In a casual occasion, there is tea; in a serious occasion, there is tea. In China, social intercourse would almost not function if tea is taken away from it. And everyone, when beigng a child, was began to be taught to know traditional Chinese tea custom in order to have normal and formal communication activity. So Chinese tea custom is an interesting social course while it is also complexed because of different occasion.
Showing Gratefulness
In China, we describe parents who long for their sons to get married as "wanting to drink 'daughter-in-law's tea'". In the traditional Chinese marriage ceremony, both of the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve them tea. That is an important symbol of gratefulness. It's like saying "thanks for bring us up. Now that we are getting married. We owe it all to you."
Showing Respect
Younger generation greet elder generation with a cup of tea. That is a way to show their respect.The normal phenomenon is that, in organizations and families, only people of lower rank serve tea to higher rank people. At least it was like that in the old days. Today, the society is becoming more liberal than before. Consequently, parents may pour their kids a cup of tea at home, higer-up may pour subordinates a cup of tea at restaurants. But it's just parents and bosses being nice. It would be inappropriate for low rank to expect high rank to serve tea in formal occasions.
Showing Apology
When we have a serious apology to make and words are not enough, we "pour tea and apologize". We can invite the person to home or to a formal tea-house to drink tea. And this kind of act absolutely indicats our reall apology to them. So usually the opposite is williing forgive us. That is an act of regretfulness and submissiveness.
Showing Appreciation
Another interesting thing is that, after a person pours a cup of tea for another, you see the latter one knocking his bended index and middle fingers or similar varieties of finger tapping on the table twice or three times. And it there was an interesting folk tale about it's origin.
The story goes like this. In Ching Dynasty some 300-400 years ago, the emperor liked to dress in casual and visit his kingdom. Servants were told to stay low profile in order not to reveal their master's identity. One day in a restaurant. The emperor, after pouring himself a cup of tea, filled the servant's a cup as well. To the servant, it was a huge grace having the emperor pour him a cup of tea. Out of reflex, he wanted to kneel down and thank his master. But he was stopped because that would give away the emperor's identity. So instead of kneeling on his knees, the servant kneed with his fingers.
Above all, there are still many other meaningful implications in Chinese tea custom. We'll show them to you later.
