Tea in the Examination Hall: From Luxury to Necessity
1. Tang Dynasty: Tea drinking first entered the examination hall
During the Tang Dynasty, the imperial examination system gradually improved, and the custom of tea-drinking also spread from temples and the imperial court to the literati class. Although there are few records about the conditions of the examination halls in the Tang Dynasty, there are already records of literati bringing tea sets into the examination halls.
2. Song Dynasty: The In-depth Integration of Tea and the Imperial Examination System
During the Song Dynasty, the imperial examination system witnessed significant development, and tea-drinking in the examination hall became a common phenomenon. During this period, "examination tea" specifically prepared for examinees emerged. The tea ceremony in the imperial examination institute of the Song Dynasty was a set of rigorous rituals and management systems within the imperial examination system, which ran through the entire period of the locked-down examination and mainly consisted of the following four aspects:
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Institutional Background and Core Functions: During the Song Dynasty, the imperial examination system implemented the "locked courtyard" policy, where examinees were required to be confined in the examination hall for approximately 50 days. During this period, the "morning and evening teas" provided by the government were not only daily beverages but also the core medium for maintaining the physical and mental balance of scholars. Morning tea was used to refresh the mind, while evening tea was used to soothe the nerves and relieve stress, thus forming a fixed physiological adjustment rhythm.
- Ritual Norms and Symbolism of Artifacts: The Gongyuan tea ceremony has strict rituals. When receiving tea, examinees must bow, with their arms below the earlobes and the tea cup not exceeding the shoulders, embodying the Confucian admonition of "rectifying the mind through the body." The official kiln celadon tea cups used are plain and unadorned, symbolizing "integrity, frugality, and virtue." The distribution of tea also has regulations, usually only filled to seven-tenths full. After the ceremony, the tea dregs must be buried centrally in a designated "pure area," and casually discarding them will be regarded as "desecrating culture."
- Regulatory Responsibilities and Order Maintenance: Special "Tea Patrol Officials" or "Tea Patrol Envoys" (mostly concurrently served by retired Hanlin scholars) were appointed to be responsible for supervision. Their duties far exceeded tea distribution and included: checking whether the tea utensils (inside the tea bowl and tea saucer) concealed any cheating items; monitoring the dynamics of the examination hall and assessing the candidates' mental states by observing the depth of tea distribution (seven parts full indicating "no incident", while a full bowl possibly being a signal for "abnormal activity") and the candidates' tea-drinking manners (such as whether their hands trembled or made sounds), and the records could serve as the basis for character evaluation.
- Medical Basis and Spiritual Cultivation: From the perspective of medicine at that time, tea was considered to be able to "awaken the muddled and purify the turbid", and indeed had pharmacological effects. However, in the specific context of the imperial examination hall, tea was imbued with a strong moral and educational connotation. It was proclaimed as the "soup of awakening ambition" bestowed by the "magnanimous imperial grace", binding the daily act of drinking tea to the Confucian self-cultivation of "hardening one's will" and the consciousness of loyalty to the court, thereby subtly shaping the spiritual world of scholars during the long period of seclusion in the examination hall.
All in all, the tea ceremony in the Gongyuan during the Song Dynasty was a comprehensive system that integrated daily supplies, ritual norms, examination hall supervision, and spiritual edification into one, profoundly reflecting the characteristic of "rites carrying the Way" in the imperial examination culture of the Song Dynasty.
3. Ming and Qing Dynasties: Refreshing tea became a standard item in the examination hall
Early and Middle Qing Dynasty: Candidates brought their own tea and brewed it themselves
- The government only provides drinking water, not tea.
- Examinees are required to bring their own tea leaves and tea sets and brew tea by themselves in the examination cells.
- Disadvantages: It consumes energy, water quality is not guaranteed, and in a situation where scholars generally have a fondness for tea, tea supply becomes a major issue.
Since the Tongzhi Reign: The Establishment of the Official Tea Supply System
- In the ninth year of Tongzhi (1870 AD), Jiangning's political envoys Mei Qizhao, Gong Zhaoyuan and other Westernization officials introduced Western-style water diversion technology into the Gongyuan and implemented new measures in the Southern Palace to supply tea. "Yi Wen Lu" Issue 18 Recorded: "Mei Xiaoyan Zhongcheng opened a vassal in Jinling, and the general office provided various affairs in the autumn palace. Because he thought that the scholars were enjoying the literary war, if he needed to make tea by himself, it would be very tiring. So he tried to add a tea stove outside the door and let one person specialize in his affairs."
