Brewing Tea
in the Chinese Way
Brewing
Tea in the Chinese Way
This motion graphic promotes Chinese tea culture by introducing its origins, traditional tools and brewing process.
"Experience the beauty of traditional Chinese tea culture."
Timeline – 3 Months
Software – Adobe Illustrator and After Effects
Design Rationale
This story is set in the Ming Dynasty, a key period in tea culture. Steeping replaced Tang boiling and Song whisking, ultimately shaping modern tea brewing. The color choices and the narrator's attire, tea table, and garden architecture are drawn from historical references. The target audience includes tea lovers and those seeking a simple introduction to Chinese tea.
The elegant color palette creates a calm atmosphere, enhancing the peacefulness of tea brewing. The background music,《礼仪之邦》(Land of Etiquette), with traditional Chinese instruments, conveys a vibrant atmosphere that reflects deep cultural heritage.
Origin of Tea
According to legend, Shennong discovered tea 4,700 years ago while traveling. He found that the boiled water with tea leaves was refreshing, thirst-quenching, and energizing. He believed it to be a medicinal herb.
The history of tea as a beverage spans over 2,000 years. During the Ming Dynasty, the practice of brewing and drinking tea made from tea buds became popular.
Narrator
The narrator is depicted as a woman from a Ming Dynasty prestigious family. Her attire is inspired by traditional Ming Dynasty clothing, featuring garments like shirts, jackets, xiapei, beizi, bijia, and skirts. The style includes a straight collar, overlapping front, and ties, with no buttonholes.
Tea Tools
The ancients admired bamboo for its uprightness and resilience. Inspired by these qualities, I chose bamboo as the pattern for the blue and white porcelain tea set to complement the garden setting.
Gardens and Archways
In traditional Chinese gardens, elements like bamboo and arches hold significant cultural meaning. I used these elements as the story's backdrop to align with the atmosphere and era, immersing the audience in the experience.
Animation Process
