral part of a people’s way of life.
- To express thanks to your elders on your wedding day: In the traditional Chinese marriage ceremony, both the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve them tea. That is a way to express their gratitude. The parents will usually drink a small portion of the tea and then give them a red envelope, which symbolizes good luck.
- To connect large families on wedding days: The tea ceremony during weddings also serves as a means for both parties in the wedding to meet with all members of the other family. Drinking the tea symbolizes acceptance into the family. Refusal to drink symbolizes opposition to the wedding and is quite unheard of since it would result in a loss of ‘face.’ Older relations so introduced would give a red envelope to the matrimonial couple while the couples give a red envelope to younger, unmarried relations.
- To pass on the tradition: Kung Fu cha is in Chaoshan is part of the Chaoshan culture. They have a term for it that has no translation to another Chinese language but means, ‘when friends and family get together in a room to drink Kung Fu cha and chat.’ During such occasions, tradition and culture are passed on to the younger generation.
- Folding the napkin in tea ceremonies is a traditional action and is done to keep away bad Qi energy in China as tea was regarded as one of the seven daily necessities, the others being firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar.
Posted by Ruth at 6:00 am |
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