"Song of Seven Bowls of Tea" by Lu Tong

 

The Life of Lu Tong: A Man Who Drank Too Much Tea

Lu Tong (卢仝) (790-835) was one of those guys who probably preferred quiet mornings with a steaming bowl of tea over just about anything else in life. While the world outside was tangled in the political chaos of the Tang Dynasty, Lu Tong wasn’t interested in fame or fortune. Instead, he gave himself the nickname Yuchuanzi (玉川子), like saying, “I’m just the ‘Master of Yuchuan,’ chilling out here in my own little world.”

This wasn’t just laziness, though—he wanted to stay out of the drama and enjoy the simple things: tea, poetry, and the occasional philosophical musing about life. In fact, his love for tea ran so deep that he basically wrote the original tea-lover’s manifesto.

The Famous Poem: "Seven Bowls of Tea" (七碗茶歌)

One day, Lu Tong received a gift of fresh tea leaves from a government official, Meng Jianyi. As a poet with a flair for expressing every little feeling, Lu Tong responded the only way he knew: by writing a playful poem about how each bowl of tea affects him.

He starts with the first bowl soothing his throat like a drink of cool water after a long, dry day. With the second bowl, the loneliness starts to lift—imagine that warm feeling of sitting with a cup of tea, suddenly realizing things aren’t so bad. By the third bowl, his mind kicks into gear, like when caffeine brings out all the creative ideas you forgot were in there.

By the time he’s on his fourth and fifth bowls, things get a bit weird: he’s sweating, all the frustrations of his life pour out of him (literally through his pores), and he feels cleansed down to his bones. On the sixth bowl, he’s basically in Zen mode—halfway to becoming a spirit himself.

Then comes the seventh bowl. At this point, Lu Tong throws his hands up: "I can’t drink anymore!" He says he feels a cool breeze under his arms, as if the tea has made him so light and free that he could just ride the wind and fly away.

Dreaming of Escape

The poem doesn’t stop with that breezy feeling. Lu Tong imagines flying to Mount Penglai, a mystical place where immortals live in peace, far above the storms and worries of ordinary life. But even as he dreams of escaping all the mess of the world, he can’t help but think about the people left behind—the millions of souls struggling on the edge of survival.

He wonders: “Do those immortals up there ever think about us down here? Will the people who suffer so much ever find peace?” It’s a moment of both humor and deep compassion—as if Lu Tong is saying, "Sure, I could float away and forget it all... but what about the rest of the world?"

Lu Tong’s Legacy: The Poet of Tea Lovers Everywhere

Lu Tong’s poem struck a chord because it’s about more than tea—it’s about life. Tea isn’t just a drink for him; it’s a journey, a way to reflect, laugh, let go of frustrations, and even find some peace, if only for a little while.

And that’s why Lu Tong’s spirit has lasted all these years. His “Seven Bowls of Tea” isn’t just a poem—it’s like the ultimate tea experience that every tea drinker can relate to. That feeling of comfort in a cup, the little moments where life feels lighter, and the gentle reminder that no matter how hard life gets, we can always pause, sip some tea, and take a breath.

Lu Tong might have lived centuries ago, but honestly, he sounds like the kind of guy we’d all want to share a pot of tea with.

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Seven Bowls of Tea

With the first bowl, my throat and lips are moistened.

The second bowl breaks the loneliness inside.

The third bowl explores my impoverished mind,
Bringing out five thousand scrolls of ancient texts.

The fourth bowl brings a light sweat, and every injustice I have suffered dissipates through my pores.

The fifth bowl cleanses my skin and bones.

The sixth bowl lifts and connects me with mysterious immortals.

The seventh bowl I dare not finish,
I only feel a cool, gentle breeze stirring beneath my arms.

Where is Mount Penglai?
Yuchuanzi* will ride this breeze, wishing to return home.

On the mountain, the immortals govern the world below,
They have such high positions, are noble and virtuous, and are shielded from wind and rain.

How could the immortals know of the countless living beings,
Struggling in suffering, clinging to life on the cliff’s edge?

I must ask the Imperial Counselor on behalf of the people:
In the end, will they ever find relief?

 

* Yuchuanzi - the literary name of the Chinese poet Lu Tong

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Original text:

七碗茶歌

一碗喉吻润，
二碗破孤闷。

三碗搜枯肠，
唯有文字五千卷。

四碗发轻汗，
平生不平事，尽向毛孔散。

五碗肌骨清，
六碗通仙灵。

七碗吃不得，唯觉两腋习习清风生。

蓬莱山，在何处？
玉川子，乘此清风欲归去。

山上群仙司下土，
地位清高隔风雨。

安得知百万亿苍生命，
堕在巅崖受辛苦？

便为谏议问苍生，
到头还得苏息否？