The Classic of Tea

Name: The Classic of Tea
ISBN: 9787572215643

Lu YuZhejiang Education Publishing House · ChinaJun 2015

4.4

Word count: 32K words
Chapters: 22
ISBN: 9787572215643

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Summary

The Classic of Tea is a comprehensive treatise on the history, origins, and current state of tea production, as well as tea-drinking techniques and the principles of the Way of Tea. A groundbreaking work of tea studies and a remarkable agricultural treatise, it expounds tea culture by elevating ordinary tea matters into a refined cultural art, promoting the development of tea culture among the Han people. China is the birthplace of tea, and the Han people's custom of drinking tea is said to have begun in the era of Shennong, more than 4,700 years ago. Even today, the folk custom of offering tea in place of formal gifts survives among the Han people. The Classic of Tea is the earliest, most complete, and most comprehensive monograph on tea in China and indeed the world, and is hailed as the encyclopedia of tea.

Editor's review

The Classic of Tea is the earliest, most complete, and most comprehensive extant monograph on tea in China and the world, hailed as an 'encyclopedia of tea.' Lu Yu, drawing on lifelong practice and investigation, systematically summarized tea practices of the Tang dynasty and earlier, elevating tea drinking from a daily custom to a realm of culture and art. The book not only details the origin, types, harvesting and processing tools, and techniques of tea but also establishes a complete method of brewing and an aesthetic of tasting, profoundly influencing the later development of tea culture. This edition from Zhejiang Education Publishing House, while faithful to the original, provides clear modern annotations and translations, balancing scholarly rigor with readability. Its exposition of core ideas such as 'tea is frugal in nature' and 'it is most suitable as a drink for those who are refined in conduct and frugal in virtue' reveals the inner connection between the way of tea and self-cultivation. Reading this book, one gains not only systematic knowledge of tea but also a deeper understanding of the philosophical thinking of 'the unity of dao and vessel' and the aesthetic sensibility in traditional Chinese culture. For readers who wish to explore the roots of tea culture and enhance their tea-tasting ability, this is an irreplaceable classic.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Enthusiasts with a strong interest in traditional Chinese culture, especially tea culture
Tea learners who wish to systematically study the history, classification, and processing of tea
Scholars and students engaged in history, agriculture, or food culture research
Readers who pursue a life aesthetic and wish to combine tea drinking with personal cultivation

Not a good fit for

Pragmatists seeking only simple tea recipes or quick brewing guides
Readers lacking basic patience for and interest in ancient texts and classical Chinese

Reading tips

Read the modern translation first to grasp the overall framework and core ideas, then read the original with annotations to savor the classical flavor.
As you read, compare with your current tea practice to appreciate the evolution and continuity of tea-making and drinking from past to present.
The book contains many ancient place names and vessel names; keep reference books at hand or use online resources to aid understanding and deepen your reading.

About the publisher

Zhejiang Education Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Zhejiang Education Publishing House is a professional publisher focusing on educational publishing while also serving general readers and academic accumulation, with publications covering textbooks, educational readers, popular science, and academic works. Judging from the more than 1,000 titles in the database, the press places considerable emphasis on classics and traditional culture for general readers: modern literature includes Lao She's Camel Xiangzi, Lu Xun's Call to Arms and Wandering and Wild Grass, Xiao Hong's The Story of Hulan River, and Zhu Ziqing's Back View; classical poetry includes Three Hundred Tang Poems and selections from the "Good Chinese Poetry" series, such as the Chu Ci and Qing ci anthologies. Related authors include modern writers such as Lao She, Lu Xun, Xiao Hong, and Zhu Ziqing, as well as classical literature selectors and annotators such as Hengtang Tuishi, Jin Xingyao, Jin Kaicheng, and Qian Zhonglian. Common categories in the database also include social novels, classic works, prose and miscellaneous writings, popular science, and inspirational growth, reflecting a publishing orientation that balances educational service with the popularization of public culture.

版权信息
目录
公版书总序
六羡西江水，一生只为茗——陆羽
竹下卧山叟，春水煎新茶——《茶经》
正文
一茶之源
二茶之具
三茶之造
四茶之器
五茶之煮
六茶之饮
七茶之事
八茶之出
九茶之略
十茶之图
如是我闻
一、中国茶文化发展历史
二、中国十大名茶
三、古代常用茶具
四、古代著名茶画
五、著名茶学专著

FAQ

Does The Classic of Tea still offer guidance for modern tea drinking?

It is highly instructive. Its principles on harvest timing, processing key points, water selection, and heat control remain central to producing quality tea today. The spirit of 'refined conduct and frugal virtue' it advocates is a cultural core that transcends its era.

Is this edition suitable for readers with no classical Chinese background?

This edition provides detailed annotations and vernacular translations, effectively lowering the barrier. Readers can start with the translation and gradually move to reading the original alongside it—a good choice for entering classical tea studies.

What is Lu Yu's most outstanding contribution in The Classic of Tea?

His most outstanding contribution is systematization and theorization. He integrated scattered regional tea-drinking customs into a complete knowledge system and cultural paradigm—from cultivation and processing to brewing and tasting—laying the disciplinary foundation of tea studies and endowing tea with profound spiritual and cultural meaning.

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About the author

Lu Yu Author · Chinese

Lu Yu, courtesy name Hongjian, was a native of Jingling in Fuzhou (present-day Tianmen, Hubei) during the Tang dynasty; his dates are sometimes given as 733–804, though the available materials are limited and many details of his life cannot be firmly established. A lifelong tea enthusiast and a connoisseur of tea matters, he wrote The Classic of Tea, the world's first monograph on tea, which systematically discusses places of origin, picking and processing, brewing and drinking, and tea utensils. He is honored by later generations as the "Sage of Tea" and made outstanding contributions to the development of the tea industry in China and beyond. This site holds sixteen related works, mostly different editions and annotated translations of The Classic of Tea, along with selections touching on classical learning and tea culture. His writing is plain and practical, grounded in experience and clearly organized, resembling both cultural essays and a guide to daily life. Classified under Eastern philosophy, culture, literary appreciation, home life, miscellaneous prose, and food, his work remains an important introduction to Chinese tea culture.