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Thesis
The common mistake is to lift “凡煮水一升酌分五碗乘热连饮之以重浊凝其下精英” out of its sentence and turn it into an absolute rule.
Text
“For each sheng of water, divide it into five bowls and drink while hot, in succession. The heavy and muddy settles below; the essence and fineness floats above.”
Context
酌分五碗：一升水分五碗。乘热连饮：趁热连着喝。重浊：厚重浑浊的部分。精英：精华。
Evidence
- Collation: 各本一致。吴觉农注："重浊凝其下，精英浮其上"道出茶汤分层之理。
- Existing readings: 吴觉农指出"乘热连饮"是陆羽的饮茶要领：热饮则精华在口，凉则精英散而浊味现——今人"茶要趁热喝"的老话，正源于此。
Analysis
The usual misreading extracts “凡煮水一升酌分五碗乘热连饮之以重浊凝其下精英” as a slogan. 各本一致。吴觉农注："重浊凝其下，精英浮其上"道出茶汤分层之理。 In fact every judgment in the chapter carries a limit of place, season and use.
Conclusion
The section does not give a universal rule. It demonstrates a method: read the text, the annotation and the Tang context together before making a modern claim.
Source: The Classic of Tea, Chapter V · The Brewing, section 7; the original is in the public domain.
When lost, brew a cup first.