The Literary Brilliance of Eileen Chang
Eileen Chang's portrayals of love and relationships have withstood the test of time, shining ever more brilliantly in modern Chinese literature. Beneath her words lie profound historical contexts and reflections of society. She metaphorically describes an "unseasonable life" to depict the coldness of the world, using the lifecycle of charcoal—from vibrant wood to lifeless embers, then burning red-hot before turning into ashes—to symbolize the cycle of life. Her delicate narrative style invites readers into an infinite space for imagination and exploration.
Among her many short stories, tea appears as a subtle yet recurring motif. Rather than describing tea explicitly, she uses it as a literary vessel to weave profound connections between literature and tea culture. Coming from an aristocratic background, she was familiar with fine teas and exquisite teaware. Through her writings, she not only captured the tea culture of her era but also reflected how scholars and intellectuals engaged with tea, revealing its deeper significance in that historical period.
Tea Imagery in Eileen Chang’s Works
Love in a Fallen City
Dunfeng, at 36 years old, marries the 59-year-old Mr. Mi for financial security. The cold tea she serves him not only embodies the Chinese saying "People leave, tea turns cold" but also mirrors the harsh realities of human relationships.
Osmanthus Steamed: Ah Xiao’s Unhappy Autumn
Ah Xiao’s lover never officially marries her, yet she steals tea for him. In that era, tea symbolized nobility; for a lower-class woman to risk theft for a cherished cup highlights her emotional struggles. Though their love never materializes, the warm tea in her hands represents the entangled sorrow and resilience of those at the bottom of society.
Red Rose, White Rose
Jiaorui’s flirtation with Zhenbao is strikingly memorable. A woman using tea to seduce, a startled man, and floating green tea leaves—likely Longjing tea, the most renowned variety at the time—create a nuanced scene. The refined elegance of Longjing tea becomes a fitting metaphor for romantic entanglements.
The Golden Cangue
Bai Liusu watches as Fan Liuyuan lifts a cup of leftover tea. The green tea leaves cling to the glass, arranged beautifully like a delicate banana leaf against the light. Chang’s vivid tea imagery demonstrates her deep understanding of tea.
Half a Lifelong Romance
Tea, seemingly insignificant, is reduced to a mere tool for washing chopsticks. Manzhen hails from Lu'an, Anhui, a region famous for its Lu'an Melon Seed tea, a highly regarded variety. Yet in this scene, tea is stripped of its nobility, treated as something mundane and forgotten.
Jasmine Tea
The opening line: "I made you a pot of jasmine tea." Here, tea surpasses its physical presence—the floral aroma is a facade, while bitterness lurks beneath. Chang uses jasmine tea as a symbol of unspoken sorrow, adding layers of meaning to her narrative.
The Cultural Significance of Tea
Jasmine tea, or scented tea, carries the fragrance of Eastern cultural memory. Its production process is not just a craft but also a testament to patience and time.
The Art of Scented Tea Production
- Selecting the Tea Base: The finest spring tea buds are preferred, followed by autumn harvests. Though summer tea is considered inferior, its abundance of buds makes it a primary ingredient for domestic scented tea production.
- The Infusion Process: The magic of jasmine tea lies in its ability to absorb floral fragrances. The traditional infusion method is divided into:
- “Yin Hua” (Layering flowers and tea): Fresh jasmine flowers are layered with tea leaves to absorb the floral scent overnight. The process repeats multiple times, with careful aeration and final roasting.
- “Ti Hua” (Enhancing the floral notes): Instead of roasting after infusion, this method preserves more floral freshness, though it increases moisture content, making storage more challenging.
Tea as a Metaphor in Eileen Chang’s Writing
Tea that has been fully infused absorbs its essence, much like emotions that become deeply ingrained. Meanwhile, surface-level floral infusions fade quickly, mirroring transient, superficial affections.
Eileen Chang masterfully uses tea to mirror human emotions and relationships—some deeply rooted, while others merely fleeting illusions. In her works, tea is more than a drink; it becomes a metaphor for life’s unspoken melancholy and unattainable love.
