The Four Elegances of the Song Dynasty 宋代四雅: Through Scent, Taste, Touch, and Sight
Wu Zimu 吴自牧 (Song dynasty) recorded in his notes 《梦粱录》(Dreaming of Grain) that “烧香点茶，挂画插花，四般闲事，不宜累家 Burning incense, brewing tea, hanging paintings, and arranging flowers — these four leisurely pursuits should not burden the family,” highlighting the “four activities” of the elegant lifestyle of Song literati.
These activities were considered refined aspects of daily life by scholars of the time, elevating everyday experiences to an artistic level through the appreciation of scent, taste, touch, and sight.
a. Incense Burning, emphasizes the beauty of smell.
b. Tea Making, highlights the beauty of taste.
c. Flower Arranging, focuses on the beauty of touch.
d. Hanging Paintings, showcases the beauty of sight.
Together, these four arts reflect the aesthetic ideals and refined lifestyles of Song dynasty literati.
Song dynasty is often regarded as a peak of ancient Chinese civilization, with a strong cultural emphasis on elegance and the pursuit of a life of seclusion and refinement among the nobility.
Incense Burning (焚香 ; fén xiāng)
Incense culture has been around in China for a long time.
The history of incense use in China can be traced back to before the Spring and Autumn Period.
During the prosperous Tang dynasty, the blending of incense and its evaluation became an elegant art, and the culture of incense was formed.
The development of the Song dynasty reached its peak, and the incense culture was integrated into daily life.
The literati and scholars gathered to enjoy incense and read books while enjoying the rich fragrance, they read scriptures, talked about paintings, and discussed Taoism.
Many emperors, generals, ministers, and literati in the past dynasties cherished fragrance like gold and became addicted.
Some literati even lamented, “How can we gather without fragrance?”
Su Dongpo (Su Shi 苏轼) and his disciples spent their later years with agarwood as their companion, burning incense and writing poems all day long.
The reason why the people of the Song dynasty liked incense burning was mainly because incense burning could create a refined atmosphere, besides the fragrance was refreshing and could also bring spiritual tranquility.
Tea Brewing (点茶 ; diǎn chá)
In the history of Chinese tea, there is a saying that “tea flourished in the Tang dynasty and developed in the Song dynasty.”
Brewing tea was a ceremonial act during the Song dynasty. Brewing tea is different from the “making tea” we commonly do today.
People in the Song dynasty used the method called “tea brewing (点茶)”.
The beauty of tea brewing lies in its artistic conception.
When brewing tea, the first step is to boil water, then add finely ground tea powder to the teacup. Next, pour the boiling water into the cup, allowing the tea powder to transform into a thick paste. After that, a movement called “brewing tea” is performed, directing the teapot to add water to the cup with a good rhythm and control over the point of pouring. Meanwhile, the other hand uses a tea whisk to stir and mix the tea in the cup, creating a frothy surface.
Flower Arranging (插花 ; chā huā)
The art of flower arranging in China began before the Sui dynasty.
During the Tang dynasty, flower arranging (插花) was very popular among the court, and in the Song dynasty, this art became increasingly common among scholars and literati, developing rapidly.
The art of flower arranging in the Song dynasty surpassed the luxury of the Tang dynasty, adopting a cleaner and simpler style that emphasized the beauty of lines and deeper meanings over mere forms.
This reflects the life philosophy and morality of the flower arranger, referred to as the “concept of flowers (理念花),” which had a significant influence on the styles of floral art in the future.
Flower arranging became a trend in daily life across society during the Song dynasty. Buying a bouquet to take home, arranging it in a vase, and decorating daily life became a delightful sight.
The Song dynasty was a golden period in the history of flower arranging in China, commonly found in households. The popularity of this art led to the development of highly skilled techniques. Flower arranging adds beauty and joy to life.
Even today, many people with free time will buy a bouquet to take home and arrange it in a vase.
Hanging Paintings (挂画 ; guà huà)
“Hanging paintings” refers to the practice of displaying famous paintings, typically collected, for enjoyment by literary friends during elegant events or cultural gatherings.
The term “Hanging Paintings (挂画)” originally referred to tea-related paintings hung beside seating areas during tea events.
Over time, during the Song dynasty, the focus shifted to scrolls of poetry, lyrics, calligraphy, and paintings.
Literati paid great attention to the content and presentation of the paintings, making them an important part of appreciation in homes or gatherings. While hanging a few paintings at home may seem ordinary, there is a deep historical significance behind it.
Hanging paintings is also an art, with many factors to consider. When people in the Song dynasty were guests and held parties, they would hang paintings and arrange flowers, creating an elegant atmosphere. With good arrangements, a dining and drinking party could become exceptionally classy.