During the sixteenth year of his reign, Emperor Qianlong first toured the south and arrived at Tianzhu, where he witnessed the busy scenes of Tea farmers picking and processing tea. Impressed, he composed a poem titled Observing the Picking of Tea.
△ Qing dynasty • Xu Yang's Emperor Qianlong's Southern Tour
The first two lines of the poem express a change in his view on tea picking, from dislike to love of watching it, and an appreciation for the industrious livelihood of farmers in Wu region. The poem delicately describes the careful picking of tender leaves and their timely processing, highlighting the hard work during the Guyu season and the wisdom with which farmers treat nature.
Six years later, Emperor Qianlong returned to Yunqi and witnessed the beauty of tea art, composing another Observing the Picking of Tea to commemorate the occasion.
In the twenty-seventh year of his reign:
Emperor Qianlong visited Longjing for the third time,
where he savored tea brewed at the top of Longjing,
leaving behind A Casual Composition While brewing Tea at Longjing.
The third stanza reads: Why bother boasting about the imperial Dragon-Sphere and Phoenix-Cake teas? The taste of Longjing has already permeated my heart, clearly indicating the status of Longjing tea in his mind. When Emperor Qianlong tasted Longjing tea in front of Hu Gong Temple on Lion Peak, he was delighted. Seeing that eighteen tea trees in front of the temple were sprouting new buds, he bestowed imperial seals upon them, designating them as “Imperial Tea,” appointing special attendants to oversee them and requiring annual tribute. The site of these “Imperial Tea” trees still exists today.
There is also a legend about filial piety concerning these eighteen imperial trees. Legend has it that once when Emperor Qianlong toured the south, he observed farmers making tea in front of Hu Gong Temple on Lion Peak, frequently picking up tea leaves to observe and taste. Suddenly, a eunuch reported that the Empress Dowager was unwell. Alarmed, Emperor Qianlong hastily put the tea leaves in his pocket and rushed back to the capital. Upon seeing her son's return, the Empress Dowager was very happy, and her illness had improved by more than half. It turned out that she was not seriously ill but had been missing her son who had been away for too long, causing her to become overheated. During their meeting, the Empress Dowager smelled a fragrant aroma emanating from Emperor Qianlong. After tracing the source for some time, she discovered that the fragrance came from the tea leaves Emperor Qianlong had hurriedly placed in his clothes. Emperor Qianlong quickly brewed tea for his mother, and its fragrant aroma filled the air. After drinking several sips, the Empress Dowager felt her liver fire dissipate, and she felt much better overall. Seeing his mother's recovery, Emperor Qianlong was very happy and immediately issued an edict designating the eighteen tea trees in front of Hu Gong Temple as Imperial Tea, to be picked annually and exclusively for the Empress Dowager's enjoyment.
In the thirtieth year of his reign:
Emperor Qianlong made his fourth southern tour,
returning to Longjing,
and penned Revisiting Longjing.
A thousand years ago, Emperor Qianlong
Made four trips south, composing many poems
To seek one piece of West Lake Longjing
A thousand years later, Zhejiang Tea Group
Remains committed to its origins, carefully picking and processing
To offer you a cup of exquisite tea
In the Qing Dynasty, the West Lake tea gardens entered the Longjing era
Longjing tea became a unique imperial tribute
Today, Zhejiang Tea Group collaborates with the Hangzhou Asian Games
Shifeng brand becomes the official designated tea
The unparalleled combination of time and place
Nurtures incomparable Longjing quality
The unfathomable filial piety of Emperor Qianlong
Continues the enduring legacy of the eighteen imperial tea trees
2024 West Lake Longjing Spring Tea
Zhejiang Shifeng:
Embeds craftsmanship and perseverance
In every leaf of Longjing tea
Nurtures the concept of “Exquisite Longjing Originates from Shifeng”
In every product of Longjing tea
Aiming to present you with a cup of exquisite tea
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