Rainmaker Jade Organic Loose-leaf Tea Blend Elate & Revive This joyful tea has the ability to elate your mood and help revive your senses, giving a boost to your energy. Ingredients*: Jasmine Green Tea (China), Pai Mu Tan White Tea, Jasmine Silverneedle, Jasmine Dragon Pearls (China)
The Man who did the Dragon’s Work
There was once a man Li Jing who was out hunting in the forest when he got lost and was unable to find his way home. Eventually as it was growing dark he came to a clearing in the forest with a river running through it and there by the river was a large palace with steep pitched roofs made completely out of white crystal. Li Jing was quite awestruck by the sight, but he needed some place to stay so he tethered his horse and went to knock on the large crystal door. It was answered by a servant dressed in white, who gave Li Jing a look, then shouted out, ‘My lady, the man has arrived.’ As if he had been expecting Li Jing all along. The lady arrived, dressed in long white flowing robes, she spoke Kindly to Li Jing,’ Welcome to your home. My sons left this morning and they told me that you would be arriving this evening. They won’t be back for several days but they have left clear instructions for you in case Heaven should send any orders. Please come in for dinner then you can get some rest.’ Li Jing was confused by this greeting as he was sure he did not know her sons, but he went inside and was treated to a feast that had been laid out seemingly for his visit. The only odd thing about the feast was that every dish was made with fish. The other thing that struck Li Jing was that all the furniture and ornaments in the room were carved with the shape or imagery of dragons. After the meal he was brought to a bedchamber and a large opulent bed, again carved with the imagery of dragons. Li Jing was so tired from the days events and with a belly full of food that he fell instantly into a deep sleep.
In the middle of the night he was awoken by a booming that resounded throughout the house, as he came round he realised it was someone pounding on the front door. ‘Open up, in the name of Heaven,’ bellowed a deep voice at the door.
Li Jing heard the scurry of footsteps and the scraping of the lock as the door was opened. A few moments later there was a knock at the bedroom door and Li Jing opened it to find the lady standing there with a scroll in her hands. But the odd thing was that by the flickering light of the lantern that she held she seemed to shimmer and change form, one moment a lady and the next a dragon. She handed Li Jing a scroll, he unrolled it to read: To the Dragon Lords of the Ling River You are hereby commanded to make rain tonight Within a circle of 700 leagues from your palace By the order of the JADE EMPEROR The lady spoke after he had read it, ‘My sons told me a man with deep integrity would arrive today and would carry out there work. If you come with me by their instructions I will show you what needs to be done.’ Li Jing felt this was a important task that he needed to undertake so he straightened his back and agreed. He was lead to a stable in the courtyard, there the dragon-lady held her hands above her head and clapped loudly three times. Suddenly out of the sky a large white horse, which itself seemed to be made of flowing crystal, flew down to land in front of them, and a servant appeared next to the dragon-lady holding a jar made from fine pale jade that was intricately carved in the shape of a dragon. She nodded to Li Jing to mount the horse, Li Jing was helped onto it’s back by the servant and handed the jade jar. ‘This horse is named the Rainmaker,’ the dragon-lady explained,’ She will carry you high into the air above the clouds, she knows where to go. Every now and then sprinkle a drop of the potion from this jade jar onto her mane, you will then see what happens.’ Li Jing spurred the horse on and it rode off into the air, he held on tight as the Rainmaker went higher and higher until they were above the clouds. The she began to slow down and threw back her head releasing a loud neighing. Li Jing recognised this as the sign and he let spill one drop from the jar onto her mane. The Rainmaker shook her head with delight and stomped her hooves on the clouds, thunder boomed and the could burst open and rain began to fall. They performed this action over and over again as the Rainmaker encouraged the clouds to rain all over the land. When the last drop was gone from the jade jar, the horse turned around and swiftly brought Li Jing back to the crystal palace.
The dragon-lady and the servant were waiting for them there, Li Jing dismounted and bowed to them. The servant took away the Rainmaker and brought her to the stables to rest. ‘You have performed well, just as my sons said you would,’ the dragon-lady spoke to Li Jing, ‘now you may return home. But first I must give you your payment.’ With that she handed him a purse made of scarlet silk, embroidered with, of course, a dragon. Li Jing put the purse into his pocket without opening it. The servant appeared with Li Jing’s own horse, it had been groomed and prepared for the journey. Li Jing mounted his horse, which now seemed so small in comparison to the Rainmaker. He bid farewell to the dragons-lady and her servant and rode back into the forest, strangely the path seemed obvious to take him back and it wasn’t long before he arrived at home. Once he had settled back in he took out the scarlet silk purse and opened it. Inside it was filled with pearls. But not just any pearls the largest and most perfect pearls, those that could have only have come from the river dragons. A version of this story can be found in the book In the Court of the Jade Emperor, edited by Rosalind Kerven.