Chapter I · The Origin: Terroir — Picked out of season, made carelessly, adulterated with wild weeds…
"Picked out of season, made carelessly, adulterated with wild weeds, drinking it brings illness. The harm of tea, too, is like that of ginseng."
Chapter VII · The History: History — In the Search for the Supernatural: Xia Houkai died of…
"In the Search for the Supernatural: Xia Houkai died of illness; his kinsman Gou Nu, who could see spirits, watched him come to fetch his horse and afflict his wife. Wearing a flat
Chapter I · The Origin: Words and things — As for the ground: the finest tea grows in shattered…
"As for the ground: the finest tea grows in shattered rock, the middling in gravelly loam, and the inferior in yellow clay."
Chapter VIII · The Producing Regions: Practice today — In Zhedong Circuit, Yuezhou is best, Mingzhou and Wuzhou next…
"In Zhedong Circuit, Yuezhou is best, Mingzhou and Wuzhou next, and Taizhou lower."
Chapter VII · The History: Terroir — Yan Ying, when minister to Duke Jing of Qi, ate…
"Yan Ying, when minister to Duke Jing of Qi, ate only husked-rice meals, with three roast game birds, five eggs, and tea-leaf vegetable."
Chapter I · The Origin: Modern tea science — The use of tea: its nature is extremely cold, and…
"The use of tea: its nature is extremely cold, and as a beverage it is most suited to men of disciplined conduct and frugal virtue."
Chapter VII · The History: Taste and body — Zuo Si's poem The Doting Daughters reads: 'Their hearts race…
"Zuo Si's poem The Doting Daughters reads: 'Their hearts race for the tea, they puff and blow upon the tripod.'"
Chapter I · The Origin: Vessels and fire — If one takes qini in place of ginseng, none of…
"If one takes qini in place of ginseng, none of the six ailments will be cured. Understand how ginseng may mislead, and the pitfalls of tea become clear."
Chapter I · The Origin: Plain reading — As for the character, it is sometimes written with the…
"As for the character, it is sometimes written with the grass radical, sometimes with the tree radical, and sometimes with both."
Chapter VIII · The Producing Regions: Misreadings — In Huainan Circuit, Guangzhou is best, Yiyang and Shuzhou next…
"In Huainan Circuit, Guangzhou is best, Yiyang and Shuzhou next, Shouzhou lower, and Qizhou and Huangzhou lowest."