Tea-cultural practices and spiritual connotations among Jin-Dynasty literati

The flourishing of tea-related activities among Jin-dynasty men of letters was rooted in the circulation of material goods and the continuity of techniques between the Song and Jin. Through the movement of tea, the use of tea wares, and diversified practices of tea drinking, tea culture among Jin literati transcended mere material enjoyment to become a key symbol bearing refined taste, sustaining social relations, and conveying emotion. Tea affairs were not only a cultural practice through which Han scholar-officials upheld tradition, but also an important pathway by which Jurchen aristocratic literati adapted toand were transformed bySinicization. An analysis of tea culture thus reveals the reconstruction of identity against the backdrop of cultural hybridity in the Jin and enriches our understanding of Jin-dynasty culture.