On December 9 and 10, Xinhu Academy and Guangwen Academy held the fifth session of the Song Dynasty Tea-whisking Ceremony under the theme of “Tea Art, Timeless Allure”. The event was attended by the instructor for the Tea Art course, Ms. Xu Fengjun, student counselors, and some mentors and students from the two academies.

This session of the tea ceremony showcased the brewing techniques for “Hong Cha Gai Wan” (Black Tea in Covered Bowl) and “Bing Qing Yu Jie Bo Li Bei Lu Cha” (Green Tea in Glass Cup). Additionally, Ms. Xu also showed the students how to whisk tea. The aim was to exhibit the students’ learning achievements and provide a summary of the Tea Art course offered this semester.

Ms. Xu explained the brewing techniques and related tea utensils, from which students gained a deeper understanding of tea art. She elucidated the implications of the combination of heavenly bamboo and chrysanthemums, allowing students to appreciate the leisurely atmosphere. Using the concept of tea-whisking as a starting point, she guided students from both academies through different stages of the historical development of tea art and its continuously enriched connotations.

The students conducted tea-serving ceremonies on the spot, learning the etiquette of serving tea. Using Pu’er tea as an example, Ms. Xu demonstrated the Song Dynasty art of tea-whisking: warming the teacup with hot water, putting tea powder into the cup, pouring boiling water, and using the tea whisk to mix the tea and water until it becomes paste-like, adding more water while whisking to make the tea paste foam up nicely and look like cloud or snow, painting on the tea soup, distributing tea soup and savoring it. The students experienced the joy of tea-whisking firsthand under Xu’s guidance. Enveloped in the fragrance of tea, savoring the delicacies, and accompanied by graceful melodies, participants found themselves immersed in the serene and tranquil ambiance crafted by the tea ceremony.

Ancient Chinese people once said, “warming cups fills the room with fragrance.” Tea culture is not just a dietary habit; it’s a spiritual belief. Through this tea ceremony event, academy faculty and students gathered in the world of tea to experience the allure of tea culture. Engaging in tea tasting and observation, they had a glimpse of the rich historical atmosphere and cultural heritage of tea culture, fostering a deeper understanding and transmission of this cultural legacy.

During the tea ceremony, the students took turns to exhibit their learning outcomes, presenting the art of green tea, black tea, and Pu’er tea. They also made teas for the teachers and fellow students. In the tea-brewing competition, each student from the tea art class showcased their tea-brewing skills. Ms. Xu tasted their teas and made judgement, determining the winner of the competition.

This tea ceremony provided an excellent summary for the Tea Art course of this semester. Through practical activities, students received professional guidance in tea art, immersed themselves in the charm of traditional Chinese culture, and forged connections with like-minded friends, enhancing mutual communication. We hope the students from the two academies will pay attention to etiquette, nurture a deep love for life, and cultivate their character in the process of enjoying aesthetic pleasures.