Tea Ceremony (Part 2)

Chu Chen smiled and said, "If you ask me, the tea, water, utensils, and artistry today are all exquisite. I was lucky to be here today, and thanks to both of you, I got to taste this tea that smells like orchids and osmanthus and tastes like sweet rain."

After hearing Chu Chen's words, Zhu Dafu and Song Jun couldn't help but look at each other and smile, both saying it was meant to be.

"Good, Xiao Chen is right. Tea, water, utensils, and artistry are indeed indispensable. Now, Uncle Wu will test you. What are your thoughts after tasting this tea?"

Chu Chen scratched the back of his head with some distress and said, "Uncle Fu, actually, this is my first time tasting tea. I don't know much about the Way of Tea, only what I've read in books. Please don't be offended if I say something wrong."

Seeing the encouraging looks from Zhu Dafu and the other, he continued, "Emperor Huizong of Song Zhao Ji, in the Grand View Tea Treatise, proposed that drinking tea requires 'exquisite selection, skillful production, superior grade, and marvelous brewing.' He also called for 'dispelling stagnation and promoting harmony,' and 'tranquil purity, lofty grace, and serene stillness.' From these words of Emperor Huizong, we can see that tea tasting requires both material and spiritual aspects."

"The material aspects include water, utensils, and the environment. Let's talk about the environment first. The ancients said that the best environment for tea tasting is clear mountains and beautiful waters, small bridges and pavilions, zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and a secluded elegant room. Of course, this is the ideal environment for tea tasting, and most people cannot achieve this. However, generally speaking, as long as the environment is quiet and beautiful, it is sufficient."

"There's no need to elaborate on the environment here at Uncle Fu's. It can be described in three words: tranquil and natural, simple and elegant, and ingenious. Every time I come here to Uncle Fu's, it dispels my worries and makes me feel refreshed. As a place for tea tasting, it is certainly no problem."

"There are three requirements for water suitable for tea: first, 'clear' water, meaning it is colorless, transparent, and free of sediment; second, 'sweet,' referring to being sweet and cold, or sweet and crisp. As soon as the water enters the mouth, the tip of the tongue will instantly feel a sweet sensation, with a lingering aftertaste; third, 'pure,' meaning clean and refreshing. In today's terms, it means pollution-free."

"Water that meets these three requirements is good for brewing tea. The water used for brewing tea this time is Jade Spring Water from the 'Number One Spring Under Heaven.' This water lives up to its name, fully bringing out the mellow, smooth, and resonant qualities of the tea. It truly fills the mouth with fragrance and leaves a lasting aftertaste."

"As the saying goes, 'Water is the mother of tea, and the pot is the father of tea.' As soon as I came in, I was deeply attracted by this set of tea ware. Just these teacups, as white as jade and as thin as paper, are pleasing to the eye, let alone the most important Zisha teapot."

"I don't know much about Zisha teapots. Judging by its style, this should be a sand-adjusted cap pot. The overall shape is simple and unadorned, and it combines strength with elegance, showcasing the maker's superb craftsmanship. Moreover, this pot has a hint of fire, could it be a recent work from Master Song?"

Neither of them hurried to tell Chu Chen the answer, but simply smiled and gestured for him to continue.

"Yang Shen of the Ming Dynasty once said, 'Your tea songs are like historical records, not only tasting tea but also tasting scholars.' This sentence points out the artistic conception of tea tasting. Zhang Yuan, also from the Ming Dynasty, said in his Tea Record, 'Drinking alone is divine, two guests are superior, three or four are interesting.' These 'divine, superior, interesting' also highlight the spiritual aspect of the Way of Tea."

"Of course, the environment and the person are different, and the spirit understood from tea is also different. As the saying goes, wise men see wisdom, and benevolent men see benevolence. As for me, I think tasting tea is like tasting life. 'It takes three sips to know the taste, and three rounds to move the heart.' Three sips of tea let me experience the sweetness and bitterness of life, and the final aftertaste is the sweetness after bitterness."

"Finally, let's talk about tea artistry. Why is it mentioned last? On the one hand, I know nothing about tea artistry. The main reason is that I believe tea artistry plays a bridging role in the entire tea tasting process. I believe tea artistry is the bridge between the material and spiritual aspects of the Way of Tea."

"Simply put, without Master Song's superb tea artistry, the material aspect of the Way of Tea cannot fully embody its essence, and the understanding of the spiritual aspect of the Way of Tea cannot even begin."

"These are my humble opinions. Please forgive me for any shortcomings or errors."

After finishing this discourse, Chu Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He had racked his brains to come up with all of this. If they were not satisfied, there would be nothing he could do.

Zhu Dafu smiled and nodded, "Xiao Chen, what you said is quite insightful. It's hard to believe this is your first time tasting tea. Even some people who often taste tea might not come up with some of your insights. It seems you have a good aptitude for the Way of Tea."

