Zheng Ban Qiao was a rock star of his time. In ancient China, education, not fancy clothing and attitude, was what was respected by young and old alike. Zheng was considered one of the most eminent scholars and poets of his time and every where he went, folks would line up to see him recite a poem or write some calligraphy. The less fortunate would feel lucky just to be in the same restaurant or place he visits.
He was traveling extensively one year, and arrived at one of the most well known Buddhist temples of the locale. Dressed simply in traveller's clothing, he was rather incognito. Having heard that this temple was most discerning in their tea service, he chose to visit it, for he was, aside from being a scholar, rather a tea connoisseur.
He enters the temple, and the young greeting monk, seeing this dusty traveler, thought not much of him, and barely casted a glance in his direction. Zheng waited patiently for the abbot. The abbot came forth from his chambers to greet him finally, and appraising him unfavorably, said to the young monk., "Tea!" and then to Zheng, "Sit!" and pointed curtly to a chair.
Zheng sits, and the greeting monk arrives with a cup of tea. The tea was ordinary, not at all at the standard Zheng had expected.
Soon, there was a commotion, and it appeared that an honored guest had arrived. The governor himself was visiting. The abbot was thrilled, and ushered him in. "Good Tea!" he calls to the greeting monk. "Please Sit!" he gestures to a private room. When the governor walks past Zheng, recognition stops him on his tracks, and he asks, "Are you scholar Zheng? " At an affirmative reply, the governor was beside himself with honor, and enthusiastically asked Zheng about his travels, hoping that perhaps, he can finagle a poem or two to honor his town. When the abbot realized who Zheng really was, he quickly ushered both of them an even more formal room. He called to the greeting monk: "Fragrant Tea!" and then to Zheng "Please take the honored seat."
Zheng and his hosts enjoyed an afternoon together. The fragrant tea was much more to the liking of Zheng, in line with the reputation of the temple. Afterwards, the abbot asked timidly if Zheng would grace the temple with a poem, and it will be inscribed on the entrance forever.
The poet thought for a moment, and wrote out the following poem:
Tea,
Good Tea,
Fragrant Tea
Sit
Please Sit,
Please take honored seat
To the embarrassment of the abbot, that poem has been etched to the pillars of the monastery to this day.
