A Study on the Appearance Sequence of Chinese Basic Tea

According to the study on 20 books that mentioned about basic tea in China, sequence of description is different from each books. It is desired that sequence of description also need to follow certain principle. Base on the principle, laid and studied time of appearance of basic tea. Conclusion is made with summarized consideration so far, Chinese tea is generally classified under basic tea and reprocessed tea. Chinese basic tea classified in six kinds and reclassified in 2-5 kinds according to several criteria. Scholars who advanced a view on time of appearance and the origin are 陳椽, 程啓坤, and 于觀亭. Three people’s view can classified in two kinds. 陳椽and 程啓坤described as in order of origin of basic tea, Green tea, Yellow tea, Dark green tea, White tea, Black tea and Oolong tea. 于觀亭described as in order of time of appearance of basic tea. The difference between two types of view are shown in White tea. 陳椽and 程啓坤view the White tea appeared earlier than the Black tea according to the 生曬茶 from 程啓坤’s『煮泉小品』(1554) 于觀亭view White tea appeared the last among the basic tea depend on the record of『政和縣誌』. This manuscript followed 于觀亭’s view. 陳椽and 程啓坤laid the origin of white tea in three, variety, manufactured method and modern viewpoint. They found origin of white tea in manufactured method from『煮泉小品』. In modern viewpoint, because they found the origin of white tea from『政和縣誌』like 于觀亭, henceforward we can reach an agreement on next debate.