20 YEARS ON, CHINESE MASTER PROMOTES TEA CULTURE IN SINGAPORE AMID PANDEMIC
“At the invitation of Katie Zheng, the owner of Katia Verde Art Gallery in Singapore, Wang showcased a Chinese tea ceremony at the gallery in February last year.
The event was jointly hosted by Royal Commonwealth Society of Singapore to welcome a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Delegation from the UK Parliament and it was highly applauded by the western participants and was posted on the British High Commission in Singapore's official social media account.”
Wang Yong demonstrates a Chinese tea ceremony at the Raffles City Shopping Center in Singapore, Jan. 24, 2021. (Photo provided by interviewee)
Tea is part of the daily live in China since the old days and part of the cultural heritage, said Wang Yong, surrounded by display of tea sets and packets. Tea ceremony is also an art, soothing and relaxing, he added.
SINGAPORE, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- Many of the Singaporean clients were amazed to find Chinese tea specialist Wang Yong travelled from China to Singapore to continue publicizing the Chinese tea culture amid the COVID-19, but Wang believed he should persevere with the 20-odd year engagement.
"Some of my old clients in Singapore told me in phone calls that they missed my tea, more so when they can't go abroad during the holiday season and visit each other's house freely," Wang explained what motivated him to participate in the 28th edition of the Spring in the City & Happy Chinese New Year's exhibition on culture, art and tourism from Jan. 20 to Feb. 28.
The event, featuring a combination of performance and exhibition, is jointly hosted by Singapore's Golden International Holdings and the Huaxia Cultural Hub, with the Chinese Embassy in Singapore as the honorary sponsor.
Sitting at a temporary booth in the downtown shopping mall the Raffles City, Wang said since he was invited to the yearly event in 1999, he has turned up every following year, and spent every Chinese New Year in Singapore.
Chinese Lunar New Year is an occasion for gatherings during which tea might be served, so it's a good opportunity to promote the Chinese tea culture in Singapore, Wang said.
Tea is part of the daily live in China since the old days and part of the cultural heritage, said Wang, surrounded by display of tea sets and packets. Tea ceremony is also an art, soothing and relaxing, he added.
Wang Yong demonstrates a Chinese tea ceremony at the Katia Verde Art Gallery in Singapore, February 2020. (Photo provided by interviewee)
The news that some Singaporeans had hoarded milk tea when shops were ordered to suspend business in order to contain the spread of the virus last year in Singapore has caught Wang's attention and he believes that Chinese tea is better for health, particularly during the time of pandemic when people have to stay at home more and exercise less than usual.
Quite a few Singaporeans joined Wang this year in his tea lecture and ceremony, including Ch'ng Jit Koon, Singapore's former senior minister of state for community development, despite the pandemic.
Over the years, more and more Singapore dwellers have been influenced somehow by Wang, which makes him believe he has done something right.
At the invitation of Katie Zheng, the owner of Katia Verde Art Gallery in Singapore, Wang showcased a Chinese tea ceremony at the gallery in February last year.
The event was jointly hosted by Royal Commonwealth Society of Singapore to welcome a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Delegation from the UK Parliament and it was highly applauded by the western participants and was posted on the British High Commission in Singapore's official social media account.
In explaining the Chinese tea culture to westerners, Wang would like to link it with the western's passion for wine.
Wang Yong (R5, back row) is with participants of a Chinese tea ceremony at the Katia Verde Art Gallery in Singapore, February 2020. (Photo provided by interviewee)
Wang, who is also the executive director of a culture company in southwest China's city of Chengdu, developed his love for Chinese tea once he needed a tea expert for a program, but failed to find a suitable one due to time limits, so he began to learn himself.
But it is only after years of devotion that he has mastered the temperatures, tools, methods and other elements that could have brought out the flavors of tea. This is somewhat similar to the wine, according to Wang.
Wang also learned English in order to better communicate with foreigners.
