Emperors first used authentic china tea sets thousands of years ago. At that time, certain tea-drinking customs came into play that are still respected to this day.
One such custom is called "finger tapping" and it is a common sign of respect. Many people who are not familiar with this custom may find it strange or odd.
It goes like this: when someone serves you tea, it's polite not to say "thank you", but rather to tap three fingers on the table. This lets the person know you're appreciative of their service. It should be repeated every time you are served tea.
You may think this comes from some strange, mystical superstition. But really, this custom comes from a very real incident during the Qing dynasty.
At that time, the ruling emperor traveled all over the empire to see how everyday people were doing. He would go literally everywhere in the country. But he never missed a visit to the local tea house.
One day, the emperor and his two companions stopped by a tea house, where he became amazed by the way the waiters leaned across the table and poured tea without spilling a single drop. So he decided to try it out and pour Chinese tea for his companions.
Custom demanded that people bow before their emperor, and it was unimaginable if the emperor ever poured you tea! So they had to thank the emperor for the tea. But at this time they couldn't bow to their emperor, or his disguise would be ruined.
Then, in a stroke of brilliance, one of the emperor's companions tapped his fingers on the table, representing the bow that was usually demanded.
Thus, the finger tapping gesture was born! The tale spread fast. Before long, the gesture became popular in tea drinking, as both commoners and officials alike all tried to copy their emperor.
Whenever you're enjoying a great cup of tea, particularly if it's from a fine china tea set, be sure to thank your host in the most traditional way: tap your fingers!
One such custom is called "finger tapping" and it is a common sign of respect. Many people who are not familiar with this custom may find it strange or odd.
It goes like this: when someone serves you tea, it's polite not to say "thank you", but rather to tap three fingers on the table. This lets the person know you're appreciative of their service. It should be repeated every time you are served tea.
You may think this comes from some strange, mystical superstition. But really, this custom comes from a very real incident during the Qing dynasty.
At that time, the ruling emperor traveled all over the empire to see how everyday people were doing. He would go literally everywhere in the country. But he never missed a visit to the local tea house.
One day, the emperor and his two companions stopped by a tea house, where he became amazed by the way the waiters leaned across the table and poured tea without spilling a single drop. So he decided to try it out and pour Chinese tea for his companions.
Custom demanded that people bow before their emperor, and it was unimaginable if the emperor ever poured you tea! So they had to thank the emperor for the tea. But at this time they couldn't bow to their emperor, or his disguise would be ruined.
Then, in a stroke of brilliance, one of the emperor's companions tapped his fingers on the table, representing the bow that was usually demanded.
Thus, the finger tapping gesture was born! The tale spread fast. Before long, the gesture became popular in tea drinking, as both commoners and officials alike all tried to copy their emperor.
Whenever you're enjoying a great cup of tea, particularly if it's from a fine china tea set, be sure to thank your host in the most traditional way: tap your fingers!
About the Author:
D. Cheng has written about Chinese history and handicrafts such as porcelain china tea sets for years. Occasionally, he endorses skilled Chinese craftsmen. See samples of quality China tea sets.
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