Tea as Nature, Tea as Power in Early Modern China
Tea and the Literati in the Ming Dynasty
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21829408 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hong Jiang (0000-0002-9299-5484, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 1 |
| Publication date | 2023-01-15 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Asian Culture and History (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1916-9655 • E-ISSN: 1916-9663 |
| Publisher | Canadian Center of Science and Education (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.5539/ach.v15n1p1 |
| OpenAlex | W4316591088 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 7 |
This paper explores the cultural meaning of tea drinking for the literati in the later part of the Ming dynasty (around 1500-1644), using the pair ideas of tea as representing a lifestyle close to nature, and tea as a powerful representation of tasteful life in the society. The dual meanings of tea reinforce each other for the Ming literati, giving them the means and outlets to bolster their self-expression and to distinguish their identity in the social-cultural context of limited career opportunities. I examine the role of tea in tea books, tea-themed paintings, and Ming literati’s engagement in tea clubs and other related activities. This paper contributes to dialogues at the intersections of nature, culture, and history by treating tea as a nature-culture object, highlighting that the pursuit of nature is itself a form of cultural power
Aesthetics · Archaeology · Art · China · Chinese tea · Epistemology · History of China · Social science · Sociology · Chinese history and philosophy · Culinary Culture and Tourism · History · Japanese History and Culture · Philosophy
| Unique citing works | 3 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 3 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |