This commentary on the Chinese masterpiece, The Classic of Tea, offers a fascinating perspective on this ancient pastime and art. The Classic of Tea, the first known monograph on tea in the world, was written in the 8th century by Lu Yu who devoted his entire life to the study of tea and is respected as the Sage of Tea. Wu Juenong, an agronomist and economist specializing in agriculture, has studied tea all his life. This book is the culmination of lifelong research on Chinese tea culture and history, introducing the readers to modern findings of effects and properties of tea, types of tea preparations, the evolution of tea growing regions and tea drinking customs across China, in addition to extensive annotation. Both scholarly and informative, An Illustrated Modern Reader of 'The Classic of Tea' has been acclaimed as a New Classic of Tea. An Illustrated Modern Reader of 'The Classic of Tea' also includes vivid illustrations and pictures of tools and utensils for the making and drinking of tea, either hand-drawn or collected by him, which the original The Classic of Tea lacked. Selected Chinese traditional paintings in the book illuminate the elegant art of brewing and drinking tea, the social rituals associated with tea drinking, and the reformative and cultural significance of tea ceremonies.

The Zhuangzi is one of the great classic Taoist texts. Zhuangzi (or Zhuang Tzu) himself was born during the upheavals and chaos of China’s Warring States period (475–221 BC). His outstanding written style, vivid and fantastical imagination, and marvelous fables exercised a profound influence on the formation of traditional Chinese culture, whilst he himself occupied a commanding position amongst the thinkers of the day. He disdained worldly fame and profit and lived in transcendent calm and unaffected ease. Amidst the rush, busyness, and ever-increasing tempo of life today it is easy to become lost and exhausted. However, Zhuangzi and his wisdom can teach us how to find spiritual comfort in this vast world of ours. This book takes the essence of Zhuangzi’s classic and in a single phrase or topic or even a story in its commentary provides us with a concise and original interpretation in an easily understood form. It combines the philosophy of the classic with modern life. In this dialogue with the sages of Chinese philosophy, we can understand the real meaning of life.