苏说文化之中国茶文化(英文版)
Chinese Tea Culture
中国茶文化
China is the original producer of tea, and tea-drinking is an indispensible part of Chinese culture. The custom has spread over to Europe and many other regions through cultural exchange via the ancient "Silk Road" and other channels of trade.
With distinct regional features, various kinds of tea trees, and different tea processing methods, China has developed many types of teas, such as Black Tea, Green Tea, Scented Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea, Lump Tea, and so forth.
First appearing as early as 5,000 years ago, Green Tea is the oldest category of Chinese Tea. The original processing of the tea was quite simple, either boiling the fresh tea leaves, or sun-drying them for future use. While the procedures and equipment of processing have changed a lot over time, the taste of the unfermented and slightly oxidized Green Tea still remain the same as that created by our ancient ancestors.
Tea Ceremony, including a whole set of etiquette, like preparing tea, appreciating tea, smelling tea, and drinking tea, is a Chinese life style, which contains the wisdom of oriental philosophy, and reflects the central ideas of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism. Through the ceremony, Chinese people have cultivated their moral virtues of sincerity, aesthetics, harmoniousness and respectfulness, which are the core of Chinese Tea Culture.
Tea Ceremony originates in China but has been more popular in Japan since it was introduced during South Song Dynasty. Since Yuan dynasty, Tea Ceremony has not been that favored anymore in China. Tea Ceremony today, however, is better represented by Japan indeed.
In 2022，Chinese Tea was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the UNESCO. The best protection is inheritance. It is the sacred duty for us Chinese to protect Chinese Tea Culture and let the Tea Ceremony go home.
中国，是茶叶的原产地。饮茶，是中国文化不可或缺的部分。古代“丝绸之路”和其他贸易渠道的文化交流，让中国人的饮茶习俗传播到欧洲和许多其他地区。
中国丰富的地域特色、众多的茶树种类，以及各异的加工方法，成就了各种各样的茶叶，如红茶、绿茶、花茶、乌龙茶、白茶、砖茶等。
早在5000年前，中国就出现了绿茶，它是最古老的茶叶种类。绿茶最初的加工非常简单，要么直接用新鲜的茶树叶泡茶，要么晒干备用。虽然加工程序和设备随着时间的推移发生了很大变化，但未经发酵只是轻微氧化的绿茶，其味道和我们祖先加工的绿茶如出一辙。
茶道，是一套完整的沏茶、赏茶、闻茶、饮茶礼仪，它是中国人的一种生活方式，蕴含着东方的哲学智慧，体现了儒释道三家的核心思想。通过茶道，中国人形成了诚、美、和、敬的道德品质，这就是茶文化的核心。
茶道，虽然起源于中国，但自南宋传入日本以后，在日本备受欢迎。到了元代，中国人已不像往日那样热衷茶道，而日本茶道反而成了正统。
2022年，中国茶被联合国教科文组织列入《人类非物质文化遗产代表作名录》。最好的保护就是传承，保护中国茶文化，让茶道回家，是当代中国人的神圣职责。
