Differences between Chinese and British Tea Culture.doc

Differences between Chinese and British Tea CultureA Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillmentof the Requirements forthe Degree of Bachelor of ArtsBy 本人名字Under the Supervision ofLecturer 导师名字# CollegeofInner Mongolia April 2011中英茶文化差异摘要茶作为中国传统文化的重要组成部分，具有悠久的历史。中国是茶的故乡，是最早发现和饮用茶的国家。茶在十六世纪中叶传到欧洲，传入英国后，饮茶在英国颇为盛行，形成了独特的英国茶文化。如今茶已遍布世界各地，所产生的茶文化也不尽相同，甚至在一些国家和地区成为社会风俗和民族文化的一部分。本文对中英的茶文化进行了对比，最后总结出了中英茶文化存在的差异。论文第一部分是对文章的总体介绍。第二部分介绍了中国的茶的历史和文化以及中国的茶道。通过阅读本文章，读者可以更进一步了解中国的传统文化。文章第三部分对英国的茶文化和英式的茶道进行介绍。第四章重点从四个方面论述中国茶文化和英国茶文化的差异，得出中国茶文化以及英国茶文化所体现的不同的精神内涵。文化和礼仪是分不开的，不同的文化会通过不同的礼仪有所体现，了解不同国家的文化，吸取文化精华和优点，了解文化的差异，都将有利于更好地进行跨文化交际。关键词：茶文化；茶道；文化差异；跨文化交际Differences between Chineseand British Tea CultureAbstractTea is one important part of Chinese traditional cultures，and it has a long history. China, the first country discovering and drinking tea, is the homeland of tea. Tea spread to Europe in the middle of the sixteenth century. Since tea was introduced to the United Kingdom, tea drinking has been quite prevalent among the British people, thus a unique British tea culture was developed. Nowadays tea spreads to all over the world. Diverse tea cultures come into being. In some countries and regions, it has already become part of the social custom and culture. In this paper, it first elaborates tea culture in China and Britain, and finally sums up differences of tea culture between the two countries. The first section is a brief introduction. Chapter two is about the history and culture of tea in China, and Chinese tea ceremony. From these introductions you can better understand Chinese traditional culture. The third part is about British tea culture and British-style tea ceremony. Chapter four focuses on differences between British and Chinese tea culture, which has been discussed from four aspects. In the end, their different connotations have been revealed. Culture and ritual are inseparable, and different cultures will be reflected by different manners. Understanding the culture of different countries, and learning their cultural essence and advantages are conducive to cross-cultural exchange.Key words: tea culture; tea ceremony; cultural differences; cross-cultural exchangeContentsChapter 1 Introduction. 1Chapter 2 Chinese Tea Culture and Etiquette.22.1 History of Tea in China .2 2.2 Tea Culture in China.22.3 China The Original Tea Ceremony.3Chapter3 British Tea Culture and Etiquette.53.1 Tea Culture in Britain.5 3.2 English Tea Ceremony. 63.2.1 English Tea Ritual .63.2.2 Afternoon Tea .63.2.3 High Tea .7Chapter 4 Differences of Tea Culture.8 4.1 Different Starting Time of Drinking Tea.8 4.2 Different Tea Drinking Cultures .9 4.3 Differences of Tea Etiquette .10 4.4 Differences of Teahouse Culture .11 4.5 Different Social Influences .13Chapter 5 Conclusion .14Notes.15Bibliography.16Acknowledgements.17Chapter 1 IntroductionTea culture is defined by the way tea is made and consumed; by the way people interact with tea, and by the aesthetics surrounding tea drinking. Tea is a customary drink worldwide. In Asian countries, drinking tea is an ancient tradition accompanied by a highly developed tea-based culture which is tied to art and local customs. Among Russians and Eastern Mediterranean inhabitants, tea became a prevalent drink long after the flourishing tea culture developed in China, and yet many years before Europeans tasted it for the first time. The tea ceremonies are the crowning glory of the tea culture. They set it apart and glorify it and give a symbolic meaning to the importance of tea in society and local culture. Tea ceremonies which have been preserved from ancient times open a window to distant cultures and ancient customs which have assimilated into various traditions and accompanied them up until today. In many cultures, tea is often drunk at high class social events, and many cultures have created intricate formal ceremonies for these events. Western examples are afternoon tea and the tea party. In the east, tea ceremonies differ among countries, it may be consumed early in the day to heighten alertness; it contains theophylline and bound caffeine. There are tea ceremonies which have arisen in different cultures. Chinese tea ceremony uses some traditional ways of brewing tea. One form of Chinese tea ceremony is the Gongfu tea ceremony, which typically uses small Yixing clay teapots and oolong tea. Different regions also favor different varieties of tea, black, green, or oolong, and use different flavorings, such as milk, sugar or herbs. The temperature and strength of the tea likewise vary widely. Some tea