Our Story
The South Silk Road is not as well known as the Silk Road
of Marco Polo fame, but its place is firmly established
in the history of the tea trade. Named the ‘Chamadao’,
(tea and horse road), the South Silk Road’s rugged
trails linked China’s southwest provinces of Yunnan
and Sichuan to Tibet and beyond. Evolved from ancient
routes, the tea and horse road was officially established
as trade routes during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The
South Silk Road stretched more than 4,000 kilometers, traversing
rugged mountain paths, rivers and lush valleys. Before
becoming formal trade routes, the trails were significant
corridors for migration and cultural exchange between ethnic
groups that still populate southwest China and Tibet today. The
Tang-Tubo routes, as they were known in pre-Tang times,
reflected the ethnic groups that anchored the trails.
Although other products were traded, tea and horses were
the major commodities exchanged along the South Silk Road. The
Chinese introduced tea to Tibet during the Tang Dynasty.
Initially, tea was only consumed by Tibetan aristocracy,
however, it quickly became a mainstay of the Tibetan diet
for all classes of society. This resulted in tea
displacing silk as a main trading commodity. Tea
rituals soon followed Tibetan’s taste for tea and
soon tea practices emerged in homes, ceremonies and monasteries.
As tea became an important part of daily life, large scale
commerce in tea and horses between the Chinese dynasties
and Tibet further developed the caravan trails. The Song
court, (960-1279), established the Tea and Horse Office,
(Chamasi), to oversee the burgeoning trade of tea for war
horses. Trade continued through the Yuan and Ming dynasties. In
1661, the fifth Dalai Lama set up a large market in the
town of Beisheng for the tea and horse trade. After that
time, the amount of Yunnan tea transported rapidly increased
with the demand for tea. Tea served as an important
gift for the elite and annual tea allotments were presented
to the Dalai and Panchan Lama.
No longer an active route, today the South Silk Road
or CHAMAGUDAO, (ancient tea and horse road), continues
to be sacred to many people. There are more than
twenty different ethnic groups and many different religions
to be found along the route. It is said that language
changes every 2.5 kilometers. Along the route, there
are also many revered mountains, lakes, rivers and cliff
views that are destinations for pilgrimages and a growing
traveler class who desire to walk the same paths of past
tea caravans.
Our goal with this site and our contemporary teahouse,
Chamagudao, is to continue in the tradition of the South
Silk Road by creating new trade routes. By offering
a diverse selection of the highest quality teas and tea wares, we hope to serve the connoisseurs, as well as those
who are new to the world of tea.
With our Craftsman
Series of artisan teapots, cups and bowls we celebrate
the artist and all who appreciate tea’s influence
on master craftsmanship. Adding another dimension
to this experiment is our monthly tea column, where we
bring you some of the most interesting voices in culture,
travel, health, food and non-fiction writing to discuss
all things tea. "Talking Tea" is our forum for
you to share your thoughts, reviews and personal tea ceremonies
with your fellow seepers.
Tea is that rare commodity whose influence extends far
beyond its singular purpose. Philosophy, trade,
art, health and social practices the world over are all
indebted to this mythical beverage. Ask any tea
master and they will tell you there is a story behind every
cup.
Welcome to the South Silk Road. Let the journey
begin.
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