Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, there was an old Tea seller who, at the age of 57, practiced the path of enlightenment through tea. He brought his own tea utensils to sell tea around Xiangguo Temple.

He built the Immortal Pass Pavilion, hung a tea flag, set up a tea stove, and placed a bamboo tube with the words inscribed on it: “A hundred taels is not too much, half a coin is not too little, drinking for free is also fine, just no change given.”

Afterward, the tea seller's reputation soared, and his door was always filled with guests. Opportunists desperately collected all sorts of his utensils. However, before he passed away, the tea seller burned all of his tea wares into ashes.

His actions and life philosophy inspired the creative passion of literati and poets of the time, exerting a tremendous influence on tea enthusiasts, painters, and poets of the era.

This “Diagram of the Tea Utensils of the Tea Seller” is a copy by Kuyang Kimura, depicting 33 tea implements used by the tea seller (Gao Youwai). They are finely painted and carved from wood, providing a glimpse into the general shapes and designs of ancient Tang and Song Dynasty utensils.

The original is housed in the Waseda University Library in Japan. Due to its popularity among domestic tea enthusiasts, this volume has been reproduced using modern xuan paper color printing technology and bound using traditional techniques, achieving a perfect presentation of this masterpiece.

Stove Niche: A small alcove for placing a stove.

Storage Basket: After tea consumption, all the tea implements are stored here for future use.

Hasty Burner: Also known as a hasty need, it is a vessel for boiling tea or warming wine.

Copper Stove: Used for lighting fires to boil tea, made from wrought iron or clay stoves can be used as substitutes.

Ladle: Most often made from a gourd. Used for ladling water.

Pouring Jug: An ancient Han Chinese wine vessel made from metal or porcelain. It can sit within a pouring bowl. Originating in late Tang Dynasty, it became popular during the Song and Yuan periods, serving to keep the contents warm.

Money Tube: A container for storing ancient coins, typically made from bamboo.

Black Casket: Its purpose is unclear, but based on the text, it seems to be a receptacle for waste materials.

Tea Canister: A canister for storing tea leaves, made from tin. Tin is used due to its stable nature and good sealability, making it suitable for tea storage.

Blowpipe: A pipe used to blow on the fire when starting the stove. It is an essential tea utensil for street vendors selling tea.

Dust Rug: A rug used for laying or covering.

Waste Receptacle: Also known as a water receptacle, it is a vessel for holding used tea leaves and wastewater.

Shoulder Pole: Similar to a yoke, used for carrying loads.

Money Tube: Bamboo tubes of various sizes used for storing money.

Water Jug: A jug for pouring water.

Tiled Stove: As the name suggests, a stove made from tiles used for boiling tea.

Charcoal Basket: A container for holding charcoal, usually made from bamboo strips with an inner layer of black oiled paper.

Small Stove: A stove for lighting fires.

Carrying Basket: A basket for storing miscellaneous items.

Stove Cover: A bamboo basket placed over a stove to act as a barrier and protection.

Pouring Jug: An ancient wine jug made from metal or porcelain. It can sit within a pouring bowl.

Charcoal Hammer: A hammer used for breaking charcoal.

Roasting Hook: Also known as a tea roaster, it is a bamboo basket wrapped in reed leaves. The reed leaves have the effect of controlling heat, preventing the tea from turning yellow. When roasting tea, a low flame is required.

Wastewater Vessel: A vessel for holding discarded tea water.

Display Stand: Used for displaying tea utensils, now commonly referred to as a tea stand.

Tea Flag: Similar to today's shop signs, used to attract customers.

Tea Caddy: A container for storing tea leaves. In Japan, it is called a cha-ire or tea heart pot.