cultures in China have e been flourishing for such a long time, it is crucial to first date back to the ancient times and review the origin and development of tea culture on this beautiful land.Chapter 2 Chinese Tea Culture and Etiquette2.1 History of Tea in ChinaAs we all know, China is the hometown of tea culture. The history of tea in China is long and complex. The Chinese have enjoyed tea for millennia. Scholars hailed the brew as a cure for a variety of ailments; the nobility considered the consumption of good tea as a mark of their status, and the common people simply enjoyed its flavor.Tea was first discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shennong in 2737 BC. It is said that the emperor liked his drinking water boiled before he drank it so it would be clean, so that is what his servants did. One day, on a trip to a distant region, he and his army stopped to rest. A servant began boiling water for him to drink, and a dead leaf from the wild tea bush fell into the water. It turned a brownish color, but it was unnoticed and presented to the emperor anyway. The emperor drank it and found it very refreshing, and tea was born. While historically the origin of tea as a medicinal herb useful for staying awake is unclear. The Han Dynasty used tea as medicine. The use of tea as a beverage drunk for pleasure on social occasions dates from the Tang Dynasty or earlier. Chinese tea was primarily used as a medicine before the 8th century B.C. During the spring and Autumn Period, Chinese people chewed tea leaves and enjoyed the taste of the juice itself. In the next stage, Chinese tea was cooked like a soup. Tea leaves were eaten along with the soup. Tea leaves were even mixed with food. Ancient Chinese books documented that tea was eaten and used with other spices to cook.2.2 Tea Culture in ChinaJust as coffee became a part of daily life in the West, tea became a part of daily life in China. One can see teahouses scattered on the streets of China, much like cafes on the streets of the West. The Chinese have such a close relationship with tea that a new culture relating to tea began to rise in China. Tea Culture includes articles, poems, pictures about tea, the art of making and drinking tea, and some customs about tea. Tea plays an important role in Chinese social life. Tea is always offered to a guest immediately upon entering a Chinese home. Serving a cup of tea is more than a matter of mere politeness. It is a symbol of togetherness, a sharing of something enjoyable, and a way of showing respect to visitors. In some areas of China, it might be considered rude not to take at least a sip.Due to the importance of tea in Chinese society and culture, tea houses can be found in most Chinese neighborhoods and business districts. Chinese-style tea houses offer dozens of varieties of hot and cold tea concoctions. They also serve a variety of tea-friendly and tea-related snacks. Beginning in the late afternoon, the typical Chinese tea house quickly becomes packed with students and business people, and later at night plays host to insomniacs and night owls simply looking for a place to relax.The art of drinking and serving tea plays a major cultural role in China. It inspires poetry and songs. Mutual love of tea cements lifelong friendship. For centuries, the ritual of preparing and serving tea has had a special place in the hearts and minds of Chinese aristocracy, court officials, intellectuals and poets.2.3 China The Original Tea CeremonyA tea ceremony is a ritualized form of making tea. One can also refer to the whole set of rituals, tools, gestures, etc. used in such ceremonies as tea culture. All of these tea ceremonies and rituals contain “artificiality, abstractness, symbolism and formalism” to one degree or another. At a very basic level, tea ceremonies are a formalized way of making a hot drink, in a process which has been refined to yield the best taste. The tea ceremony reflects the search for beauty in every object of the world. The ceremony must be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and induce a sense of tranquility and harmony among the participants.We all know that it is very important to brew Chinese- style .After heating water to boiling; the teapot first is rinsed with hot water. Using chopsticks or a bamboo tea scoop, fill teapot approximately 1/3 full with tea leaves and then pour boiling water into the pot. Hold the teapot over a large bowl, letting the overflow run into the bowl. Give the tea leaves a rinse by filling the pot half full with hot water, then draining the water out immediately, leaving only the soaked tea leaves. Now fill the pot to