3。 The Formation of Tea Culture

Tea culture develops in a specific way and under specific circumstances。 No matter Chinese tea culture or British tea culture, they both originate and develop in relation with the conditions of society, economy, and politics to some extent。 On the one hand, they have their own characteristics and charms。 On the other hand, they display and reflect the traditional cultures, inside spirits, lifestyles and some other aspects of their country。 They share similarities and also differences。 Dating back to the origins and developments of tea culture in the two countries, I will make a deep analysis of the formation of Chinese tea culture and British tea culture。。

3。1 The formation of Chinese tea culture

     Tea, combined with people, life, society and so many other factors, becomes tea culture and carries all these meanings。 Early in Spring and Autumn Period, Chinese people had got used to the custom of “eating tea”—taking tea as a kind of food。 Then, tea, as a kind of beverage, started to become popular and to form its own conventions and manners。 However, it flourished and entered its Silver Age during the Tang and Song Dynasty when people were not only particular with the color , aroma, and taste of the tea, but also paid attention to the circumstances , rhythms, and refinement。 Men of literature and writing that time enriched the connotation and meanings of tea through making poems and drawings to express their feelings and emotions。(Wu 382)。 In China, tea culture is associated with the essence of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism。 As a result, tea culture has been sublimed into Chinese ideological values where the theory that man is an integral part of nature, doctrine of the mean, and meditation share similarities with the pursuit of nature and simplicity in tea culture。 Chinese people taste and appreciate tea in the perspective of ideology and spirits。 In this way, tea culture influences the sense of value, psychology, aesthetic appreciation of beauty, mode of thinking of people。 In China, people drink tea with the intention of keeping fit, cultivating themselves, and progressing in virtue。 They can drink tea any time at their will。 The Chinese tea houses are built in quiet and tranquil places without the disturbance of the city’s noise。 The environment and circumstances are peaceful, noble and graceful。 Chinese people are particular with tea in its processing。 For example, the temperature of water is key to the success of tea。 Besides, “The Classics on Tea”, written by Lu Yu of the Tang Dynasty (618A。D。-907A。D。), the world’s earliest treatise on tea leave production, records the procedures from the production of tea leaves, the boiling of tea, to the enjoyment of tea in detail。 Chinese people pay much attention to their beloved tea。 In this way, they form their tea culture。

3。2。 The formation of British tea culture 文献综述

In England, due to the high medical value, tea was introduced to the country at the beginning of 17th century。 But it was not widely spread for its scarce source and expensive price。 When the princess of Portugal—Catherine married into Britain during the middle of the 17th century, she brought the habit of drinking tea to the members of royalty through treating friends with tea and sending tea as presents。 The royalties got to know the health protection function of tea。 The tea came to become luxury goods for them to run after。 Finally, during the Victoria time of 19th century, the colonization of England broadened the sources of tea。 The prices of tea became cheaper for middle class to afford to。 After that time, tea has become a necessity in British people’s lives。 It filtered into English literature works through recording the procedures of making tea, describing the scenes of drinking tea, and indicating the social backgrounds。 In a way, it also liberated the females by developing the customs of afternoon tea, helping them make more social contact and, enlarging and adjusting their conceptions of world and value。( Wang 350) Although firstly enjoyed by royalties, tea becomes necessary to ordinary people’s daily lives when tea culture comes mature。 It is the people who drinks tea that endow the tea with culture。 Tea brings females closer to social communication where they have more chances to gather with friends and even males。 It also irresistibly enters the literature world。 Tea culture stretches to different sides of life。 Through combining it with life, it achieves more meanings and cohesion。 Britain forms its own tea culture in this unique way。