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drink from the common spring of art… appreciation。 The ceremony was
an improvised drama whose plot was woven about the tea； the flowers；
and the paintings。 Not a colour to disturb the tone of the room； not a
sound to mar the rhythm of things； not a gesture to obtrude on the
harmony； not a word to break the unity of the surroundings； all
movements to be performed simply and naturallysuch were the aims of
the tea… ceremony。 And strangely enough it was often successful。 A
subtle philosophy lay behind it all。 Teaism was Taoism in disguise。
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III。 Taoism and Zennism
The connection of Zennism with tea is proverbial。 We have
already remarked that the tea…ceremony was a development of the Zen
ritual。 The name of Laotse； the founder of Taoism； is also intimately
associated with the history of tea。 It is written in the Chinese school
manual concerning the origin of habits and customs that the ceremony of
offering tea to a guest began with Kwanyin； a well…known disciple of
Laotse； who first at the gate of the Han Pass presented to the 〃Old
Philosopher〃 a cup of the golden elixir。 We shall not stop to discuss the
authenticity of such tales； which are valuable； however； as confirming
the early use of the beverage by the Taoists。 Our interest in Taoism and
Zennism here lies mainly in those ideas regarding life and art which are so
embodied in what we call Teaism。
It is to be regretted that as yet there appears to be no adequate
presentation of the Taoists and Zen doctrines in any foreign language；
though we have had several laudable attempts。
Translation is always a treason； and as a Ming author observes； can at
its best be only the reverse side of a brocade；all the threads are there；
but not the subtlety of colour or design。 But； after all； what great
doctrine is there which is easy to expound？ The ancient sages never put
their teachings in systematic form。 They spoke in paradoxes； for they
were afraid of uttering half…truths。 They began by talking like fools and
ended by making their hearers wise。 Laotse himself； with his quaint
humour； says； 〃If people of inferior intelligence hear of the Tao； they laugh
immensely。 It would not be the Tao unless they laughed at it。〃
The Tao literally means a Path。 It has been severally translated as
the Way； the Absolute； the Law； Nature； Supreme Reason； the Mode。
These renderings are not incorrect； for the use of the term by the Taoists
differs according to the subject…matter of the inquiry。 Laotse himself
spoke of it thus： 〃There is a thing which is all…containing； which was born
before the existence of Heaven and Earth。 How silent！ How solitary！
It stands alone and changes not。 It revolves without danger to itself and
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The Book of Tea
is the mother of the universe。 I do not know its name and so call it the
Path。 With reluctance I call it the Infinite。 Infinity is the Fleeting； the
Fleeting is the Vanishing； the Vanishing is the Reverting。〃 The Tao is in
the Passage rather than the Path。 It is the spirit of Cosmic Change；the
eternal growth which returns upon itself to produce new forms。 It recoils
upon itself like the dragon； the beloved symbol of the Taoists。 It folds
and unfolds as do the clouds。 The Tao might be spoken of as the Great
Transition。 Subjectively it is the Mood of the Universe。 Its Absolute is
the Relative。
It should be remembered in the first place that Taoism； like its
legitimate successor Zennism； represents the individualistic trend of the
Southern Chinese mind in contra…distinction to the communism of
Northern China which expressed itself in Confucianism。 The Middle
Kingdom is as vast as Europe and has a differentiation of idiosyncrasies
marked by the two great river systems which traverse it。 The Yangste…
Kiang and Hoang… Ho are respectively the Mediterranean and the Baltic。
Even to…day； in spite of centuries of unification； the Southern Celestial
differs in his thoughts and beliefs from his Northern brother as a member
of the Latin race differs from the Teuton。 In ancient days； when
communication was even more difficult than at present； and especially
during the feudal period； this difference in thought was most pronounced。
The art and poetry of the one breathes an atmosphere entirely distinct from
that of the other。 In Laotse and his followers and in Kutsugen； the
forerunner of the Yangtse…Kiang nature…poets； we find an idealism quite
inconsistent with the prosaic ethical notions of their contemporary
northern writers。 Laotse lived five centuries before the Christian Era。
The germ of Taoist speculation may be found long before the advent
of Laotse； surnamed the Long…Eared。 The archaic records of China；
especially the Book of Changes； foreshadow his thought。 But the great
respect paid to the laws and customs of that classic period of Chinese
civilisation which culminated with the establishment of the Chow dynasty
in the sixteenth century B。C。； kept the development of individualism in
check for a long while； so that it was not until after the disintegration of
the Chow dynasty and the establishment of innumerable independent
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The Book of Tea
kingdoms that it was able to blossom forth in the luxuriance of free…
thought。 Laotse and Soshi （Chuangtse） were both Southerners and the
greatest exponents of the New School。 On the other hand； Confucius with
his numerous disciples aimed at retaining ancestral conventions。 Taoism
cannot be understood without some knowledge of Confucianism and vice
versa。
We have said that the Taoist Absolute was the Relative。 In ethics
the Taoist railed at the laws and the moral codes of society； for to them
right and wrong were but relative terms。 Definition is always
limitationthe 〃fixed〃 and 〃unchangeless〃 are but terms expressive of a
stoppage of growth。 Said Kuzugen；〃The Sages move the world。〃 Our
standards of morality are begotten of the past needs of society； but is
society to remain always the same？ The observance of communal
traditions involves a constant sacrifice of the individual to the state。
Education； in order to keep up the mighty delusion； encourages a species
of ignorance。 People are not taught to be really virtuous； but to behave
properly。 We are wicked because we are frightfully self…conscious。 We
nurse a conscience because we are afraid to tell the truth to others； we take
refuge in pride because we are afraid to tell the truth to ourselves。 How
can one be serious with the world when the world itself is so ridiculous！
The spirit of barter is everywhere。 Honour and Chastity！ Behold the
complacent salesman retailing the Good and True。 One can even buy a
so…called Religion； which is really but common morality sanctified with
flowers and music。 Rob the Church of her accessories and what remains
behind？ Yet the trusts thrive marvelously； for the prices are absurdly
cheap； a prayer for a ticket to heaven； a diploma for an honourable
citizenship。 Hide yourself under a bushel