Tea-drinking is a global practice. Whetherone is considering Chinese tea or British-style tea, tea has becomean indispensable element in daily life. In terms of its cultural significance,tea has become a foundation for particular ways of life and for thesymbolization of the self. The air of mystery that surrounds the Eastmakes tea drinking in the West a means of experiencing the Orient.In the East, there is the unbroken tradition of Yixing teapots, wherethe primary emphasis on practicality is accompanied by a secondaryemphasis on decoration. In tea-drinking, the ideal is for everythingto be exquisite and harmonious; one is tasting not only tea but alsothe fundamental essence of life. With their monochromatic appearanceand successful integration of functionality and aesthetic beauty,Yixing teapots are like a black-and-white photograph, seeking to presentthe simple beauty of changes in form. Gradually, as Western and Easternaesthetics have come to influence one another, the importance of functionalityhas diminished, leaving only form.