Tea and the Chinese Society in the Song Dynasty - by Dongmei Shen (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This book, for the first time, comprehensively examines the relationship between tea and various aspects of social life in the Song Dynasty, pioneering a new field in the study of Song history. In the field of tea culture research, it is the first to clearly point out that the method of tea whisking was the dominant tea art form in Song society, elucidating the unique position of Song Dynasty tea culture in the history of Chinese culture. The book also proposes new insights based on historical materials regarding the close internal connection between the highly prosperous tea culture of the Song Dynasty and the systems of tribute tea and imperial tea bestowal, as well as the special origins of Japanese tea ceremony in relation to Song Dynasty tea culture.

From the Back Cover

This book, for the first time, comprehensively examines the relationship between tea and various aspects of social life in the Song Dynasty, pioneering a new field in the study of Song history. In the field of tea culture research, it is the first to clearly point out that the method of tea whisking was the dominant tea art form in Song society, elucidating the unique position of Song Dynasty tea culture in the history of Chinese culture. The book also proposes new insights based on historical materials regarding the close internal connection between the highly prosperous tea culture of the Song Dynasty and the systems of tribute tea and imperial tea bestowal, as well as the special origins of Japanese tea ceremony in relation to Song Dynasty tea culture.

Dongmei Shen, Ph.D., Researcher at the Institute of Ancient History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Director of the Tea Culture Committee at the Chinese National Studies Research and Exchange Center, Founder and Director of the Chinese Tea Etiquette Group. Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the China International Tea Culture Research Association, and Deputy Director of the Tea Art Committee of the Chinese Tea Society. Expert accompanying the CCTV documentary series "The Tea Road," and Chief Expert for the eighth episode of the second season of "China in Books" on "The Classic of Tea. "Director of the Academic Committee of the Zen Tea Department at the Nanhai Buddhist College.

About the Author

Dongmei Shen, Ph.D., Researcher at the Institute of Ancient History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Director of the Tea Culture Committee at the Chinese National Studies Research and Exchange Center, Founder and Director of the Chinese Tea Etiquette Group. Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the China International Tea Culture Research Association, and Deputy Director of the Tea Art Committee of the Chinese Tea Society. Expert accompanying the CCTV documentary series "The Tea Road," and Chief Expert for the eighth episode of the second season of "China in Books" on "The Classic of Tea. "Director of the Academic Committee of the Zen Tea Department at the Nanhai Buddhist College.