As the home of more than a billion people, China has a culture that is known throughout the globe. The creativity of the early and modern Chinese helps them to constantly redefine and improve their ways of life. One of the most interesting aspects of their culture is art, which is best shown in the intricacy of Chinese tea sets.

The history of Chinese tea sets dates back to the rule of the Han Dynasty, about 220 – 206 B.C. During this time, tea ware primarily consisted of two styles: white porcelain from the north and blue porcelain from the south.

In a document written about the third century A.D., tea leaves were crushed and mixed with a variety of spices including orange, onions and flower petals. In this period, it was known that tea was mainly used for medicinal purposes and not a drink for pleasure’s sake.

Historians believe that it was during the reign of the Song Dynasty that teapots were developed. An archaeological finding discovered an ancient kiln that contained the remnants of a Yixing teapot. Also called Zi Sha Hu, they are considered to be the most famous teapots.

Named after a city in the Jiangsu Province, these contained a precise compound of iron which resulted in their exceptional colors. Since the clay is porous, the teapot would gradually be heated by using it for brewing a single variety of tea. Artisans created fanciful pots displaying animal shapes through this way.

The Song Dynasty also made a number of magnificent ceramic tea pots and bowls ranging from brown, black and blue.

The following materials composed the usual Chinese tea sets: a Yixing teapot, a tray to trap the wasted tea/water and a number of cups to drink the tea. Also included in the set was a brush to wipe the spilled tea all over the tray to create an even tea stain and a sieve to help filter out the free bits during pouring. Additional items included a tea tool kit which contained the following: digger, funnel, needle, shuffle, tongs and vase. To display art and luck, one or two clay animals were used.

Tea drinking is a tradition that is indeed very important for the Chinese. The use of Chinese tea sets by many families up to now indicates its role in their culture. True to its essence, the Chinese tea sets in a way give us a sip of the country’s amazing culture.

Tags: Asia

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