The Schools of Tea Summary and Analysis

Tea is art and requires a tea master to bring out its "noblest qualities." As with art, there is good and bad tea, and there is no mechanical method for making tea. There are three main eras of tea: the Boilerd Tea, the Whipped Tea, and the Steeped Tea. Okakura again emphasizes that tea, though seemingly a tiny part of one's life, can speak volumes about a culture. As with vintage and concern with years with wine in Europe, different tea periods can tell us about the different eras of Japan.

Tea was known in China since ancient times and was praised for its abilities to reduce fatigue, empower the soul, and repair eyesight. It became a favorite of Emperors and their courts. In the 8th century, a man named Lu Wu was born who...