the top with more hot water, cover and pour additional water over the teapot resting in the tea bowl. Do not allow bubbles to form in the pot. When mixed with the tea, bubbles form the foam that is not aesthetically pleasing. Be sure to not let the tea steep too long; the first infusion should be steeped for only 30 seconds. In less than a minute, pour the tea into the cups by moving the teapot around in a continual motion over the cups so that they are filled together. Each cup should taste exactly the same. After steeping, the tea can be poured into a second teapot or tea pitcher to be served at leisure. More water can be added to the teapot, and up to five infusions typically can be made from the same tea leaves. Be sure to add 10 more seconds for the second brewing and 15 additional seconds thereafter. Each pot of tea serves three to four rounds and up to five or six, depending on the tea and the server. The goal is that each round tastes the same as the first. China attached great importance to the spirit of tea ceremony. The Chinese tea ceremony is the most ancient ceremony and plays a central role in Chinese culture. The tea is the heart of the ceremony: the host and ceremony participants smell the tea, taste it and enjoy the many layers of taste discovered with every mouthful.Chapter 3 British Tea Culture and Etiquette3.1 Tea Culture in BritainBritain is the second largest tea consumer per capita in the world, with each person consuming on average 2.1 kg per year. The popularity of tea dates back to the 19th century when India was part of the British Empire, and British interests controlled tea production in the subcontinent. It was, however, first introduced in Britain by Catherine of Braganza, queen consort of Charles II of England in the 1660s and 1670s. As tea spread throughout the United Kingdom people started to have tea gardens and tea dances. These would include watching fireworks or a dinner party and dance, concluding with a nice evening tea. Black tea is usually served with milk (never cream) and sometimes with sugar. Strong tea served with lots of milk and often two teaspoons of sugar, usually in a mug, is commonly referred to as builders tea. Much of the time in the United Kingdom, tea drinking is not the delicate, refined cultural expression that the rest of the world imaginesa cup of tea is something drunk often, with some people drinking as much as six cups of tea a day. This is not to say that the British do not have a more formal tea ceremony, but for the working class of the United Kingdom, tea breaks are an essential part of any day. Employers generally allow breaks for tea and sometimes biscuits to be served. There used to be a tradition of tea rooms in the UK which provided the traditional fare of cream and jam on scones, a combination commonly known as cream tea. However, these establishments have declined in popularity since World War II. In Devon and Cornwall particularly, cream teas are a specialty. Tea shops and Lyons Corner Houses were a successful chain of such establishments. It is a common misconception that cream tea refers to tea served with cream. This is certainly not the case. It simply means that tea is served with a scone with clotted cream and jam.3.2 English Tea CeremonyAs we all know, the concept of English tea ceremony was first introduced by the Japanese culture as part of their tradition. From the introduction of the tea ceremony in Japan, the popularity of tea continued to travel until it reached England. So for that, it is not amazing that many of the English especially those who are really tea drinkers still practice the Japanese tea ceremony. This is also associated with the English tea party or the English tea time. As such, this is involved some gatherings and since it is an “English tea ceremony” the tea is at the center stage.3.2.1 English Tea RitualEven very slightly formal events can be a cause for cups and saucers to be used instead of mugs. A typical semi-formal British tea ritual might run as follows.1. The kettle is boiled and water poured into a tea pot. 2. Water is swirled around the pot to warm it and then poured out.3. Loose tea leavesnowadays often tea bags or the dust from a ripped-open tea bagis then added to the pot.4. Water is added to the pot and allowed to brew for several minutes while a tea cosy is placed on the pot to keep the tea warm.5. Milk may be added to the tea cup, the host asking the guest if milk is wanted, although milk may alternatively be added after the tea is poured.6. A tea strainer, like a miniature sieve, is placed over the top of the cup and the tea poured in.7. The straight black tea is