On August 16, 2024, a group of Chinese youth made history by performing the Diancha and Zhucha tea ceremonies at the 4th Incheon Youth International Exchange Event in South Korea. This marked the first time these traditional rituals had been showcased on an international stage, highlighting the artistry and cultural significance of Chinese tea culture. The event, organized by the Korean Cultural Exchange Center, the Chinese Literary and Art Association, and other organizations, brought together young participants from China and South Korea to showcase their talents through captivating performances.
The Chinese delegation’s opening act, titled “Pure Song, Pure Tea,” was a mesmerizing spectacle. Six young performers, adorned in traditional Chinese attire, gracefully conducted the tea ceremony, captivating the audience with their skill and reverence. Xue Yuchen, known by the courtesy name Yuechen, provided a soulful rendition of “Wang Jiangnan,” a song that gained popularity on CCTV1’s “Ancient Rhyme, New Voice.” Ya Yi, meanwhile, delivered an elegant tea demonstration, showcasing the intricate steps of the ritual. This performance held particular significance for the team, dedicated to preserving the Song Dynasty tea ceremony as an intangible cultural heritage.
Feng Kaili, under the mentorship of Teacher Renyi, presented the Tang Dynasty tea-making process, demonstrating the authenticity of this ancient tradition. Teacher Renyi, who previously collaborated with Teachers Song Lianke and Ming to showcase the twelve styles of Tang Dynasty tea-making at the “Shengshi Elegance — The Treasures of the Tang Dynasty Underground Palace” exhibition, guided Feng Kaili in recreating the era’s tea preparation and attire.
At the center of the stage, Song Zhiqi, with the courtesy name Yueqi, gracefully performed the six steps of the Song Dynasty tea ceremony, another intangible cultural heritage practice. Zhiqi has been performing tea ceremonies since 2019, making her debut at a cultural exchange event between Jiangsu and Guizhou. This event marked her as one of the first teenagers to showcase the tea ceremony at a provincial level.
Under Teacher Tianjin’s guidance, Pan Yiying and Xu Jinqi demonstrated the teapot and gaiwan brewing methods. Both Yiying and Jinqi have garnered accolades at the 22nd Suzhou Tea Expo, showcasing their expertise. Liu Jinbei, guided by Teacher Renyi, took on the persona of a time traveler, performing calligraphy with inscriptions such as “Ming Dynasty Tea Brewing,” “Song Dynasty Tea Ceremony,” and “Tang Dynasty Tea Preparation.” This allowed the audience to explore the evolution of tea arts across different historical periods.
This program was recommended by the China International Assessment Center for Arts, with Dr. Song Lianke, the creator of youth tea ceremony teaching and evaluation standards, providing overall guidance. The program was further supported by three outstanding youth tea ceremony instructors, alongside Teacher Renyan. Six award-winning tea children from the National Youth Tea Ceremony Grand Exhibition participated in the event.
This event not only showcased Chinese artistry on the global stage but also symbolized the international exchange of Chinese tea culture. The performance marked a historic first, as Chinese youth presented the Diancha and Zhucha tea ceremonies abroad. In 2023, Master Song Lianke’s studio was recognized by the China International Assessment Center for Arts as the exclusive evaluation base for tea art, tea ceremony, tea tasting, tea preparation, and tea houses in China. That same year, the national youth tea ceremony evaluation program was initiated, leading to the drafting and implementation of the “Grading Standard for Youth Tea Ceremony Literacy” in 2024. This initiative rapidly trained a new generation of young tea ceremony examiners, instructors, and practitioners.
The National Young Children’s Tea Ceremony Exhibition, a key project in 2024, reached its triumphant conclusion with its successful performance in South Korea. These young tea practitioners are ambassadors of Chinese culture, with tea culture serving as a bridge between China and the world.