- The Southern Examination Hall and Zhejiang Examination Hall were the first to implement "installing tea stoves and assigning dedicated personnel to serve tea".
- This is a systemic change, not a spontaneous behavior of the examinees.
The Special Status of Jiangnan Kechang Tea
- Scholars in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui have a custom of being fond of tea, and the official tea supply "governs according to the custom".
- The habit of candidates bringing their own tea continues to persist among the people.
Tea Choices of Ming and Qing Dynasty Examinees:
| Tea Type | Candidate Preferences | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Green Tea | Most Popular | The refreshing effect is obvious |
| Pu'er Tea | Partial Selection | Resistant to brewing, suitable for long-term consumption |
| scented tea | Few selected | Aroma helps relieve anxiety |
| brick tea | candidates from remote areas | Easy to carry and store |
The Multiple Roles of Tea in the Examination Hall
1. Physiological needs: quenching thirst and refreshing
Ancient examination halls were mostly held in summer (autumn imperial examinations) or early spring (spring imperial examinations), with hot or cold and damp weather. Prolonged writing required a large amount of water replenishment. Tea not only quenches thirst, but the caffeine in it can effectively combat fatigue.
2. Psychological effect: Relieve anxiety
The serene atmosphere in the tea ceremony helps to calm the nervousness of examinees. The process of preparing tea sets and brewing tea itself is also a form of psychological adjustment.
3. Social Media: Tea Party Outside the Examination Hall
The imperial examination was not only a competition within the examination hall but also an important occasion for off-site socializing. Candidates often held tea parties before and after the exam to exchange knowledge and build connections.
Tea-related anecdotes in imperial examinations
1. The Red Robe Enshrouds: The Legendary Grace of Da Hong Pao
In the 18th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1385), Ding Xian, a scholar, was on his way to the capital for the imperial examination. When passing by Wuyi Mountain, he suffered from severe abdominal pain. A monk from Tianxin Yongle Chan Temple cured him with tea. After Ding Xian was ranked first in the imperial examination, he went to the temple to express his gratitude and found the tea tree. He took off his red robe, wrapped it around the tea bush three times and draped it over the tree, thus giving rise to the name "Da Hong Pao". When the top scholar brought the tea back to the capital, the queen happened to be ill, and all doctors were ineffective. After drinking the tea, she recovered immediately. The emperor was overjoyed, bestowed a red robe, and ordered the top scholar to go to Jiulongke in person to drape it over the tea tree, and also sent officials to guard it and ensure all tea was offered as tribute. Since then, Da Hong Pao has become a royal tribute tea and gained widespread fame.
状元茶2. Longtuan Fengbing: The Renowned Name of Zhuangyuan Tea
Bian Geng, a martial arts champion from Jiangsu during the Qing Dynasty, elevated his hometown's tea culture to its peak. In the 18th year of the Guangxu reign (1892), Bian Geng, a martial arts champion from Haizhou, Jiangsu, scented the tea from Banluqiao Tea Pavilion in Guanyun County, his hometown, with borneol spices, processed it into "Dragon Ball and Phoenix Cake" and presented it to Cixi. Cixi, who was always picky and often changed her tea, made an exception to drink it for a long time and praised it, saying, "The champion's tea, fragrant to the nose!" This tea thus became famous in the capital, with tea merchants vying to go to Haizhou to buy tea. Banluqiao Tea Pavilion became the holy land of "Champion's Tea," and the reputation of this tribute tea spread far and wide.
The "Tea Strategy" of Ancient Examinees
1. Principles of Tea Selection
- Avoid strong and choose mild : Avoid excessive excitement from affecting sleep
- Avoid Complexity and Choose Purity : Avoid complex flavors from distracting
- Avoid old and choose new : Fresh tea leaves taste better
2. Tea Drinking Timing
- Morning before the exam : A small amount of light tea to refresh the mind
- During exam breaks: Drink moderate amounts of warm tea to maintain your state
- Evening Rest: Avoid drinking tea and ensure sleep
3. Selection of Simple Tea Sets
Limited by the conditions of the examination room, most candidates choose:
- Simple teapot or covered bowl
- Durable tea cup
- Portable water boiler
Conclusion: A single leaf of tea, a millennium of scrolls
A millennium has passed, the examination cells have become ruins, and the footsteps of the tea inspectors have faded into the annals of history. In today's examination halls, no one scores you based on your tea-serving etiquette, nor do you need to worry about being accused of "desecrating culture" for casually discarding tea leaves. However, that pot of green tea, from being a self-made stimulant for scholars, to the "soul-awakening soup" carefully packaged by imperial power, and then to the institutional innovation of introducing Western-style pipelines and dedicated tea service by late Qing officials - it has long ceased to be just a thirst-quencher; instead, it is the warmth that generations of scholars could hold onto before the narrow gate of fate.
Related Q&A
A: Indeed, in the imperial examination hall of the Song Dynasty, how to serve tea was truly an "invisible test question." The official set up "tea patrol officers" specifically to keep an eye on it: when receiving tea, both arms must be lower than the earlobes, the tea cup must not go above the shoulders, spilling tea counts as "unstable demeanor," and making noise while drinking tea counts as "impetuous disposition." All these details would be recorded and used as a reference for character evaluation - to put it bluntly, what was being tested was not just tea, but your "gentility."
A: When it comes to expense, the tea for examinees certainly cannot compare with the imperial tribute tea; but when it comes to "elaborateness", the tea ceremony in the imperial examination hall of the Song Dynasty was more complex than that in the imperial palace. The emperor drank tea for enjoyment, while examinees drank tea according to rules - the tea bowl must be plain celadon without patterns, the tea soup should only be filled to seven-tenths, and even the used tea leaves had to be buried centrally in a designated "clean area"; random disposal would be regarded as "desecrating culture". This is not just drinking tea; it's simply a performance art.
A: Do you think the tea inspectors are afraid of the examinees getting burned? They are actually checking the double layers of teacups and the secret compartments of tea saucers—historical records show that some examinees indeed tried to hide cheat sheets in tea sets. Even more remarkable is that pouring tea to seven-tenths full is not just a courtesy; it may also be a secret signal in the examination hall: seven-tenths indicates "all is well," and if the tea in front of a certain examinee is poured to overflowing, the tea inspector will silently keep a close eye on this person. A pot of tea is both a tonic and a secret report.
A: In the imperial examination hall during the Song Dynasty, the treatment of examinees in different subjects varied greatly. According to Shen Kuo's "Mengxi Bitan" , on the day of the Jinshi (advanced scholar) examination, an incense burner was set up in front of the steps, and the examiners and examinees bowed to each other. The seating arrangement and ceremony were quite grand, and the government even thoughtfully provided "tea, soup, and drinks." However, during the Xuejiu (classics scholar) examination (testing knowledge of the classics), all the tents and felt mats were removed, and forget about tea and soup. If you were thirsty, you could only drink the water from the inkstone, resulting in "everyone having blackened lips" - their mouths were all black. This is not discrimination, but anti-cheating. Ouyang Xiu wrote a poem complaining "Burning incense to honor Jinshi candidates, removing curtains to await Confucian scholars" , but Shen Kuo added another blow: The imperial examination for Confucian scholars tested rote memorization of Confucian classics, and there were cases in the past where candidates used tea delivery and felt curtains to secretly pass answers, so they simply cut off the tea supply. It can be seen that a bowl of tea in the imperial examination hall of the Song Dynasty was a "status symbol" for the Jinshi candidates and a "security vulnerability" for the Confucian scholars - some fairness comes at the cost of thirst.
A: This story has been circulated for 600 years, being both touching and romantic. However, historians have dug out "Ming History · Records of Carriages and Clothing" and Ding Xian's official career files, uncovering an "awkward" fact: The robe worn by the top scholar in the Ming Dynasty was not a red robe, but a "dark blue silk robe"; after Ding Xian became the top scholar, he was appointed as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official, and his official robe should have been cyan. Throughout his life, his official career was full of ups and downs, and he never reached the level of a fourth-rank or higher official who wore a "crimson robe" - that is to say, he simply had no qualification to wear a red robe. As for the tea name "Dahongpao", the earliest reliable literature dates back to the Qing Dynasty, and even the cliffside inscriptions beside the mother trees were carved during the tenure of a county magistrate in the Republic of China. So, is the legend wrong? Not entirely. Perhaps the "red robe" in the story is a poetic imagination added by later generations, but one thing is true: for hundreds of years, countless scholars taking imperial examinations have truly believed in this story, tucking a pinch of rock tea into their bags. Amidst the true and false, the tea remains the same cup of tea.
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