The Story of FuRong Tea

In the Ming Dynasty, the famous Chinese philosopher Wang ShouRen was the master of YiYang County. One day, he went to the country side to investigate the situation of the people. Soon the dusk came and Wang arrived to the hill side of FuRong Hill. He planed to find a farmer's house for the night. At that time he saw a monk. The monk was the master of FuRong Temple and he led Wang to his temple for the dinner. The monk master was carrying a bamboo basket. On their way to the temple, faint scent was emitted from the basket. When they got to the temple, the monk made a cup of tea by the tea leaves in the basket. Master held the cup, the tea leaves looked like pine needles, when the boiling water was poured into the cup, the hot water vapor circled around the edge of the cup, then rising from the center, came up about two feet, took another circle in the air, and then became a beautiful white FuRong flower. Soon after, the flower dispersed to a cloud, floating around in the room. Immediately the room was full of fragrant scent. Master Wang was so amazed and he applauded to the monk. He tried a small sip of the water, the flavor of the tea was so strong, delicious and pure That Master Wang felt flourishing and all tire had gone. The Master Monk told him that this tea was planted in FuRong Mount so its name was FuRong Tea. About this kind of tea, there was a sad story.

Several years ago, there was a girl living on the FuRong Mount whose name was FuRong. She was as beautiful as the FuRong flower. FuRong was very good at planting tea. Her tea was the best in this area. However, she only offered her tea to the poor people but never to the rich. One year, the richman Sir Wang went to the mount with his fellows. Sir Wang wanted FuRong to make tea for him but FuRong refused uncompromisingly. Sir Wang was so angry that he ordered his bodyguards beat her brutally, then put her inside the woods. Several days later, one of FuRong's friends named Zhiming came here to help her pick tea leaves. Zhiming found FuRong lying in the tea woods. FuRong only had time to tell Zhiming "just bury me in this tea field" and then died. People buried the girl in the tea field. Soon after, FuRong's widowed mother also died in sorrow. In the next year, there was a tea sprout growing on the top of FuRong's tomb. Beside the tomb there appeared a spring. One night FuRong showed up in Zhiming's dream. She told Zhiming to take the tea bud on Guyu Day each year and then he can get long life by drinking it. Zhiming did what she want on that day and made the very best FuRong Tea. Whenever he put the tea in hot water, the vapour became a FuRong Flower above the cup. With tear in the eyes, the abbot told Wang Shouren: "I am just the young man Zhiming. I sweared I will never get married after she died. I shaved all my hair and become a monk, then I built up this temple beside FuRong's tomb. I will accompany my girl forever. "

The next day Wang Shouren was going back to his yamun. When he was leaving, the monk Zhiming gave him a small package of FuRong Tea and a gourd full of FuRong Spring water. He told Wang that only when he make tea with the FuRong Spring water, the miracle will appear. When Wang Shouren went back to his home, his classmate, the Master of the XiangYin County happened to visit him. He used the FuRong tea to welcome his friend. The Master of XiangYin was amazed by the tea, especially the FuRong flower formed by the vapor. When he left, Wang Shouren gave him half of the tea as a gift. The Master of XiangYin treasured the tea so much that he later use it as a tribute to the Emperor. He send the tea to the emperor by himself and told the emperor the story and miracle of the tea. The emperor wanted to try the tea at once. However, the tea buds floated ups and downs in the hot water, but the FuRong flower never appeared. The emperor was so angry by being cheated. He ordered the death penalty to the Master of Xiangyin. The Master of Xiangyin was frightened and told the emperor that it was his friend Master Wang who gave him this tea. If you call Wang Shouren to the capital and ask him, you will get the explanation.

The Emperor ordered Wang Shouren to the imperial palace immediately. Wang got the decree and traveled to the capital at double speed. Weeks later he got to the palace. The emperor was very angry to Master Wang and wanted to killed him. Wang stood in front of the emperor and said: "I only want a good reason for my death. Why do your majesty want to kill me?" The emperor threw the tea in front of him and said: "you cheated me by the FuRong flower miracle, that is why I have to execute you." Master Wang took a tumble and he told the emperor that only the FuRong Spring water can create this miracle. If you majesty allow me to go back and get the spring water I will show you the marvelous spectacle. The emperor gave him one month to get the water, if failed, he would kill Wang's whole family. Master Wang went back to the FuRong Temple and told Zhiming Monk the story. zhiming gave him a full gourd of water. Wang Shouren went to the capital again and used this water to make FuRong Tea. Immediately the FuRong flower rose on the top of the jade cup. the Emperor was very happy to see the miracle. In order to show his gratitude he promoted Master Wang as the head of the whole province. Wang had a deep feeling about his experience. He told himself: why don't I learn from the high-minded FuRong Girl and take a reclusive life? He resigned to the emperor, went back to the FuRong temple and became a student of Zhiming Monk. He lived more than a hundred years and the story of the FuRong Tea was well known to the people.