Changes

In 752 Lu Yu concluded his studies, bade farewell to his guru Zou Fuzi and returned to Jingling to meet his benefactor Li Qiwu. However a year earlier Li Qiwu was reinstated and returned to the Tang capital Chang'an. The new Chief Official of Jingling now was Cui Goufu. Cui a senior official who was holding a position similar to an Education Minister of today was demoted to Jingling as a Chief Official for offending a member of the royalty.

In 752 Lu Yu concluded his studies, bade farewell to his guru Zou Fuzi and returned to Jingling to meet his benefactor Li Qiwu. However a year earlier Li Qiwu was reinstated and returned to the Tang capital Chang'an. The new Chief Official of Jingling now was Cui Goufu. Cui a senior official who was holding a position similar to an Education Minister of today was demoted to Jingling as a Chief Official for offending a member of the royalty.

Cui Goufu was a scholar and poet well known for his magnificent 5 characters per verse short poem. After his demotion to Jingling Cui Goufu took life fairly easy. Even though Cui was many years older than Lu Yu, both men shared the same interest in tea, literature and poetry. As such they became good friends soon after they met. During this period Lu Yu stayed with Cui Goufu and assisted him in his administrative tasks. The two of a kind spent much time travelling, drinking tea and writing poems and they co-authored several books on poems.

Cui Goufu was a scholar and poet well known for his magnificent 5 characters per verse short poem. After his demotion to Jingling Cui Goufu took life fairly easy. Even though Cui was many years older than Lu Yu, both men shared the same interest in tea, literature and poetry. As such they became good friends soon after they met. During this period Lu Yu stayed with Cui Goufu and assisted him in his administrative tasks. The two of a kind spent much time traveling, drinking tea and writing poems and they co-authored several books on poems.

This period with Cui Goufu was the growing phase for Lu Yu as a man of letters; an incubation period for Lu Yu to practise and sharpen what he learned from his guru Zou Fuzi. Cui Goufu with his vast experience and skill in literary work became a coach that provided the necessary guidance to enhance and mature Lu Yu's writing and literary skills. During this time he wrote ''The Classic of Tea''.

This period with Cui Goufu was the growing phase for Lu Yu as a man of letters; an incubation period for Lu Yu to practice and sharpen what he learned from his mentor Zou Fuzi. Cui Goufu with his vast experience and skill in literary work became a coach that provided the necessary guidance to enhance and mature Lu Yu's writing and literary skills. During this time he wrote ''The Classic of Tea''.

The original version of ''The Classic of Tea'' consisted of 3 books covering 10 chapters in total; book 1 consisted of the first 3 chapters, book 2 consisted of chapter 4 only, book 3 consisted of chapters 5 to 10. After the Tang Dynasty all three books were bound into a single one and the three volumes version was no longer available.

The original version of ''The Classic of Tea'' consisted of 3 books covering 10 chapters in total; book 1 consisted of the first 3 chapters, book 2 consisted of chapter 4 only, book 3 consisted of chapters 5 to 10. After the Tang Dynasty all three books were bound into a single one and the three volumes version was no longer available.