Long time readers of this site- all 3 of you- will probably realize I am not fond of mythical tales as I believe they often cloud the objectivity of the potential buyer and fairy tales often undermine the efforts that scientists and researchers- particularly in China- have done to modernize the industry.
That said, I have chosen to kick-off our first post in the deep, diverse world of Yixing pots with a tale. Not altogether opposed to our ethos though since we don’t sell Yixing pots at point of writing and it doesn’t involve immortals and fairies.
A Tale of Yixing obsession
This is translated from Lao Yang Shou Cha by Yang Xue Jun published by Zhong Guo Fang Zhi Chu Ban Se:
It was said that long ago there was a rich landlord who had a deep love for tea. Though that alone doesn’t make him unique in anyway, his hospitability did. He instructed his servants to welcome any visitor, regardless of status or wealth and treat them as a valued guest in his household.
The beggar took one look and replied “This is not good tea.”
The servants changed the tea leaves, a tad taken aback.
The beggar then smelled the brewed tea and said “The leaves are good quality but the water is not. Don’t you have spring water?”
The servants dutifully brewed the tea with spring water that the master had instructed them to collect daily.
The beggar this time sipped the tea and said “The leaves and the water are good. But the firewood that was used to boil the water is not. You should use firewood gathered from the shaded region of the mountain since those that are exposed to direct sunlight tend to be softer than less suited for combustion.”
By now the servants were convinced they were dealing with a true connoisseur and followed his instructions while calling for their master.
The landlord being a tea lover was naturally interested to meet this tea sage and hurried to the guest hall.
The beggar finished his cup and said “This time, the leaves, water, firewood and technique is right. But the pot leaves much to be desired.”
The landlord was taken aback “This is already my best pot!”
The beggar carefully took out a pot and proclaimed “Try this.”
The landlord used the aforementioned Yixing pot to brew a fresh pot of tea.
It was mind-blowing.
“Name your price!” The besotted landlord exclaimed.
The beggar quickly kept his pot and replied “This pot is not for sale.”
“I’ll give you half of my possessions.”
“That’s not the issue….”
“All of it!” The landlord barely stopped himself from genuflecting.
With a pitying smile, the beggar replied “If I had been willing to part with this, I wouldn’t have landed up in this state.”
I suspect most Yixing lovers will react to this story in 1 of 2 ways,
i) Recollect an incident of similar irrationality
ii) Wonder if the beggar had any descendants and if they would now sell the pot
Indeed, the love of Yixing pots often transcends logic and lucidity but why do tea lovers adore their Yixing pots to the point of destitution?
Stay tuned.
