三、日常茶礼

少数民族的生活中处处有茶叶，处处要用茶叶，茶是他们彼此相处的重要连接。

图4-20　普洱茶与日常茶礼

As an important medium in etiquette interaction, Pu’er tea promotes communication and harmony among individuals of all ethnic groups and acts as an emotional transmission symbol between the living and the deceased.This also spreads Pu’er tea through different forms of tea ceremony, which plays an important role in the public’s understanding Pu’er tea.And ethnic minorities use tea in different manners, with different meanings.In sacrifice, their respect or good wishes for gods or ancestors are shown in various forms.The sacrificial tea ceremony of Bulang people is extremely diversified, including offering sacrifices to Buddha, earth gods, mountain gods,ancestors and tea ancestors.Tea is essential in these sacrificial activities.The De’ang people are devout believers of Hinayana Buddhism.Every religious festival, men, women and children would listen to, recite and chant Buddhist scriptures.Most of the offerings provided in the Buddhism Temples are tea, rice, walnuts, etc.They think that these sacrifices are all earned by hard work and sweat, and they are offered to Buddha to show their piety.

In the view of the Yi people, people after death still need food and clothing after death, so tea should be a sacrifice for the soul.Every“March Street”, a traditional festival for Bai people or the sacrificial activities related to religious beliefs, Bai people sacrifice to heaven, earth, Benzhu (local god)and ghosts and gods with tea, rice and sugar.In addition, tea is also an indispensable offering of sacrificial activities for many ethnic minorities, such as Lahu, Jinuo, etc., as if it was a connection between them and the gods or the deceased, which can bring good wishes or emotional support.