Su Shi's Tea Couplet
故事全文
Su Tung-Po was a famous literary master of the Sung Dynasty and he loved to travel. One day, he arrived at a temple dressed in plain clothing. The temple abbot did not recognize Su Tung-Po. The abbot looked at Su Tung-Po’s plain clothes, and thought that Su Tung-Po must be poor. So, the abbot raised his hand and pointed at a chair. He told Su Tung-Po airily, “Sit. Tea.” Su Tung-Po found the abbot very rude. So, he thought of a way to teach the abbot a lesson about treating others with respect.
Su Tung-Po did not sit down immediately. He smiled and turned to a little monk standing beside him, “Little master, please bring me your donation book.” When the little monk brought the donation book, Su Tung-Po wrote in it: “A hundred taels of silver”.
The abbot saw this generous donation and his eyes lit up. He became more respectful and said, “Please sit.” And told the little monk, “Serve tea.” Su Tung-Po smiled at the temple abbot and continued to write his name: “Su Tung-Po”. The temple abbot recognized his name and was shocked to learn that this visitor was none other than the famous literary master Su Tung-Po himself. He hurriedly got up from his seat and bowed to Su Tung-Po, and smiled and said, “Please take a seat.” And told the little monk, “Quick! Serve good tea!”
After sitting down, the temple abbot politely asked Su Tung-Po for his calligraphy, because he knew that Su Tung-Po’s calligraphy was so precious, many people desired it, and no amount of money could buy it. Su Tung-Po smiled and agreed. Before long, he wrote the letters: Sit, please sit, please take a seat; Tea, serve tea, serve good tea.
