Tea: The Eyelids Of Bodhidharma
Condition: SECONDHAND
This is a secondhand book. The jacket image is a photograph of the exact copy we have in stock. This image shows the condition of this book. Further condition remarks are below.
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Yellowed
Markings: No markings
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
A richly layered cultural and historical study, Tea: The Eyelids of Bodhidharma chronicles the remarkable journey of tea from its mythological origins in ancient Asia to its profound influence on global civilization. Drawing on the legendary tale of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, who is said to have torn off his own eyelids to stay awake during meditation — from which the first tea plant grew — the work weaves together spirituality, history, and anthropology into a seamless and contemplative narrative. Hesse presents tea not merely as a beverage but as a living philosophy, tracing its role in Zen Buddhism, Japanese ceremony, Chinese culture, and the colonial trade routes that carried it across the world. The tone is meditative yet scholarly, inviting readers to see each cup of tea as a vessel carrying centuries of human meaning and ritual. This is an essential read for anyone captivated by the intersection of nature, culture, and the quiet ceremonies that define human life.
Author: Eelco Hesse
Format: Paperback
Published: 1982, Prism Press
Genre: Society & culture
Condition remarks:
Book: Good
Jacket: No dust jacket
Pages: Yellowed
Markings: No markings
Condition remarks: Condition as shown in image
A richly layered cultural and historical study, Tea: The Eyelids of Bodhidharma chronicles the remarkable journey of tea from its mythological origins in ancient Asia to its profound influence on global civilization. Drawing on the legendary tale of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma, who is said to have torn off his own eyelids to stay awake during meditation — from which the first tea plant grew — the work weaves together spirituality, history, and anthropology into a seamless and contemplative narrative. Hesse presents tea not merely as a beverage but as a living philosophy, tracing its role in Zen Buddhism, Japanese ceremony, Chinese culture, and the colonial trade routes that carried it across the world. The tone is meditative yet scholarly, inviting readers to see each cup of tea as a vessel carrying centuries of human meaning and ritual. This is an essential read for anyone captivated by the intersection of nature, culture, and the quiet ceremonies that define human life.