Chu Chen said somewhat shyly, "I don't deserve such praise from Uncle Fu. However, after this tea tasting, I have indeed become interested in the Way of Tea. I feel that frequently tasting tea can calm the mind and cultivate one's character. Perhaps I will have to ask Master Song for more advice in the future."

Song Jun smiled and nodded, "It's no trouble. However, I dare not accept your request for guidance. We can discuss it together. Honestly, not many young people nowadays are interested in the Way of Tea. They can't calm down and think it's too troublesome."

Zhu Dafu nodded upon hearing this, "Indeed. People nowadays are increasingly utilitarian, their minds filled with money as their goal. Let alone the Way of Tea, even in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, how many young people are willing to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly?"

"I think, on the one hand, it's due to a lack of perseverance, and on the other hand, it's also because of the pressure of life nowadays. Who wouldn't prefer an easier life if they could? But there's no choice, one must first meet the needs of life. Take housing prices, for example, they have risen so much compared to last year." As a young person himself, he naturally had to explain for the younger generation.

Zhu Dafu chuckled playfully, "You brat, are you saying Uncle Fu is a well-fed man who doesn't know the hunger of a starving man?"

"No, no, how dare I say that? I'm just talking about the habits of some people nowadays, which are also caused by the general environment. And there are quite a few who just go through the motions." Chu Chen quickly waved his hands.

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about state affairs. Let's talk about this Zisha teapot. Just looking at it, Xiao Chen, honestly, what do you think of this pot?"

Chu Chen carefully examined the Zisha teapot on the table again. After considering for a moment, he said, "From the bottom of my heart, this Zisha teapot is quite good. 'Clay, shape, craftsmanship, inscription, function.' Although I haven't seen the inscription, the other four aspects can be said to be extremely exquisite. It is a very good Zisha teapot."

As soon as Chu Chen finished speaking, Song Jun hurriedly said, "Old Zhu, what do you say? Chu Chen also thinks this pot is good. You should agree to my request."

Seeing this, Chu Chen was confused. He didn't know what was going on between the two of them, so Song Jun began to explain the reason.

It turned out that Song Jun's teapot-making skill was inherited from his ancestors, learned from the lineage of Shi Dabing. However, as time passed, some things were lost as the family craft was passed down through generations, which was a drawback of ancient craft inheritance.

In Song Jun's generation, he wanted to restore some of the lost techniques, but he lacked a work by Shi Dabing for reference. By chance, he learned from a friend that Zhu Dafu owned a genuine piece by Shi Dabing, so he came to ask Zhu Dafu if he could transfer the pot to him.

A genuine piece by Shi Dabing was not easy to obtain, and Zhu Dafu was very fond of it, so he was naturally unwilling to part with it. However, Song Jun's perseverance was astonishing. After several attempts, Zhu Dafu was also moved by his sincerity.

Even so, Zhu Dafu was still somewhat reluctant, so he asked Song Jun to make a pot in the style of the genuine piece. If he was satisfied, he would transfer the genuine piece to him.

This was indeed a difficult task, but Song Jun was worthy of being a master potter. Although the first two attempts did not satisfy Zhu Dafu, they were still very spirited, earning his admiration for Song Jun's skill.

Today was the third time Song Jun brought his work. This time, Zhu Dafu could not find any fault with it. So he told Song Jun that his nephew would be coming later, and if he thought it was good, he would transfer the genuine piece by Shi Dabing to him.

When Chu Chen heard the reason, he felt a bit awkward. Zhu Dafu was clearly reluctant to part with his collection, but now, there was no reason not to transfer it, which made him feel quite uneasy.

Zhu Dafu saw this and smiled, "Xiao Chen, do you think Uncle Fu is angry with you? Actually, when Master Song brought this pot before, I knew I couldn't avoid it. As for bringing you along, it's just because I truly felt a bit reluctant."

Seeing Zhu Dafu's reluctant expression, Song Jun said, "Old Zhu, how about this? I'll rent this pot. After I study it for a while, I'll return it to you."

Zhu Dafu smiled and waved his hand, "I've thought it through. That pot is at most a collection piece for me; sometimes it doesn't see daylight for months. Moreover, I'm not skilled in the Way of Tea. It will be much more useful in your hands. Please wait a moment, I'll go get that pot."

After a while, Zhu Dafu carefully returned with a brocade box and placed it on the table. In the meantime, Chu Chen and Song Jun had already tidied up the tea set on the table.

Opening the brocade box, a sand-adjusted cap pot, identical in shape to the one just examined, was revealed to everyone.

Zhu Dafu gestured for them to pick it up and admire it. Song Jun said, "Chu Chen, you examine it first. I've already looked at it many times before."

Hearing this, Chu Chen did not hesitate. He put on gloves, carefully took out the Zisha teapot from the box, and began to observe it.

Shi Dabing, a native of Yixing during the Ming Wanli era, when speaking of Zisha teapots, no one would fail to mention Shi Dabing's "Time Pot." He was the most famous and influential master potter after Gong Chun. Later generations spoke highly of his works, and some even revered him to the highest degree.