An Illustrated Modern Reader of 'The Classic of Tea'

This commentary on the Chinese masterpiece, The Classic of Tea, offers a fascinating perspective on this ancient pastime and art.

The cultivation, making and drinking of tea first began in China, with its earliest mention in historical literature dating back to the Zhou Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago. Initially used for medicinal purposes, the aromatic beverage gradually became a recreational drink over the centuries, gaining popularity beyond the preserve of monasteries, imperial courts and scholars' dens. It is a drink that is most widely consumed, being almost a requisite for the health consciousness and personal cultivation.

The Classic of Tea, the first known monograph on tea in the world, was written in the 8th century by Lu Yu who devoted his entire life to the study of tea and is respected as the Sage of Tea.

This book is the culmination of lifelong research on Chinese tea culture and history by Wu Juenong, an agronomist and economist specializing in agriculture, who has studied tea all his life. It introduces readers to modern findings of effects and properties of tea, types of tea preparations, the evolution of tea growing regions and tea drinking customs across China, in addition to extensive annotation. Both scholarly and informative, it has been acclaimed as a New Classic of Tea.

It also includes vivid illustrations and pictures of tools and utensils for the making and drinking of tea, either hand-drawn or collected by Wu Juenong, which the original The Classic of Tea lacked. Selected Chinese traditional paintings in the book illuminate the elegant art of brewing and drinking tea, the social rituals associated with tea drinking, and the reformative and cultural significance of tea ceremonies.

About the Author

Wu Juenong (1897-1989) was an agricultural scientist and economist. He was also the founding figure in the revival and development of the modern Chinese tea industry. He served as Vice-Minister of Agriculture, honorary president of the China Agricultural Institute and honorary Director General of the China Tea Institute. He established the first specialist higher educational institute for the tea industry as well as a national tea company.

He also set up a tea research institute at the foot of the Wuyishan Mountain in Fujian Province and made an outstanding contribution to the development of the Chinese tea industry.