How the whipped powered tea was forgotten in China

Unfortunately the sudden outburst of the Mongol tribes in the thirteenth century which resulted in the devastation and conquest of China under the barbaric rule of the Yuen Emperors, destroyed all the fruits of Sung culture. The native dynasty of the Mings which attempted re-nationalization in the middle of the fifteenth century was harassed by internal troubles, and China again fell under the alien rule of the Manchus in the seventeenth century. Manners and customs changed to leave no vestige of the former times. The powdered tea is entirely forgotten. We find a Ming commentator at loss to recall the shape of the tea whisk mentioned in one of the Sung classics. Tea is now taken by steeping the leaves in hot water in a bowl or cup. The reason why the Western world is innocent of the older method of drinking tea is explained by the fact that Europe knew it only at the close of the Ming dynasty.

To the latter-day Chinese tea is a delicious beverage, but not an ideal. The long woes of his country have robbed him of the zest for the meaning of life. He has become modern, that is to say, old and disenchanted. He has lost that sublime faith in illusions which constitutes the eternal youth and vigor of the poets and ancients. He is an eclectic and politely accepts the traditions of the universe. He toys with Nature, but does not condescend to conquer or worship her. His Leaf-tea is often wonderful with its flower-like aroma, but the romance of the Tang and Sung ceremonials are not to be found in his cup.

(The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura)

 

Battle between Mongols & Chinese (1211). Jami' al-tawarikh, Rashid al-Din.

 

Comments

[Joann Hamick]

This is beautiful, Akemi. Thank you so much for your translations!!
Joann

[Akemi]

Hi Joann,
Thani you for your comment! But I can't take credit for that.... Kakuzo Okakura wrote The Book of Tea originally in English 110 years ago, and I'm simply quoting it after his copyrights expired.
The fact that we still learn a lot from his book ensures me that there are a lot more to introduce about Japan's traditional culture in English. I will keep doing so in my blog, sometimes by quoting, sometimes by translating, and by also with my own thoughts and words.