Tea and the Chinese Society in the Song Dynasty

This book, for the first time, comprehensively examines the relationship between tea and various aspects of social life in the Song Dynasty, pioneering a new field in the study of Song history. In the field of tea culture research, it is the first to clearly point out that the method of tea whisking was the dominant tea art form in Song society, elucidating the unique position of Song Dynasty tea culture in the history of Chinese culture. The book also proposes new insights based on historical materials regarding the close internal connection between the highly prosperous tea culture of the Song Dynasty and the systems of tribute tea and imperial tea bestowal, as well as the special origins of Japanese tea ceremony in relation to Song Dynasty tea culture.