The keeper of Vietnamese tea-serving art

This is a very expressive kind of art,” said 71- year-old artist Truong Xuan. For the past 50 years, Mr. Truong Xuan has attached his life to tea-serving art.

Well-known tea artist Truong Xuan is the 5th generation student of a master of tea-serving art who ran a tea shop in Hanoi at the beginning of the 19th century. In Mr. Truong Xuan, an artist’ blood seems to be running, since his father was a sculptor and his mother was a painter of altar pictures. Mr. Truong Xuan said he is particularly moved by all kinds of beauty, one of which is the art of serving and drinking tea.

There is nothing easier than serving and drinking tea in the usual way. Yet, to turn it into an art is a strenuous effort. With his son, Mr. Truong Xuan voluntarily introduces this art to interested people throughout Vietnam. Why does he like it? Artist Truong Xuan said, “The gist of the art is the beautiful spirit of Buddhism and meditation.” As for difficulty, there isn’t anything in life that isn’t difficult.

Mr. Truong Xuan said it takes more than 1 day to talk about tea-serving art. “First, water; second, tea; third, making; fourth, teapots,” said artist Truong Xuan about the basic order of knowledge about the art.

The old man sipped a cup of tea and added, “You shouldn’t think Vietnamese tea-serving art, or its Japanese and Chinese counterparts for that matter, is something sublime. This is basically the desire for harmony.” According to Mr. Truong Xuan, Vietnamese tea art is fundamentally social. Tea drinkers can sit alone, with another person, or in a group.

At present, developing Vietnamese tea art into something different from the famous tea cultures of the Japanese and Chinese isn’t easy. But it isn’t impossible. One is impressed by artist Truong Xuan and his son who are willing to do a pioneer’s work. And though there are many things ahead to overcome, one is contented to sit down by Mr. Truong Xuan leisurely enjoying the sight of the slender hand of a female Vietnamese tea server with three fingers forming a charming shape, pouring tea in such a way to ensure that tea fragrance spreads evenly throughout the whole cup.

Source Viet Nam Net