Image analysed: Xiao Yi Trying To Swipe The Lanting Scroll

This video is about the role of Buddhism in influencing the social setting and tea ceremony. It highlights how social hierarchy was very pertinent during the Tang dynasty as depicted by the “high chair” culture but tea helped to bridge the differences between the monks and literati. Despite the lack of clear setting, the painting itself does showcase certain elements of the close relationship between Buddhism and tea.

Bibliography:

Benn, James A. 2015, “Buddhism and Tea during the Tang Dynasty,” in Tea in China: A Religious and Cultural History, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 59-68.

Laudan, Rachel. “Monks and Monasteries: Buddhism Transforms the Cuisine of China, 200 CE—850 CE,” Cuisine and Empire: Cooking in World History (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2013), Ch. 3: 171.

Other References:

Cranfill, Marisa. “6 reasons not to place a Buddha statue on the floor.” Elephant Journal, December 18, 2014. Accessed October 4, 2019. https://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/12/6-reasons-not-to-place-a-buddha-statue-on-the-floor/.

Heiss, Mary Lou and Robert J. Heiss. The Story of Tea: A Cultural History and Drinking Tea Guide. United States of America: Ten Speed Press, 2007. Google Books.

Lu Yu and Zheng Pei Kai. 茶道的开始：茶经Chadao de kaidao: chajing [The Classic of Tea]. Taiwan: Locus Publishing, 2012.

Song, Xiaoyan. “Yue Ware, Mother of Chinese Porcelain.” Chinatoday, December 12, 2017. Accessed October 3, 2019. http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/ctenglish/2018/cs/201812/t20181217_800151638.html.

Teatropolitan. “Chinese Teaware Throughout Dynasties.” Accessed October 4, 2019. https://teatropolitan.wordpress.com/tag/tang-dynasty/.