Individual Paper
5. Transmitting Knowledges: Institutions, Objects and Practices
China's ritualized high-end tea consumption has evolved significantly due to overseas influences and state initiatives. My fieldwork in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Fujian, Guangdong, and Taiwan emphasized the service sector's role in shaping this transformation. The introduction of Taiwan-styled tea art houses (茶艺馆) in the 1990s, blending tradition with modern market needs, paved the way for the formalized tea master training (茶艺师) system by 2002, heavily influenced by cross-strait interactions.
Originally, the "tea master" concept, advocated by scholars as soft power, aimed to uplift local employment, particularly among rural women, combining ideology with socioeconomic upliftment. These women, central to poverty alleviation, became instrumental in bridging scholarly theory with ground realities. This dynamic hints at the broader shift of historical tea rituals, previously limited to elite males, now viewed as an art form.
In essence, the post-1990s tea industry exemplifies China's socio-cultural evolution. As tradition, commerce, and societal change merge, Taiwan's influence remains evident. This interplay, touching upon power and gender dynamics, enriches China's modern tea narrative.
Junhong Ma
University of Alberta, Canada