Su Shi's Tea Lyrics

As a famous literati of the Song Dynasty, Su Shi wrote many beloved poems and lyrics. Among them are numerous excellent works that use tea as the subject of praise. One is selected here.

Moon over the West River

The dragon tea cakes this year are supreme,
The valley spring has been precious since ancient times.
Snow bud from Shuangjing disperses like immortals,
Its lineage comes from Beiyuan.

Brewed, it produces cloudy white richness,
In the cup float light, round flower-like froth.
Who in this world dares to compete in elegance?
It vies with the pink faces by red windows.

This lyric delicately and vividly depicts the form of tea liquor, wonderfully expressing the beautiful sensations of the tea tasting process.

The Song Dynasty was a peak period for poetry, and there were many lyrics with tea as their content. Famous poets like Huang Tingjian, Su Shi, and Qin Guan all have poetic works about tea. Among them, Huang Tingjian's "Pin Ling" is quite renowned.

Pin Ling

Huang Tingjian

Phoenix dancing, round cake.
Resent its division, leaving it lonely.
The golden channel pure in form,
Slowly ground by the wheel,
Jade dust glowing bright.
The sound of boiling water like wind in pines,
Already reduces two-tenths of wine sickness.
Flavor strong, fragrance lasting.
The road to the land of drunk becomes a beautiful scene.
Just like under the lamp,
An old friend from ten thousand miles away,
Returns to face my shadow.
Mouth cannot speak,
Heart feels joyful and self-aware.

This lyric begins by describing the preciousness of the dragon-phoenix cake tea. "Division" refers to the emperor bestowing a small amount upon his ministers, showing its rarity. The three lines about "golden channel" describe the fine processing and pure quality; the powdered tea is jade-like and luminous. Brewed with good water, the boiling sounds like pine waves. The tea aroma assails the senses; without even tasting it, one's drunkenness has already lessened somewhat.

The final lines blend the indescribable, only-to-be-sensed feelings with tea tasting, skillfully and aptly, leaving much food for thought.

Lu Yu, styled Hongjian, was from Jingling, Fuzhou (now Tianmen, Hubei) in the Tang Dynasty. He loved tea all his life, excelled in the art of tea, and became famous for his book "The Classic of Tea," later honored as the "Tea Sage."

The Tang Dynasty poet Huangfu Ran's "Seeing Lu Hongjian Off to Pick Tea at Qixia Temple" depicts the "Tea Sage" Lu Yu picking and drinking tea in the wild mountains.

Attached original text:

Seeing Lu Hongjian Off to Pick Tea at Qixia Temple

Huangfu Ran

Picking tea, not picking ferns,
Far away, climbing the high cliffs.
Leaves spread in the warm spring breeze,
Basket filled as the sun slants.
Knowing well the mountain temple path,
Often lodging in rustic homes.
May I ask, noble grass,
When will your delicate flowers bloom?

Du Fu's Tea Poem

Revisiting the He Family (Five Poems, Selected One)

Du Fu

On the platform in the setting sun,
Sipping fine tea in the spring breeze.
Leaning on the stone rail, I dip my brush askew,
Sitting, composing poems on paulownia leaves.
Kingfishers sing on the clothes rack,
Dragonflies perch on the fishing line.
Since encountering today's delight,
Such visits may have no fixed time.

This poem describes a spring evening where the author drinks tea on the He family's platform. Inspired, he leans against the stone rail and writes poems on paulownia leaves. Nearby, kingfishers sing and dragonflies lightly alight. This scene sketches an elegant "Picture of Composing Poems While Sipping Tea."

Bamboo

Zheng Banqiao of the Qing Dynasty was famous for painting bamboo. Throughout his life's creations in calligraphy and painting, there are many works praising bamboo and savoring tea. One inscribed poem on a painting reads:

No wind, no rain, just fine and clear,
The emerald bamboo stands tall, good joints and stems.
I love best when cool evening brings esteemed guests,
A pot of new tea brewed with Songluo.
A few new leaves, the rustling bamboo,
Several strokes sketching faint hills.
Just right, clear tea matches the Grain Rain season,
Sitting here with a cup of fragrant tea.

Zheng Banqiao liked to discuss tea drinking alongside calligraphy and painting. The state of mind for drinking tea and creating art often aligned perfectly. His poems and paintings frequently reveal this fresh content and unique style. Tea is an important part of it.