Chinese Dragons
Jasmine Tea and Chinese Flower Tea
The importance of floral elements in Chinese traditions dates back to the earliest origins of their culture. The gods, dragons, and other mythological entities from Ancient Chinese folklore were personified in the many blossoming plants and vines that are native to the Asian continent. The practice of brewing tea from these symbolic representations of the powers of nature has always been a form of ritual tribute as well as a dietary function.
The tradition of Chinese flower tea has come to include the practice of combining different flowers in such a way that the act of brewing tea becomes a form of visual entertainment that also provides a spiritual or religious ceremony. The personification of the various dragons of Chinese mythology is seen in the visual display created by brewing amaranths, sunflowers, marigolds, and jasmines.
Jasmine tea in particular is a popular favorite among Chinese flower tea makers. This is partially due to the very aromatic qualities of this tiny flower in its many species. The fragrance of the jasmine is retained even after the processes of drying and combining with other botanicals in the tea-making process itself. Yet the symbolic meaning of the jasmine is an equally important reason that this flower is used so often in Chinese flower tea.
Jasmine tea has been brewed for hundreds of centuries all across Asia for its well-know ability to calm nerves and other bodily functions. Jasmine is used as a sedative agent not only in tea but in the practice or aroma therapy that, although a relatively new phenomenon to Western culture, has been a part of everyday Chinese healing since the beginning of their culture. Jasmine tea is brewed to settle upset digestive systems, reduce inflammation in wounds, and ease the sleep of children and adults alike.
This is why the jasmine flower is used so often in combination with other floral buds in Chinese flower tea. Its medicinal application, along with the aesthetic value of its fragrance, adds significantly to any choice of flowering plant that is used in tea making. The numerous varieties of colors that jasmine flowers come in are another reason for their wide use in Chinese flower tea. White jasmines combined with a pink rose becomes a crown of passion when the brewed, as the petals of these flowers unfold. A dried bundle of yellow jasmine, marigold, and globe amaranth flower buds, artistically woven together, miraculously unfurl into a colorful bouquet that reminds one of wildflowers in a meadow at springtime.
The tradition of skillfully weaving flower buds together to create a showpiece of color and fragrance in a teapot is one of the carryovers from the days of the ancient Chinese dynasties, when dragon spirits and forces of nature were a very real part of the life and ideology of the Chinese people. The Western culture of today has inherited this tradition in the practice of making Chinese flower tea, not only for its homeopathic healing qualities but for its ability to enlighten the spirit as well.
Jasmine Tea and Chinese Flower Tea - UK tea brand specialises in hand-tied flowering tea, glass teapots and unusual tea gifts.
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Unlike the ugly, nasty, Western types, most Eastern Dragons are beautiful, friendly, and wise. They are the angels of the Orient. Instead of being hated, they are loved and worshipped. Temples and shrines have been built to honor them, for they control the rain, rivers, lakes, and seas. Many Chinese cities have pagodas
The Chinese Dragon
Most of us are all to familiar with the classic western concept of the dragon, but not all have a great insight into probably one of the most recognised dragons, the Chinese dragon.
Dragon Toes
The Chinese dragons have five toes on each foot, Indonesian or Korean dragons have four, and the Japanese dragons have three.
Dragon Origin
The origin of the Chinese dragon is not certain, but many scholars agree that it originated from totems of different tribes in China. Some have suggested that it comes from a stylized depiction of existing animals, such as snakes, fish, or crocodiles.
Chinese Dragons: The Mythology & the Art It Spawned
Chinese dragons are based on mythology that goes back thousands of years. In European mythology the dragon has a negative connotation, but in the Chinese culture dragons are benevolent creatures that possess power, wisdom, and the ability to bring good luck. The imperial dragon, the lung, is one of the most common types. Dragons represented emperors in the imperial age, and were believed to have divine powers. Dragons are associated with water, perhaps reflecting the way that the ancient Chinese viewed alligators during a flood. In Chinese art dragons are beautifully depicted in vivid colors.
Chinese Dragon Culture
Dragons are deeply rooted in the Chinese culture. The Chinese often consider themselves, 'the descendants of the dragon.
Chinese Dragons
The Celestial Chinese Dragon is comparable as the symbol of the Chinese race itself. Chinese around the world, proudly proclaim themselves "Lung Tik Chuan Ren" (Descendents of the Dragon). Dragons are referred to as the divine mythical creature that brings with it ultimate abundance, prosperity and good fortune.
