S1110 A Cultural History of Tea
Why study tea? The short answer is because it is important. Tea is, after water, the most widely consumed beverage on the planet. During its long history, tea has spread from its birthplace in southern China to every corner of the earth. At present, tea is grown in more than forty-one countries and enjoyed on a daily basis by hundreds of millions of people. It is estimated that more than 1.5 billion cups of tea are drunk every day around the world. But tea is more than just a drink, for this simple but unique plant has played a significant role in the history and the social and cultural life of numerous countries, both East and West. Tea has left its mark on every civilization with which it has come into contact. It is not an exaggeration to say that tea has made a contribution to world history far out of proportion to its original, primary function.
Different people have adapted and utilized tea in various ways, depending on their country of origin, social and religious background, and cultural customs. For many, if not most, tea drinkers, the beverage is simply a beverage, something to quench one\'s thirst with or to enjoy certain types of food with. But in certain countries tea, and the rituals surrounding the drinking of tea, became imbued with a deeper meaning and, in fact, took on a significant cultural role. Here I am mainly thinking of tea and its history in the countries of East Asia: China (and Taiwan), Korea, and Japan. It was in those countries that tea acquired a philosophical and aesthetic foundation. In addition, tea began to influence, directly as well as indirectly, such spheres of culture as literature, art, ceramics, architecture, garden design, and cuisine.
In this course, we will examine tea as a drink as well as a social and cultural phenomenon. At the beginning of the semester, we will do several things. First of all, we will discuss the basic scientific information concerning tea leaves, move on to the standard classification of tea types, and then take up the topic of tea and health. Next we will survey the long history of tea, from its earliest beginnings down to the present day. This will entail looking at tea and tea culture in the major tea-drinking countries of the world. Along the way, we will discover the role played by tea in several earth-shaking events in the history of the modern world. Later in the semester, we will focus on China and Japan, two countries with tea traditions that are both inherently interesting and culturally important. In order to make the tea cultures in those two countries come alive, I will give a demonstration of a Chinese tea ceremony and a Japanese tea ceremony. Students will thus have a chance to experience and hopefully appreciate the ritual of tea as currently practiced in both countries. Finally, we will spend a session discussing a classic Japanese film and a famous Japanese novel, both of which revolve around the tea ceremony. During the final class, we will look at the overall significance of tea culture.
In short, we will intensively study tea—its history, its ceremonies, and its appreciation.\r\n
Different people have adapted and utilized tea in various ways, depending on their country of origin, social and religious background, and cultural customs. For many, if not most, tea drinkers, the beverage is simply a beverage, something to quench one\'s thirst with or to enjoy certain types of food with. But in certain countries tea, and the rituals surrounding the drinking of tea, became imbued with a deeper meaning and, in fact, took on a significant cultural role. Here I am mainly thinking of tea and its history in the countries of East Asia: China (and Taiwan), Korea, and Japan. It was in those countries that tea acquired a philosophical and aesthetic foundation. In addition, tea began to influence, directly as well as indirectly, such spheres of culture as literature, art, ceramics, architecture, garden design, and cuisine.
In this course, we will examine tea as a drink as well as a social and cultural phenomenon. At the beginning of the semester, we will do several things. First of all, we will discuss the basic scientific information concerning tea leaves, move on to the standard classification of tea types, and then take up the topic of tea and health. Next we will survey the long history of tea, from its earliest beginnings down to the present day. This will entail looking at tea and tea culture in the major tea-drinking countries of the world. Along the way, we will discover the role played by tea in several earth-shaking events in the history of the modern world. Later in the semester, we will focus on China and Japan, two countries with tea traditions that are both inherently interesting and culturally important. In order to make the tea cultures in those two countries come alive, I will give a demonstration of a Chinese tea ceremony and a Japanese tea ceremony. Students will thus have a chance to experience and hopefully appreciate the ritual of tea as currently practiced in both countries. Finally, we will spend a session discussing a classic Japanese film and a famous Japanese novel, both of which revolve around the tea ceremony. During the final class, we will look at the overall significance of tea culture.
In short, we will intensively study tea—its history, its ceremonies, and its appreciation.\r\n
Goals of the Course:
(1) To provide students with a comprehensive knowledge of tea, its role in culture, and its role in history.
(2) To help students gain an appreciation of tea in its several major forms by actually participating in tea ceremonies.
Syllabus
Evaluation
Readings
Evaluation
Readings