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i have 3 topics here for an around 2000 words essay. please choose from one of the topics, and please let me know which topic you have chosen. i will upload the file about the topic.

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Upload file attachment Please pick ONE of the topics given below:

1. Please explain the meaning of <Three Perfection>.
Please explain with the aesthetic theory and achievements of two famous literati artists in Chinese art history.

2. Discuss the development of Chinese tea art from the Tang dynasty until recent times in China or overseas.

3. Describe the main features of Beijing Opera and explain why it is popular to general audience.
Please discuss the special interaction between the actors on stage and the audience during the performance. attchmentCancel order5m

Development of tea from the Tang Dynasty age to present day

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Introduction
Tea is a very common beverage all around the world. Tea is the second most popular drink in the world from water. Tea drinking is of great importance in the Chinese culture. An old Chinese saying says that the basic daily necessities are; oil, salt, rice, fuel, soy sauce, tea and vinegar. Chinese tea culture refers to the methods used to prepare tea, the occasions during which it is prepared and the equipment used to prepare the tea. The tea culture in china differs a lot from that in other parts of the world such as Europe, Japan and Britain. Tea in China is consumed during both formal occasions and casually. Tea in china is not only a beverage but also a medicinal herb and a cuisine.
Tea drinking in China dates back 4000 years ago. The norm of drinking tea has grown and developed through the various dynasties. These are the Tang dynasty, Song dynasty, Yuan dynasty, Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty.
Tang Dynasty The Tang dynasty came about with changes to tea drinking such as its popularity in Northern China. Before the tang industry. People prepared tea by boiling tea leaves with other spices. The new popularity of tea in the north of China was brought about by the popularity of Buddhism and Lu Yu’s promotion of the beverage (Joliffe 2007). Buddhists used tea to relieve sleep and this is why it is said that tea and Buddhism developed together. Lu Yu, a scholar who had spent years studying tea published a book, “The Tea Classics” in the mid of the tang Dynasty (Joliffe 2007). The book explained the art of planting, processing, brewing and tasting tea. The book made tea even more popular and elevated its status, making it known in the north of China. Another reason for the growth of teas popularity was the growth of the use of tea in courts. The use of tea in the courts became prevalent as tea was paid as a tribute to the court (Joliffe 2007). Tea was regarded as an important commodity in the court. The emperor of Tang industry then established a place where tea could be processed once it was plucked. Once the tea was plucked there was a ceremony of some sought whereby the tea was transported round the city for hosting a "Qing Ming Banquet". By the mid of the Tang dynasty, tea drinking was already a custom in China.
There were different methods of tea preparation during the Tang dynasty. One of them was to boil tea leaves in water with ginger, date, mint, leek, orange peel and dogwood, the same method was used during the Han dynasty. The other chop, roast and pound the tea then steep it in a ewer containing hot water. The last method referred to as “powdered tea” was to ground tea leaves into a powder then boil some water and add the ground tea leaves along with a pinch of salt. The tea was then served in bowls.
Song Dynasty (690 – 1279 AC)
During this dynasty there were more tea farms and tea growing and harvest followed more strict regulations. Young girls picked the leaves when they were ready as some people beat drums to a rhythm. The tea leaves were picked using fingernails only and then sorted by grade. Tea of the highest grade was given to the emperor as tribute. Numerous tea houses emerged where people could go and drink tea casually. Tea was now steeped in pots rather than using bowls. Many people developed a passion for tea and this led to competition in discovering new varieties. Ways of preparing tea such as grinding the leaves developed more. The new ways needed new equipment for preparing the tea such as, a whisk thus this altered the people’s perception of tea. The new way of preparing tea by grinding it was supposed to bring harmony to mind and body. During this dynasty, a new form of tea also developed, white tea which was endorsed by Hui Zhong who considered it a “pinnacle of elegance”. Whisking of tea in China during the Song dynasty had been brought about by Japanese monks to Japan and then spread to China. However, soon around the 13th China the practice disappeared due to the increase of Mongolian tribes.
Chinese legend has it that tea was invented accidentally by Shen nong a herbalist and scholar. It was not until the Tang and Song Dynasties when tea showed some significance in Chinese tradition. During the mid-Tang Dynasty (780 A.D.), a scholar named Lu Yu published the first definitive book, Cha Ching or The Tea Classic, on tea after he spent over twenty years studying the subject. This documentation included his knowledge of planting, processing, tasting, and brewing tea. His research helped to elevate tea drinking to a high status throughout China. This was when the art of tea drinking was born.
An emperor who reigned in the song dynasty enjoyed his tea so much that he only offered it as a gift to those who were worthy (Joliffe 2007). His practice helped elevate the status of tea. In addition tea was the source of inspiration for many poems, paintings, songs and inspired many writers of books. This not only made tea popular and raised its worth but it also drew tea growers to the city.
During the Qing and Yuan dynasties the technology of making tea advanced making it easier to make tea and to retain its flavor. Tea drinking centers were coming up all over China. Tea drinking soon spread from China to Japan around 900 A.D. where a tea ceremony, Chanoyu was formed. Tea drinking in Japan was developed it a form of art which could take years to study. Unlike Japan, tea drinking in China was seen as a way of enjoyment. It is served when there are visitors and after meals.
Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 – 1911 AD)
While powdered tea had become common in the previous dynasties in the Ming and Qing dynasties loose leaf tea became common. Loose leaf tea was what was paid as tribute to the emperor in this dynasties and a court ruling was made to that accord. It was considered to be of the highest quality. Scholars enjoyed tasting tea and writing books about their experiences with the beverage. Loose leaf tea is the most commonly used type of tea today. Tea became a household name in the Qing dynasty symbolized order and expressed relationships in society.
In the 1600s tea was introduced to Europe and in 1669 to Europe. At this time tea was only enjoyed by the aristocrats since a pound of tea cost an equivalent of a workers total wages of nine months. Tea became the main import of Britain from China and was imported in large quantities due to the high demand. Soon tea became readily available and was consumed by even the laborers due to a reduction in its prices. These days tea is readily enjoyed by most people and is affordable.
The tea fermentation process was introduced during the 17th century (Joliffe 2007). There was mass production of tea in the late 18th and 19th century. During the end of 19th century, China suffered greatly when its produce decreased and a blockade for importing tea was enforced by Western countries.
The name “tea” was got from early Chinese dialects. Words such as Tay, Tchai and Cha were used to call the beverage and the tea leaf. The scientific name for tea is Camellia sinensis. It is indigenous in India and China. Tea is China’s national drink. Over 25 countries plant tea today leading to about over 1500 different types of tea in the world today (Joliffe 2007). The original tea was found in India and China in two types; C. sinensis sinensis from China and C. sinensis assamica from India. New hybrids were then formed from a combination of herbs, spices, fruits and flowers of other plants. Tea ware in China depends on the type of tea being served and they have a wide variety of ceramics used in different servings of tea.
Reasons for preparation of tea in China * Respect; tea is a sign of respect. Children pour their parents a cup of tea. The young always welcome visitors by offering them some tea. Also the young people can invite the old generation people for a cup of tea in the restaurant. In the past laborers were the ones who poured their bosses a cup of it. With civilization and liberalization sometimes the boss may pour the laborer a cup of tea but in formal occasions it is still the subordinate who pours his master a cup of tea. People of low ranks shouldn’t expect people of higher ranks to pour them a cup of tea. * Family gathering; in the Chinese culture , when people get married or are working sometimes it’s hard to keep in touch with family. Thus, the Chinese meet in restaurants for a cup of tea to maintain family ties and have family gatherings. Restaurants tend to be crowded especially when there is a festival celebration going on. Also the restaurants are a great place for grandchildren to meet their parents when their parents are burdened with work and can hardly go home. * Apology; in Chinese culture, pouring a cup of tea for someone can be a sign of an apology. For example when the children have wronged their parents they may pour them a cup of tea to show submission and regret. A worker who has wronged his employer may also pour a cup of tea for his boss in a bid to apologize. * Expressing thanks on the wedding day.
The Chinese traditional wedding ceremony involves a part where the groom and the bride kneel before their guardians and give them a cup of tea to express gratitude. It’s a way of thanking the parents for having brought them up and taken them this far. When given the tea the parents ought to take a sip and present their children with a red envelope which symbolizes good luck. The bride may also serve the parents of the groom with some tea to signify that she ha become part of the family. * Connecting large families during weddings (Joliffe 2007).
Chinese families are huge and sometimes it may be hard to have met a whole family especially for the older generations were many men were polygamous and have man children. Thus, in ceremonies such as weddings, tea is served to the members if the family and they are introduced. Drinking the tea signifies acceptance of the marriage while not drinking the tea shows unacceptance. * Lastly, folding the tea napkin in ceremonies is usually done to keep bad omens away. Tea is also mentioned as one of the seven necessities. The rest include; soy sauce, firewood, salt, oil, rice and vinegar.
For many parts of the world, tea is just that beverage one takes at some point during the day. In some parts of the world it is a necessity in the breakfast while for some it’s not. Despite the popularity of tea, there are still those who dislike it. However, most people have never dared to think of where tea came from and most people know nothing about its origins. Tea has been around for numerous decades. It may seem hard to believe that tea was at some point too expensive for the average man to purchase it but that was the case years ago.
Through the years tea has changed and improved. These days tea comes in various different forms, teabags, instant tea and grounded tea leaves. The various forms in which tea is manufactured make it simple to use. There are also other types of tea such as green tea. These are considered medicinal. The most commonly used type of tea today is black tea and is taken by people of all ages and all status (Joliffe 2007).
Conclusion
The culture of the Chinese shows the high value of tea they possess. It also shows their strong culture. Tea is not only a beverage to the Chinese but a part of their tradition. The Chinese have been known for valuing and keeping traditions. A study of the Chinese and their value of tea give one a very different perspective of the beverage. It’s more than just drinking it. It’s all the emotions and the sensual feeling that comes with it. As a result of this study, tea has gained new meaning in the writer’s life and while taking the next cup of tea one will definitely think deeply about it. There is a new appreciation for tea.

References
Joliffe, L. 2007. Tea and tourism tourists, traditions and transformations. Channel View Publications. Clevedon U.K.