Traveling from Asia to the West, tea has played a variety of profound roles on the world scene—as an ancient health remedy, an element of cultural practice, and source of spiritual insight. Steeped in History: The Art of Tea Exhibit at UCLA’s Fowler Museum provides not only a brief introduction to tea varieties, cultivation, and production, but also tells the story of tea’s mythic origins in the hills of South China.
Tea was already in use as a medicinal plant in the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE). By the time the Chajing, the first book on tea, was written in 780 CE, tea was widely cultivated in southwestern China and had been elevated to an “elixir of immortality” in Daoism, used as imperial tribute, celebrated in poetry, enjoyed by literati, transported on camelback to the Central Asian steppes, and sold on street corners.
Over the centuries, Chinese artisans created the most inventive and infinitely varied kinds of teas, and the art and material culture of tea flourished. This section of the exhibition includes a lavishly painted portrait of Shen Nong, the legendary inventor of tea; exquisite porcelain tea bowls dating from the 8th–13th centuries; scrolls and watercolors illustrating Chinese tea trade and culture, and stereo card photographic prints depicting tea drinking in Peking during the late-19th–early-20th centuries.
Related Museum Events:
August 23, 2009 1–4 pm Kids in the Courtyard
Tea for You! Design your own packaging for the world’s most popular drink and take your tea bag home to enjoy a nice “cuppa”! An outdoor concert follows.
August 23, 2009 4 pm Summer Sunset Concert: Blue 13 Dance Company
Blue 13 Dance Company returns to the Fowler for an exhilarating performance in their signature Bollywood-Tech™ style—contemporary dance theatre rooted in the traditions and inspirations of Indian dance, music, and culture. Special post-show dance lesson.
Check out the exhibit at UCLA or online
