The developmental history of tea is quite extensive, with tea already an integral part of the literati lifestyle in the Tang and Song dynasties. There have also been countless poems, calligraphies, paintings, engraved seals associated with tea created by literati throughout history. This essay references artworks in the genres of calligraphy and painting examined during the research process to analyze the cultural and art settings and contents embodied in the culture and lifestyle of tea, focusing on the evolution of the Chinese character tea (茶) and how it was written in the ancient times (荼), and how the character is represented by calligraphy and seal engraving. Calligraphic works depicting poems on tea ceremony and the inheritance and development of paintings depicting iconic tea groups, tea aficionados, and tea competitions are also analyzed and appreciated. Poetries, calligraphies, paintings, engraved seals associated with tea ceremony reflect the artists' different emotions and ideologies, revealing the intricate relationship between tea and the literati lifestyle. The vastness of the subject matter leaves much to be desired and literati from different dynasties were each unique; there is much more to learn about the sentiments behind literati calligraphy and painting and the intricate connection with their lifestyles and everyday surroundings.
