3 Tea-Loving Emperors in Chinese History: Huizong to Qianlong
Three Chinese emperors stand out as true tea lovers: Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, who wrote a whole book on tea; Zhu Yuanzhang, founder of the Ming Dynasty, who made loose-leaf tea the norm; and Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty, who wrote around 1,000 poems about tea. Each one changed how China drinks tea.
Who was Emperor Huizong, the tea professor?
Emperor Huizong (1082–1135) of the Song Dynasty was not only a ruler but a real tea master, and the first emperor to write a book about tea. His Treatise on Tea (大观茶论, Dàguān Chá Lùn) runs to fewer than 3,000 words, yet it precisely sums up where tea comes from, how it is made and the customs around it. He was like a tea professor on the throne.
How did Zhu Yuanzhang change the way China drinks tea?
Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–1398), the Hongwu Emperor who founded the Ming Dynasty, came from a poor family and favored a simple lifestyle. Soon after taking power, he abolished the elaborate compressed tea cakes made as tribute for the court. From then on, loose-leaf tea gradually became popular, and the way of drinking tea became much simpler. The reason everyone can enjoy tea so easily today may well be thanks to him.
Why is Qianlong called the “Emperor of Tea”?
Emperor Qianlong (1711–1799) of the Qing Dynasty wrote about 1,000 poems about tea and is known as the “Emperor of Tea.” Whatever tea he drank, he wrote a poem in its praise. Many famous teas carry a Qianlong legend; the best known ties him to Longjing (Dragon Well) tea from Hangzhou, which he is said to have admired on his tours of the south.
Read more in the history of Chinese tea, Longjing and President Nixon’s visit and the top 10 famous teas of China.
FAQ
Which emperor wrote a book about tea?
Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty, author of the Treatise on Tea (大观茶论).
Who made loose-leaf tea popular in China?
Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Ming emperor, who abolished compressed tribute tea cakes.
How many tea poems did Qianlong write?
About 1,000, which is why he is called the “Emperor of Tea.”