Ancient Tea Hermitage

Ancient Tea Hermitage

The Ancient Tea Hermitage is a traditional courtyard structure, with side rooms to the west and an open courtyard in the center. It was established during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. The hermitage lies south of Shangwan Street, west of Shangwan Temple, east of Fengbo Pavilion and Dengzhan Land, and north of Monk’s Hermitage. Historical records indicate that during the late Ming period, Li Erzhang, a scholar-official who achieved the rank of Jinshi in the Wanli reign and later rose to become Minister of Rites and participated in state affairs, “was demoted to Ruihong due to his candid remonstrations.” He drifted to Ruihong Street and took up residence near Fengbo Pavilion on Shangwan. There, he set up a thatched hut and brewed a large vat of black tea every day for travelers to drink. Over the years, his heartfelt compassion for the people never waned, and he asked for no payment in return—thus the place became known as the “Free Tea Hermitage.” (The Ancient Tea Hermitage is also called the Free Tea Hermitage.)

Later, when the imperial court sought to recall Li Erzhang, they specially dispatched Zhang Ruitu, a top-ranking scholar (Zhuangyuan, Bangyan, and Tanhua), to travel back and forth to Ruihong to persuade him to return. By then, Li Erzhang had no interest in resuming official duties. To demonstrate his resolve, he shaved his head and became a monk. Seeing that his decision was unshakable, Zhang Ruitu petitioned on his behalf to establish the hermitage and purchase farmland for his livelihood. He also bestowed a plaque to honor the residence and personally inscribed the three characters 妙觉地 (“Wonderful Awakening Land”) as a keepsake.

After the completion of the tea hermitage, Li Erzhang dedicated himself not only to the study of Buddhism and brewing tea but also to authoring a five-character rhymed historical text in biographical style, spanning from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the end of the Ming Dynasty—titled 《鉴略妥注》(Annotated Mirror Outline). This book later became a widely used primer for educating children across the country.

Why did Li Erzhang choose to settle in Ruihong and never leave? Perhaps it was the loyalty, filial piety, kindness, generosity, and gentle nature of the Ruihong townspeople—and their enduring commitment to doing good—that moved and inspired him.