Tea for Sacrifice: How Tea Became an Offering in China
In China, tea has been offered to gods, Buddha and ancestors for well over a thousand years. Because tea was first used as medicine and was seen as a gift from heaven, people treated it with deep respect and made it part of their sacrifices and offerings. Ethnic minorities in Yunnan and Guizhou, tea farmers on Wuyi Mountain and even emperors all kept these customs.
Why was tea used for sacrifice in China?
At the very beginning, tea was used as medicine. Legend says it could revive the dying and heal the wounded, so people saw it as a gift from celestial beings and respected it greatly. That is why tea was offered to the gods and to ancestors.
These are traditional views, not medical claims. Tea is not intended to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease.
How did ethnic minorities offer tea to ancestors?
Some ethnic minorities in Yunnan and Guizhou offered tea in ancestor worship every twelfth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, called làyuè (腊月). Because of this, they also called tea la.
In Guangxi, tea cakes made especially for Buddha and ancestors were stamped with two Chinese characters, 祝仙 (zhù xiān), meaning an offering to gods or ancestors.
How do Wuyi tea farmers honor their tea?
Tea farmers also have their own customs of worship. On Wuyi Mountain in Fujian, when the new Da Hong Pao has been made, the first cup is offered to Buddha. The farmers pray before the Buddha with burning incense, and after the ceremony, the offered tea is shared among the farmers for good luck. This rite has been practiced for ages. Read our trip to Wuyi Mountain and the story of Da Hong Pao.
How did Buddhism make tea part of offerings?
As Buddhism flourished, tea became even more important in sacrifices in ancient China. Xiao Ze, Emperor Wu of the Southern Qi (479–502), wrote in his last will that no livestock should ever be sacrificed at his grave, only cakes, fruit, tea and rice. Learn more in tea and Buddhism and the legend of Bodhidharma.
From these stories, you can see how deeply tea is respected in China. Even today, many families place a cup of tea on the altar during festivals.
FAQ
Why do Chinese people offer tea to ancestors?
Tea was first valued as a medicine and seen as a gift from heaven, so it became a respectful offering.
What does 祝仙 mean on tea cakes?
It means an offering to gods or ancestors.
Who gets the first cup of new Da Hong Pao?
By Wuyi tradition, Buddha; the tea is then shared among the farmers for good luck.