英语畅谈中国文化50主题 14

The Elegance¹ of Tea-Drinking

A: In classical novels, if someone drinks tea out of a big cup to quench² his thirst, the word used to illustrate³ this action is "drink", like a cow drinking water. Scholars would use fine cups to drink tea and the word to use is "savour".

B: Tea drinking is a very sophisticated pastime. It starts with the environment. In the past, tea drinking should take place in a setting where "spring water runs on marbles" or "in a monastery⁴ in misty⁵ spring" or "in the woods during sunset." Nowadays, in order to recreate such an ambience, tea houses are always decorated with traditional paintings, calligraphy⁶ and furniture, with a girl in traditional costume playing the gu zheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument.

A: How about the tea sets?

B: In the old days, people used iron kettles to boil water. Tea was placed in a paper bag. Porcelain⁷ cups were used for drinking The water came from melted snow which was collected from plum blossom trees the previous winter and stored underground in a jar. Today people use different tea sets but the most popular ones are the pots made in Yixing. No one collects snow any more because of pollution so people use bottled water instead.

A: Is there any difference in the tea?

B: Tea has categories: red tea, green tea, Wulong tea and Pu'er tea. The first three types of tea area processed using similar methods but Pu'er tea uses a totaly different method. It contains a kink of fungus⁸ which is believed to be healthy. The fungus will ferment⁹ on its own after the tea is processed. This is why expensive Pu'er tea is always quite old.

A: Is tea drinking very expensive?

B: Yes, it is a commercialized hobby now. This is different from the way ancient scholars enjoys themselves, by savouring tea among bamboos or in the moonlight. People nowadays talk business in expensively-decorated tea houses. Ordinary people go to the inexpensive tea houses where they can play games or simply chat with friends. It's more personal. Although such tea houses may not look elegant, the certainly have a relaxed atmosphere and are good fun.

A: Different tea houses can meet different needs and, you are right, people's taste preferences are not always swayed by money.

1 elegance   

n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙

参考例句：

• The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
• John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。

2 quench   

vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制

参考例句：

• The firemen were unable to quench the fire.消防人员无法扑灭这场大火。
• Having a bottle of soft drink is not enough to quench my thirst.喝一瓶汽水不够解渴。

3 illustrate   

v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图

参考例句：

• The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
• This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

4 monastery   

n.修道院，僧院，寺院

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

5 misty   

adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的

参考例句：

• He crossed over to the window to see if it was still misty.他走到窗户那儿，看看是不是还有雾霭。
• The misty scene had a dreamy quality about it.雾景给人以梦幻般的感觉。

6 calligraphy   

n.书法

参考例句：

• At the calligraphy competition,people asked him to write a few characters.书法比赛会上，人们请他留字。
• His calligraphy is vigorous and forceful.他的书法苍劲有力。

7 porcelain   

n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的

参考例句：

• These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
• The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。

8 fungus   

n.真菌，真菌类植物

参考例句：

• Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。
• This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

9 ferment   

vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱

参考例句：

• Fruit juices ferment if they are kept a long time.果汁若是放置很久，就会发酵。
• The sixties were a time of theological ferment.六十年代是神学上骚动的时代。