Conclusion

Because tea is such an integral part of Chinese culture, it allows for comparison across dynasties. The basis of tea remains fairly constant; it is an indicator of social status and the manner in which it is prepared and served says a lot about one’s host but how these tools change over dynasties speaks more to overall cultural shifts. The tea that a host serves is not only a reflection upon themselves, but also those who farmed and processed the tea leaves. Looking at tea tools is particularly interesting because while traditions may seem to have arbitrary purposes and meanings today, we can still see the practical applications of the tools and the design choicese behind them. For example, Lu's discussion of the type of table one should you when making tea cakes seems mundane but is still vary practical. The tools evolved to best accomodate the practices and trends of time so a study of tools can give us insight to these traditions.