Our newly launched two Pu'er tea cakes feature the cover design of "Auspicious Cranes," a painting by Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, in commemoration of this controversial and debated emperor in Chinese history. The painting depicts a flock of cranes flying above Xuande Gate in Bianjing (Kaifeng), the capital of Northern Song Dynasty at the time, a symbol of auspiciousness. It is one of Emperor Huizong's representative works, excelling in poetry, calligraphy, and painting, and is currently housed in the Liaoning Provincial Museum.
Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) (1082-1135) was the eighth emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty, reigning for 25 years (1100-1125). He was a "misplaced" emperor, highly accomplished in art but a major failure in political governance. Later generations often commented that he was "capable in everything except being a ruler," considering him a highly talented scholar but ultimately responsible for the downfall of the nation.
Emperor Huizong made significant contributions to Chinese tea culture. He was not only a tea enthusiast but also its founder and leader.
He authored *Da Guan Cha Lun* (Treatise on Tea of the Da Guan Era), a tea treatise that meticulously records the entire process of tea cultivation, harvesting, processing, utensils, and tea-making techniques during the Northern Song Dynasty. This marked the pinnacle of Song Dynasty tea theory, leaving behind highly authoritative standards for craftsmanship. He also pioneered the "Seven-Infusion Method," detailing seven stages of water pouring in *Da Guan Cha Lun*. Each infusion varies in water volume, pressure, and rhythm, ultimately achieving a beautiful visual effect of "sparse stars and a bright moon, brilliantly emerging," elevating tea-making to an art form. Emperor Huizong of Song admired Jian ware teacups, believing that "the color of the cup is most precious in its bluish-black," and that the black-glazed Jian ware teacups from the Jian kilns of Fujian best complemented the beauty of white tea foam. Under his advocacy, Jian ware became the official standard vessel for tea-making in the Song Dynasty. As emperor, he frequently personally prepared tea for his officials at court banquets. This top-down promotion expanded tea-making from a courtly ritual into an elegant pursuit shared by literati, officials, and even commoners.
Below is a high-resolution digital version of this painting of auspicious cranes. Please enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment