As the summer heat intensifies, the desire to find relief from the sweltering temperatures becomes a prevalent theme. Ancients once said, “How to dispel the summer’s heat, by sitting calmly in the courtyard.” In the midst of scorching summer days, it is better to quietly sit at a tea table, brewing and tasting tea, and enjoying the tranquility.
The evolution of the Chinese tea table has a long history, evolving from tea mats, tea beds, tea stools, to tea tables. Initially, ancient people sat on the ground, known as tea mats. Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Ji mentioned “mountain opens, stool bamboo pavilion, monk arrives, tea bed comes out,” thus the term tea bed came into being, similar to today’s tea stool. In Emperor Huizong of Song’s painting ‘The Assembly of Literati,’ there is a small black square lacquer table, beside which a group of servants are preparing tea. The tea table in the painting appears relatively low, with slender legs and a simple yet elegant design. Although seemingly ordinary, it is very classic.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the selection of materials for tea tables was strict, the shapes were aesthetically pleasing, and the carvings were exquisite, making the tea table not only a daily item but also a craft with appreciation value. Today, in the developed commercial society, more design concepts and elements that conform to modern aesthetics, tea drinking, and social habits have been integrated on the basis of traditional tea tables, enriching the variety of tea tables.
Chinese tea tables are mainly made of rosewood, and the types of tea tables vary according to the materials used. The top-tier materials include Laotian red sandalwood, Indian rosewood, and Hainan yellow rosewood, while the fine selections include Burmese rosewood and Bali yellow sandalwood. For those with a cost-effective choice, there are hedgehog rosewood and chicken-wing wood.
If classified by style, tea tables can be divided into traditional and new Chinese styles. Traditional furniture can be further divided into Ming style and Qing style. Ming style tea tables feature simple shapes and smooth lines, embodying the extreme of “one stroke too many is excessive, one stroke too few is insufficient.” Qing style tea tables, on the other hand, are often adorned with carvings, exuding a sense of grandeur and solemnity. New Chinese style tea tables integrate more modern elements and are not limited to wood as their material; rock slabs, acrylic, and metal can also be used, adding a touch of modernity to the originally rustic tea tables.
What makes a good tea table? A good tea table is not only for tasting tea but also for appreciating the fragrance of time. One can choose tea tables of different styles according to personal preferences. Of course, it should also be based on the style of the tea room, with suitable size, dimensions, and color. A tea room with a tea table that is too large will appear crowded; too small, and it lacks presence.
If the color is too contrasting with the tea room’s style, it will appear chaotic and not conducive to tranquility. Regardless of the style, the tea table should be robust and vigorous, with character, not too bulky, which would be shapeless, nor too thin, which would appear sickly. A good rosewood tea table has clear wood grain patterns that, upon close inspection, resemble naturally painted pictures with profound artistic conception.Crafted with an integrated mortise-tenon structure, these tea sets are devoid of nails, ensuring their durability and longevity, capable of being passed down for centuries, even millennia. The design is symmetrical and robust, offering stability and balance.
During the sweltering summer heat, drinking tea serves as a refreshing respite. As the temperature rises, people tend to sweat and become thirsty, necessitating the replenishment of fluids and trace elements. Tea is not just a thirst-quenching beverage; it is rich in beneficial compounds such as polyphenols and amino acids. Moreover, high temperatures can lead to irritability. Drinking tea can calm the mind and provide relief from the heat. The process of making tea, from boiling water, warming the utensils, adding tea leaves, brewing, pouring, serving, to tasting, is filled with a sense of ritual. It allows one to focus solely on the act of tea-making, setting aside the complexities of the world, and achieving a sense of inner peace and tranquility. The Tang Dynasty poet Lu Tong’s ‘Seven Bowls of Tea’ poem encapsulates this experience: ‘The first bowl moistens the throat, the second bowl breaks loneliness. The third bowl searches the dry intestines, the fourth bowl induces a light sweat. The fifth bowl cleanses the flesh and bones, the sixth bowl connects with the divine. The seventh bowl is too much, only leaving a feeling of a gentle breeze rising from the armpits.’ When the heat is unbearable, brewing a pot of tea, whether sipping alone or sharing with friends, allows one to quietly appreciate the aroma of tea. As the warm tea liquid travels from the mouth to the throat, it transforms into a stream of clear energy, soothing the heart and cooling the hot summer.
