Geographic Habitat: The Vast Ancient Tea Mountains of Pu’er and Banna
On Jingmai Mountain in Pu’er and Bulang Mountain in Xishuangbanna, the Blang people have lived for generations amidst towering ancient tea forests. Their villages often blend seamlessly with the tea groves, houses surrounded by ancient trees. Here, you cannot tell where the forest ends and the tea garden begins; human dwellings are extremely restrained, hidden beneath nature’s lush greenery.
Historical Roots: The Ancient Legacy of the Pu People’s Tea Cultivation
As descendants of the ancient “Baipu” group, the Blang are the earliest people in the world to discover, harvest, and domesticate tea. Tea is not just their economic source; it is the backdrop of their lives. Upon those centuries-old tea trees hang not only tender leaves but also the unbroken agricultural wisdom and life philosophy of the Blang people spanning over a thousand years.
Spiritual Totem: The Fusion of Tea Ancestor Worship and Theravada Buddhism
In the Blang worldview, faith carries the fragrance of plants. They devoutly practice Theravada Buddhism while maintaining a supreme worship for their “Tea Ancestor” (Pa Aileng). During the annual tea ancestor worship ceremony, they bow and pray to the oldest tea trees. The Blang firmly believe that tea trees have souls; only by harvesting with a heart of reverence will the tea brew flow with the sweetness that protects future generations.