The China History Podcast

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The History of Tea (Part 6) Dec 28, 2014

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In the post-Lu Yu world, tea starts to take off like a rocket. It will take a little longer for tea to get the needed traction in Japan, but during the Tang, the Japanese get to see it and appreciate it up close. We'll also look at one of the early "Tea Persons", the poet and recluse Lu Tong, as well as one of his most famous tea poems, "Seven Bowls of Tea". Now that tea had caught on in society, people needed the various tea accouterments. This is where teaware starts to evolve, and we'll look at Yue ware and Xing ware, two of the earliest styles of teacups.

The History of Tea (Part 5) Dec 20, 2014

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We looked at Lu Yu last time and all that he did to popularize the merits of tea in the Tang Dynasty. This time, we give a once-over to his masterpiece, The Cha Jing 茶经 or Classic of Tea. The national popularity of tea in China really catches fire after Lu Yu shows everyone how to enjoy it and enjoy life at the same time. As far as the popularity and necessity of tea in the life of people acquainted with the beverage, it's never the same after this.

The History of Tea (Part 4) Dec 13, 2014

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Thank you for your patience. In this fourth installment of the history of tea, we finally make it to the immortal Tea Saint. Lu Yu 陆羽. What Elvis was to rock n' roll, Lu Yu was to the popularity of tea in Chinese society. Here we'll look at his interesting life and his work, "The Classic of Tea" 茶经. From here on out, tea 茶 is no longer tú 荼, and neither is it bitter.

The History of Tea (Part 3) Dec 06, 2014

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After centuries of trial and error, tea starts to transform from a bitter medicinal brew into something worthy of presenting to the emperor as tribute. Tea's development during the 326 years of the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907 AD) is introduced this time. Not only do the people of China embrace tea. Those people who surrounded China to the north and to the west also took a quick liking to this drink. The important role tea played in Tibet and other border regions is also discussed, as well as the fabled trade route known as the ancient Tea-Horse Road 茶马古道.

The Tea Saint, Lu Yu will be saved for the next episode. Be sure to come back again.

The History of Tea (Part 2) Nov 30, 2014

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Tea might not have tasted so great in Shen Nong's time and for a thousand years thereafter. But progress was being made and tea's evolution starts to make some headway in China's Bronze Age that began around 2000 BC. But tea remained one bitter brew during these earliest centuries. It remained a work in progress but showed tremendous promise (as we'll see in future episodes)

The History of Tea (Part 1) Nov 21, 2014

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In this first episode, we'll explore tea's ancient and humble beginnings in the Ba 巴国 and Shu 蜀国 States in today's Sichuan province. We'll also look at the mythical story of the discovery of tea by the Divine Farmer, Shen Nong. We have a long way to go as far as tea's history is concerned. The teas we love and enjoy today, a few millennia ago in Shen Nong's time, also still had a long way to go. Over the next twenty episodes, we'll look at the history of Chinese tea and how it transformed into a beverage that many of us couldn't do without.

Ep. 139 | Sir Edmund Backhouse (Part 3) Jul 24, 2014

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In this episode, we will conclude our CHP overview of the life of Sir Edmund Backhouse, 2nd Baronet. In this 3rd part of the series, we'll look at the last couple of decades of Backhouse's life. Backhouse remains in Beijing amidst all the turmoil going on during the Japanese invasion and the lead-up to WWII. In his final years, Backhouse will write a memoir that will engrave his name forever in the footnotes of Chinese history.

The Strange Life of Sir Edmund Backhouse Jul 24, 2014

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In this episode, we look at the life of the Sinologist Sir Edmund Backhouse.

Let me just say that this episode from 2014 never really got the downloads I expected. This is one of my favorite stories from the CHP. I hope you'll give it a chance. This guy was quite eccentric and was a genuine character.

Ep. 137 | Sir Edmund Backhouse (Part 1) Jul 24, 2014

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In this episode, we will begin a 3-part series covering the life of Sir Edmund Trelawny Backhouse, 2nd Baronet. He lived from 1873 to 1944, spending more than half his life in Beijing. Backhouse is best known for the various frauds he committed over the period of his life. In his last year of life, he was urged by Dr. Reinhard Hoeppli to commit the fantastical stories of his life to paper.

Wong Chin Foo Jun 28, 2014

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I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea in 2021 to resurrect this old episode from mid-2014 that tells the story of Wong Chin Foo (王清福). His spirit is alive and well in many of today's Chinese-Americans who are standing up to anti-Asian sentiment across the country. Like Wing Chin Foo did in the 1870s and 80's, Chinese-American community leaders and citizens are not standing idly by and are fighting back. Wong Chin Foo's story is a good one to listen to. One of my favorite episodes.

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