He said there is a sense of responsibility from his part and a genuine need from his clients' part, which have encouraged him to keep up with promoting the Chinese tea culture in Singapore this year, as well as in the years to come.
Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-02/06/c_139725639.htm
特写:延续20年传统,中国茶艺师疫情下继续在新加坡推广茶文化
“去年2月,应新加坡绿森林艺术坊创办人郑丽勤的邀请,汪勇在那里做了一场中国茶艺展示。那场活动由新加坡皇家英联邦协会和新加坡绿森林艺术坊联合举办,是为了欢迎英联邦议会协会的一个代表团访问新加坡。活动受到了西方与会人士的高度赞扬,英国驻新加坡高级专员公署的官方社交媒体账号也发布了活动的消息。”
新华社新加坡2月5日电中国高级茶艺师汪勇的许多新加坡客户惊讶地发现,新冠肺炎疫情下,汪勇仍然专程从中国飞到新加坡,继续推广中国茶文化。他认为,过去20多年的坚持不能中断。
汪勇解释自己此行的原因时告诉记者,“我的一些新加坡老客户给我打电话,说他们想念我的茶,尤其是今年由于疫情关系,他们不能在节假日出国旅游,也不能自由地相互串门。”
汪勇是来新加坡参加第28届“春城洋溢华夏情暨欢乐春节”活动的,活动从1月20日到2月28日期间举办,包括多场文艺演出和一个文化、艺术和旅游展。该活动由新加坡金航国际集团和华夏文化促进会联合主办,得到了中国驻新加坡大使馆的荣誉赞助。
坐在市中心购物中心莱佛士城的一个临时摊位上,汪勇说,自从1999年被邀请参加这个一年一度的活动以来,他每年都来新加坡,每一个中国农历新年也都是在新加坡度过的。
他说,亲朋好友聚会欢度中国农历新年,或许会饮茶品茗,所以这是一个在新加坡推广中国茶文化的好机会。
他说,茶自古就是中国人日常生活的一部分,茶文化自然也成为中国文化遗产的一部分。汪勇所在的临时摊位上陈列着各式茶具和茶饼。他补充说,茶道也是一门艺术,能帮助人们舒缓和放松身心。
他说,去年新加坡为遏制新冠病毒传播,采取病毒阻断措施,奶茶店被迫暂时停业前一些新加坡人囤积奶茶的新闻,引起了他的关注。他认为,中国茶更有利于人们的健康,特别是在新冠肺炎大流行的时候,人们比平时更多地呆在家里,锻炼时间减少。
今年的活动中,还有不少新加坡人参加了汪勇的茶艺展示和茶道讲座,其中包括新加坡前社会发展部高级政务部长庄日昆先生。
多年来,越来越多的新加坡居民在某种程度上受到了汪勇的影响,这让他坚信自己坚持在新加坡推广茶艺是做了一件正确的事情。
去年2月,应新加坡绿森林艺术坊创办人郑丽勤的邀请,汪勇在那里做了一场中国茶艺展示。那场活动由新加坡英联邦协会和新加坡绿森林艺术坊联合举办,是为了欢迎英联邦议会协会的一个代表团访问新加坡。活动受到了西方与会人士的高度赞扬,英国驻新加坡高级专员公署的官方社交媒体账号也发布了活动的消息。
汪勇在向西方人阐释中国茶文化时,巧妙地把它与西方人对葡萄酒的热爱联系起来。他本人是中国西南城市成都一家文化传播公司的董事总经理,他之前在举办一个活动时需要找一位茶艺师,但由于时间紧迫未能找到合适的人选,于是他开始自学茶道。经过多年的努力,他才掌握了水温、工具、手法等影响茶汤的要素。他觉得这点很像西方的葡萄酒。汪勇还自学英语,以便更好地与外国人交流。
他说,自己有一种使命感,客户也有切实的需求,这激励他在今年以及未来几年继续在新加坡推广中国茶文化。(完)