The ten on one technique taught me that tea in China illustrates the influence and power that the Chinese have on their own culture and on the rest of the world. While there may be ten or more examples that support this claim, one example from “The debate between Mr. Tea and Mr. Alcohol” is, “‘I am either as white as jade or as yellow as gold. Famous monks, ‘great worthies’ [elder monks] and recluses in groves of meditation [monasteries] all take me while making discourses’” (Chajiulun). In China, the worthies represented monks and monasteries which were a big part of Chinese government, especially during the Tang Dynasty. The colors yellow and gold symbolize power and authority, which signifies that the monks and monasteries had the power to approve and distribute tea. The purpose of Mr. Tea saying that he comes in yellow and gold suggests that tea was China’s main way of establishing their culture, and that is how tea has become one of their main beverages. Another example as to how tea represents power and dominance to China is that “[the Chinese] cross mountains and peaks in order to get the teas from the mountains of Shu and the peaks of Meng” (Chajiulun). It is clear that the Chinese have worked hard to make and distribute tea. Based on the idea that they had to cross mountains and peaks in order to make and manufacture tea, tea helps remind them of the hard work that they did, which would allow them to create tea as a significant part of their culture. The fact that they worked hard also shows that they have a lot of power and authority over tea, and being able to distribute tea will expand their influence over other cultures. A final example as to how tea represents Chinese patriotism is that “[tea leaves] were curled up like fists and multilayered, their shape resembled a hand” (Li Bai). The hands represent strength and mobility, which expand of the feeling of patriotism. Not only does the hand represent strength, but it also represents the idea of transcendents, which helps indicate that the Chinese labored to make tea for their monasteries. Additionally, the idea that the hand shaped tea leaves resemble transcendents leads to what we know today as “Transcendent’s Palm Tea (Li Bai).” In conclusion, the ten in one technique has helped me learn that tea is a symbol of both the lifestyle of the Chinese during the Tang Dynasty and their power and influence over other cultures.
Works Cited
Bai, L. (701-762). “Responding to a gift of Transcendent’s Palm tea from Yuquan sent by my nephew the monk Zhongfu, with preface.”
Chajiulun. The Debate between Mr. Tea and Mr. Alcohol. Translation based on Tsu-lung Chen, “Note on Wang Fu’s Cha Chiu Lun”, Sinologica 6 (1961): 271–87. Collated with excerpts and notes from James Benn, Tea in China: A Religious and Cultural History, Honolulu: Univ. of Hawaii Press, 2015.
Eustea, Eusreads. 2018. Tea in China by James A. Benn. Eustea Reads. Retrieved from https://eustaciatan.com/2018/10/tea-in-china-by-james-a-benn.html
