Chinese tea ceremony "Kung Fu Cha"
The Celestial Empire, or China, taught the whole world to drink tea elegantly. It was in this country that the custom of holding tea ceremonies originated. Here, tea has a special attitude - it is not just a national drink, but a "spark of life" and "the wisest of plants." The Chinese tea ceremony is more than a custom, it is another facet of existence, and by realizing it, you can make your life fuller and more interesting. "Kung Fu" means "highest skill," "Cha" - tea. Thus, the phrase "Kung Fu Cha" can be translated as "highest skill of tea drinking."
KUNG FU CHHA requires a special atmosphere and inner mood. The whole ceremony is imbued with mystery and magnetism. The tea envelops you with its warmth, intoxicates your head with its aroma, and its taste makes you hold a sip of tea in your mouth for a while, so as not to lose that new feeling of freshness and flight.
Tea ceremony and its meaning for the Chinese.
Tea is a traditional drink in China and is consumed daily. In addition, the Chinese observe several special circumstances for preparing and drinking tea together.
"A sign of respect." In Chinese society, it is customary to show respect to elders by offering a cup of tea. Inviting older relatives to a restaurant for a cup of tea and paying for it is one of the traditional Chinese pastimes on weekends. In the past, tea was always served by people who occupied a lower level of the social hierarchy. In today's China, due to the liberalization of society, it happens that parents serve tea to children, and even a boss may pour tea for his subordinates. However, at formal events, you should not expect a higher-ranking participant to serve you tea.
"Family gathering". Having started a family or having gone to work in a distant land, children rarely visit their parents; grandparents rarely see their grandchildren. Therefore, drinking tea together in restaurants is an important part of family gatherings. On Sundays, Chinese restaurants are full of customers, especially on holidays. This confirms the importance of family values in China.
"Apology." In Chinese culture, it is customary to pour tea for the person you are apologizing to when asking for forgiveness. This is a sign of sincere repentance and submission.
"Expressing gratitude to elders on the wedding day." In a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, the bride and groom kneel before their parents and offer tea to them as a sign of respect. The newlyweds say to their parents, "Thank you for raising us. We are forever indebted to you!" The parents drink tea and present the newlyweds with a red envelope, symbolizing good luck.
"Bringing the Big Family Together on the Wedding Day." The wedding tea ceremony also serves as a way for the families of the bride and groom to get acquainted. During the wedding tea ceremony, the newlyweds serve tea to each family member, calling them by name and official title. Drinking tea together symbolized the acceptance of new members into the family. To refuse tea means to oppose the marriage and "lose face."
"Maintaining the tradition." In some provinces of China, there is a tradition of gathering with friends and relatives in a tea room for the Kung Fu Cha ceremony. During the ceremony, the elders tell the younger ones about the customs, passing on the ancient tradition.
The tea ceremony in the eyes of a European is an exotic ritual, beautiful tea preparation and spiritual practice. The Chinese tea ceremony has all of this, but the overlay of taste, aroma and something elusive in sensations comes to the fore.
The first condition of the Chinese tea ceremony is good tea and the method of its preparation. High-quality tea prepared during the tea ceremony contains many vitamins, organic acids, minerals, proteins and other useful substances. The second most important thing after tea is water. In order for guests to enjoy not only the taste and aroma of tea, but also the demonstration of tea performance with precisely calculated movements of the master's hands, kung fu cha requires special utensils.
Modern methods of making tea are very diverse, since each tea province (and there are 18 of them) has its own ideas about how to process and brew tea leaves. But outside of China, 3 or 4 methods of tea drinking are most common today. The qualifications of the tea master, who knows which method to choose for which tea, and, of course, a special attitude to perceive subtle sensations that are not noticeable in a normal state, are important. Tea can evoke various associations, immerse you in the past, and evoke dreams about the future. The more attentive and conscious a person is, the more pleasant impressions he can get from a tea ceremony.
The tea ceremony lasts from 40 minutes to 2 hours. It is desirable not to have external time restrictions, so as not to be distracted from your own inner world.
It is not advisable to eat anything immediately before or during the tea ceremony, although hunger is also not welcomed, as it causes discomfort. The best thing about the tea ceremony is to try it for yourself. After all, no descriptions can convey the feeling of deep calm and interest in life that you achieve without unnecessary stress during the tea ceremony.