"Tea culture" refers to a cultural phenomenon formed by tea as a carrier, and is an organic combination of material culture and spiritual culture. Tea culture is a microcosm of China traditional culture. We can see the etiquette and elegance pursued by Confucian culture, the thoughts of health, happiness and nature in Taoist culture, and the thoughts of transcendence and emptiness of subject and object in Buddhist culture. "Zen culture" refers to a cultural form developed on the basis of Buddhist Zen thought. Buddhism was introduced into China from India, but Zen is the product of complete China of Buddhism. As two different cultural forms, "tea culture" and "Zen culture" are combined for the following reasons.

1, the function of tea. As far as the function of tea is concerned, drinking tea can not only relieve fatigue, improve thinking, reduce sleep, but also sterilize and detoxify. Buddhism says that tea has three virtues, that is, staying up all night while meditating, helping digestion when full, and not sending tea. Therefore, drinking tea has become the best assistant of Zen. In addition, tea also has the functions of quenching thirst, promoting fluid production, relieving pain, relaxing muscles and tendons, and improving eyesight. Monks practice all their lives, which is in line with the goal of complete merit, so the temple's diet is also called "rough tea and light rice."

2. The spiritual connotation of Zen. The combination of tea and Zen is closely related to the function of tea on the one hand and the spiritual connotation of Zen on the other. The spiritual connotation of Zen Buddhism is that the heart is Buddha, the heart becomes Buddha, the heart does not think about it, and the epiphany becomes nature. Tea contributes to the purity and ethereal spirit of the soul, and complements the spiritual connotation of Zen.

3. The habits and mentality of China literati. The combination of "tea culture" and "Zen culture" needs not only the function of tea and the spiritual connotation of Zen, but also the promotion and recognition of people with cultural discourse rights in society. In China, it is embodied in the inheritance and development of "Zen tea" by the literati class. There are many kinds of tea in our country. However, most of them are slightly bitter and have no intention to cater to drinkers, which is quite in line with the lofty temperament that China literati have always advocated.

The above answers are for reference only, and I hope they will help you.