Written by Venerable Zhiwen
Photos by Humanistic Buddhism Media Correspondents Lin Jun-Yi, Wang Bo-Zhen, Venerable Huiyu, and Venerable Zhiquan

On March 8, 2025, the Tea Ceremony Club of the Buddhist Studies Department at Fo Guang University held its inaugural tea gathering, "Tea Tasting and Meditative Reflection," at Yunshui Xuan. Under the guidance of Instructor Chiu Chiu-Wei, who is both a lecturer in Tea Aesthetics at Fo Guang Shan Humanistic Buddhism University Lanyang Campus and the advisor to the Tea Ceremony Club, eight tea tables were set to welcome 60 faculty members and students from various departments. During the event, the club affirmed its mission to contribute to Fo Guang University's vision of becoming a "University of Aesthetics", while also establishing its unique academic identity beyond a typical student organization.

Aesthetic Vision Rooted in Buddhist Wisdom

Fo Guang University's Vice President, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Dean of the Buddhist College, Professor Li Kun-Chong, emphasized in his opening remarks that this tea gathering integrated the wisdom of the university's founder, Buddhist teachings, literature, and aesthetics. He affirmed that the establishment of the Tea Ceremony Club serves as a cornerstone for shaping the university’s aesthetic vision. Citing a teaching by Venerable Master Hsing Yun to a successful entrepreneur, he noted that "A person's success is determined by the positive energy generated through good deeds. And this can begin with something as simple as drinking a cup of tea." Through tea ceremonies, individuals can cultivate mindfulness, discover life’s wisdom, and embody the values of doing good deeds, speaking good words, and thinking good thoughts.

Tea Culture as a Bridge for International and Buddhist Dialogue

Dr. Tseng Shu-Hsien, Director of the Digital Humanities Research and Development Center for Venerable Master Hsing Yun, shared her experiences working with the National Central Library, where she often carried tea sets while signing international cooperation agreements. She highlighted that tea culture is widely embraced by the global academic community and can also be a powerful tool for Buddhist propagation. She encouraged the club to organize reading sessions to explore classic works on tea culture from Tang Dynasty monks and literati, such as The Classic of Tea (茶經), Tea Records (茶錄), and Tea Manuscripts (茶譜). By studying how tea ceremonies intertwine with Buddhist philosophy and meditative practice, students can further develop comparative research and contribute to the promotion of Buddhist tea culture.

Tea as a Practice of Mindfulness and Service

Instructor Chiu Chiu-Wei, who considers herself "merely a volunteer for the Buddha," shared that after retiring as a middle school teacher, she devoted herself to teaching tea culture as a form of service to monasteries and academic institutions. Throughout the gathering, she introduced the essence of humanistic tea culture, the types of tea brewed during the event, the history of tea traditions, and how tea serves as a tool for nurturing both body and mind.

This event marked the first major gathering organized by the Tea Ceremony Club since its establishment this semester. Under Instructor Chiu's guidance, students took on roles as tea servers and tea companions, setting up the tea tables amidst blooming cherry blossoms and azaleas on campus. The tea space was adorned with calligraphy works, including "Tea Tasting and Meditative Reflection" and "The Subtle Smile of the Flower"—gifts from alumna Zhang Ying, now a lecturer at Yinlu—as well as a poem by Chan Master Shoujing from the Song Dynasty, handwritten by Master’s student Xu Yu-Rong. At the registration table, doctoral student Zhang Wen-Ting contributed a piece of calligraphy on traditional xuan paper.

The event also featured a live musical performance by doctoral student Venerable Zhiwen and Master’s student Tan Wei-Ji, who played traditional guqin pieces such as "Puan Mantra (普庵咒)" and "Returning to the Farm (歸去來辭)", as well as guzheng performances of "Awakening of Insects (驚蟄)" and "Evening Song of the Fisherman’s Boat (漁舟唱晚)". Additionally, students from the Lanyang Monastery Tea Ceremony Class participated as tea companions, enhancing the immersive tea culture experience.

Cross-Disciplinary Participation and Enthusiastic Reception

The event was attended by a full house, including esteemed guests such as Jian Rui-Yao, Director of Yunshui Academy; Professor Wang Ya-Ting from the Department of LOHAS Industries; Venerable Miao Jia, Student Life Instructor of the Buddhist Studies Department; and Assistant Professors Tseng Zhi-Mian, Lin Xin-Yi, and Jian Ru-En from the same department. Also present were postdoctoral researcher Zhang Mei-Ya from the Buddhist Studies Research Center, along with students from the Departments of Buddhist Studies, LOHAS Industries, Chinese Literature and Applied Studies, Product and Media Design, Religious Studies, and Public Administration and International Affairs.

With its successful inaugural event, the Tea Ceremony Club has established itself as a vital part of Fo Guang University’s aesthetic education initiative. Through its integration of tea culture, literature, music, and Buddhist philosophy, the club aims to cultivate an appreciation for the art of tea as a medium for mindfulness and wisdom, laying a strong foundation for the university’s vision of becoming a University of Aesthetics.