A Study of Historical References of Korean Royal Court Tea Culture through the Periods of Three Kingdoms,Goryeo Kingdom and Joseon Dynasty

The tea culture of royal court has a special significance as it represents the culture of the nation.The tea culture of Korean royal court has been described in various historical documents including the Memorabilia of Three Kingdoms,the History of Goryeo,and the Chronology of Joseon Dynasty.These historical documents indicate an increasing sophistication of royal court tea culture as the use of tea became expanded through the periods of Three Kingdoms,Goryeo Kingdom and Joseon Dynasty.The tea was offered during ancestral and religious rituals;served as ceremonial drinks;and offered to guests in ceremonial manners.The procedures of these tea ceremonies were ritualized and codified to properly reflect decorum and propriety of the royal court.This paper examines historical references of royal court tea culture of Korea over the periods of Three Kingdoms,Goryeo Kingdom and Joseon Dynasty.Findings from this paper can promote further research on the development of royal court tea culture in Asian countries.