Record of Tea

冯时可Jul 2024

2.8

Word count: 794 words
Chapters: 2

Summary

The thought of traditional Chinese culture has a long history and is highly original, inventive and literary. Early thought forms are highly distinctive: religious theology, classical texts of traditional Chinese medicine, ancient military strategy, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism and the Hundred Schools, feng shui and metaphysics, the Twenty-Four Histories, customs and local gazetteers—these subjects are vast and profound. This "Classic National Studies Essence Culture Original Texts" series preserves the appearance of the original books, with the aim of preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese thought and culture. By reading the literary essence left by ancient sages, readers cultivate their temperament and subtly come to appreciate the classics of national studies.

Editor's review

Tea Record is included in the "Classic National Studies Essence Culture Original Texts" series, and its value lies first in preserving the appearance of the original book, allowing readers to encounter the traditional text directly rather than reading only secondhand summaries. Feng Shike's records of tea matters, placed within the traditional cultural context covered by the series, can be cross-referenced with materials such as customs and local gazetteers and everyday life, helping readers understand how the ancients observed and wrote about tea. It should not be read as a modern textbook of tea science, but rather as a kind of traditional document: its emphasis is on preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture, and both its language and its format bear the marks of its era. It suits readers who already have some experience in reading national studies and are willing to enter the original text slowly with the help of annotations; for those who want a quick grasp of tea classification, brewing parameters or industry development, it is not a suitable choice. Reading it in short units is recommended: note entries on implements, brewing and evaluation as you go, then read it alongside other ancient tea books in the same series or related works for more solid results.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with some foundation in national studies who are willing to engage with original texts
Those interested in ancient records of tea matters and traditional cultural documents
Teachers, writers and editors in need of traditional cultural material
Readers who enjoy short note-style works that can be read in sections

Not a good fit for

Readers who want a systematic study of modern tea science or tea-ceremony practice
Beginners who prefer vernacular explanation and do not wish to face the original format
Readers expecting a complete history of tea or industry data

Reading tips

First read the table of contents and notes on format to understand the structure, then read in sections by entry.
Keep a notebook and jot down key terms such as implements, brewing and evaluation for easy reference.
Read alongside other ancient tea books in the same series or related works, comparing angles of record and differences in wording.
When an entry is difficult, read the annotations first; do not insist on fully understanding it in one pass—return to it after some time.

版权信息
茶录

FAQ

Is Tea Record a systematic work on tea science?

It is better not to see it that way. According to the materials, it belongs to the "Classic National Studies Essence Culture Original Texts" series, and its emphasis is on preserving the original appearance of the book and preserving and transmitting traditional thought and culture. Readers should treat it as a record of tea matters within traditional literature; for systematic tea-science knowledge, they should use a modern textbook as a companion.

Can I read this book without any foundation in classical Chinese?

You can try, but it will be difficult. The book preserves the original appearance of the text, and its format and language bear the marks of its era; beginners would do best to choose an annotated edition, or first read a related vernacular introduction before entering the original text. If you are completely unwilling to face the original text, the reading experience will suffer.

Should this book be read quickly or slowly?

It is better read slowly, in sections. The information density of traditional note-style documents varies: some entries are brief, while others involve details of implements or brewing. Reading a few entries at a time, jotting down key terms and cross-reading with related materials will yield more than skimming the whole book quickly.

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About the author

冯时可 Author

Feng Keshi's dates, native place, and official career are not clearly recorded, and available public information is limited, so his identity and background still await verification. Judging from the three works collected here, his writings span several fields: Zhongmiao Xianfang is a medical formulary that gathers commonly used prescriptions and reflects an interest in everyday health care and the treatment of illness; Yuhang Zalu is a miscellaneous notebook work combining observations with discussions of literature and history, written in a relaxed and perceptive style; and Cha Lu is devoted specifically to tea, belonging to the traditional genre of tea treatises. Taken together, these subjects show a wide range of reading: the author attended both to practical knowledge and to the refined pleasures favored by literati, and his writing tends toward itemized records and informal notes, concise in language and free of ornate rhetoric. Classified under health, literary appreciation, and classic works, these writings offer a way to understand how traditional scholars approached learning through everyday objects and technical arts, and they serve as reference material for the study of Ming dynasty notebooks and tea books.