The Jiashan Chan-Tea Culture Forum 2015 was held from Dec. 5 to 6 at Shimen County, the cradle of Chan-Tea culture. More than 300 scholars and eminent monks from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as foreign countries including Japan, South Korea and Germany participated in the event, probing into the profound and time-honored Chan-Tea culture.
Legend has it that the master Yuanwu in the Song Dynasty (960 AD – 1279 AD) had been here, drinking tea and meditating on Chan teachings, and finally realized that “Chan and tea share the same taste” which was the origin of Chan-Tea culture.
Seven prominent monks from Bailin Temple in Hebei, Yongle Temple in Fujian and Zhenru Temple in Jiangxi made their handprints at the opening ceremony, to mark this significant meeting at the cradle of Chan-Tea culture. Monk Shenghui, vice chairman of the Buddhist Association of China and chairman of the Buddhist Association of Hunan Province talked about the relations between Buddhism and tea.
Choi Seok-Hwan, chairman of the International Institute on Chan-Tea Culture Study of South Korea, and a professor from Komazawa University in Japan respectively talked about the inheritance of the Chan teachings and tea ceremonies in their countries from Chinese Chan-Tea culture.
At the closing ceremony on Dec. 6, the Hunan Provincial Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision issued the first provincial standard of Chan tea, which is also the first in Chan tea circle. In addition the Jiashan Mountain Management Office announced the debut of its Chan tea products.
This forum was co-sponsored by Peking University, Tsinghua University, the Buddhist Association of Hunan Province, and the International Leisure Industry Association. Jiashan Mountain was further recognized as the origin of Chan-Tea culture at the forum, underpinning its enlightening status in Chan and tea in the world.
Translator: Pang Yuehui
Source: Hunan Official Web Portal