I wasn't born gifted. I simply never stepped back.
Courage, commitment, return — three strokes of character, lived out day after day by three women at work in Hangzhou. One makes tea, one keeps a shop, one restores objects. What they share is a single thing: they have made uncertainty the everyday.
She came to tea at thirty-four; before that, trade documents. In her first year she drank perhaps eight hundred infusions — "half of them bad," she says. In her third year she spent forty days alone on the mountain, watching how the pickers picked and the masters fired the leaf. Coming down, she made one decision: no blends, single teas only — and two full years of halved income as the price. "I wasn't thinking about whether it would earn. I was thinking that if I went on blending, one day I would no longer be able to say where this cup of tea came from."
A decade of making tea · From Mulan Journal NO.05
Paper-cut imagery · Tea buds and ridgelines · Brand imagery
02 · COMMITMENT · 擔當
One choice, walked into a lifetime
Her first restaurant took three years to turn a profit; the second lost even more. Before the third, she did something out of character: she cut every menu by half — "I found that what I took for my signatures were simply the dishes I loved most myself." Each year she still closes for a month and sends everyone off to do something else, "to let the shop breathe." On the day the third opened, a single sheet of paper hung at the door with one line: No guests today. See you tomorrow.
Now at her third restaurant · From Mulan Journal NO.05
Antique painting, "Mulan" · Still standing · Brand archive
03 · RETURN · 歸來
Go far — and still come home
She kept accounts for twelve years; the change came with a house move, when a gaiwan of many years shattered in its box. Two years went into learning kintsugi: raw lacquer to bind the breaks, gold dust laid along the seams. "A bowl takes a month to mend, because every coat of lacquer must dry in its own time. You cannot rush it — what is rushed comes out broken." Her orders now run eight months ahead, and most who seek her out bring not the valuable but the memorable: a soup bowl left by a grandmother, the cups received at a wedding.
From ledgers to the restoration of objects · From Mulan Journal NO.05
Paper-cut animation, "Mulan" · Home, with a cup · Brand imagery
She is no one's Mulan. She is her own.
The Mulan of today wears no period costume and performs no legend. She may be a founder, a designer, a mother, a traveller — anyone choosing her life anew.
Young, not childish. Beautiful, not templated. Eastern, not retro. Strong, not aggressive.
A brand's spirit should not only be written on walls. It should happen in people.
The Sound of Mulan · 木蘭茶音
Ji ji fu ji ji — bring this sound back to the tea table.
The first line of the Ballad of Mulan is a woman deciding, at the loom, to ride to war. Today those five syllables are the sound of Mulan: able to be read out, heard, and remembered. The Sound of Mulan turns on "return" — twelve songs for twelve sittings of tea; one song, one sitting; one sitting, one mind.
勇 Courage → setting out ｜ 智 · 愛 Wisdom · Love → on the road ｜ 守 Devotion → the return ｜ 歸 Return → sitting still
Both instrumental albums are produced to HiFi standard: clean and clear, with an open soundstage — perfectly listenable on ordinary speakers.
Album II · Instrumental · streaming here
The Sound of Mulan · Cloud-Foot
A light, moving set built around "Cloud-Foot" — guqin, handpan and soft electronic pulses weave an airy rhythm, touched by the gentle sound of a loom. Young and international in feel, at home in a tea house.
I · Setting Out
01
杼聲起The Loom Begins
A loom room in moonlight; the sound "ji ji fu ji ji" draws nearer — the sound of Mulan, a woman deciding to ride. A soft loom leads into clear qin notes, the shuttle becoming song.
02
辭家Leaving Home
Setting out at dawn with the wind and birdsong; a light travelling rhythm holds the ache of leaving, and one last soft throw of the shuttle closes it.
03
雲腳Cloud-Foot
On the road, under low clouds. Handpan and soft pulses weave a light groove while a guqin hook drifts like cloud — Mulan walking, meeting the sky and the earth.
II · On the Road
04
山是山Mountain Is Mountain
The three Zen stages: mountains are mountains, then they are not, then they are again. One melody, three passes — see the world, know yourself.
05
一盞予人A Cup Given
To love, and to know how to give. A warm zhi-mode melody, like a cup offered with both hands — the giving and the echo of hot tea.
06
雨叩茶門Rain Knocks
A tea hut halfway up the hill; soft rain knocking. Guqin harmonics and raindrops answer each other — this is the hour of returning.
III · The Return
07
爐上松風Pine Wind over the Stove
A tea table after coming home. Charcoal crackles, water boils like a pine wind — the pleasure of boiling water and listening for tea.
08
茶煙初上Tea Mist Rises
Leaves in, water poured, and the first tea mist rises. The clear sound of water finding the pot; the melody climbs like the mist.
09
山家茶事Tea Affairs in the Mountain Home
Great mountains for walls, a clear stream for a sash. Birds and water as the wooden gate opens — drinking tea in the hills, easy and bright.
IV · Sitting Still
10
月落茶涼Moon Down, Tea Cool
A summer tea table winding down; cool air through the moonlight. Insects, evening wind, and an unhurried conversation.
11
落盞A Drop Falls
Tea falls into the cup with a clear ring — the bright closing of a sitting, drunk to the full.
12
歸來喝茶Return to Tea
Finale. The loom sounds once more, answering the opening — however far you go, you can come back.
Album III · Instrumental · streaming here
Rain on the Return · Nature Soundscapes
The warmth of "Return to Tea" meets the natural soundscape of "Rain Knocks" — rain, wind, water, birds, snow and moon become one of the players; light or slow, for quiet listening and for the healing company of nature.
01
簷雨織聲
Overture. Rain on the eaves meets the sound of the loom — inside the sounds of nature hides the sound of Mulan.
02
雨叩茶門 · 自然聲景版
Title track. A long soft rain knocks; the qin and the rain ask and answer — the hour of returning.
03
雨過茶山
After rain on the tea mountain: clear and bright. Drops slide off the buds as sunlight crosses the vapour.
04
風穿竹林
Wind through the bamboo, sifting like a tide — light, open, shadows swaying.
05
溪聲入盞
A mountain stream murmurs against the sound of pouring — one stream, one pot, all spring water.
06
山鳥相呼
Mountain birds answering one another at first light, call after call, bright and quick.
07
煮雪聽茶
Snow falls in silence, the kettle sings. Slow and still, a room full of warmth.
08
月照歸途
Moonlight on the road home, keeping company — however far you go, a moon to lead you.
09
泉鳴松下
Pine wind and spring water are the mountain's breath. Sitting still beneath the pines, listening to the mountain speak.
10
夜蟲與茶
Summer insects and evening tea, slow and easy under a kind moon.
11
茶煙伴雨
Tea mist curling into soft rain — slow hours, a sitting just long enough.
12
歸來喝茶
Finale. Rain at the return, and the loom again — the rain that knocks is the hour of coming home.
All twelve tracks are live — "Rain Knocks" in its nature-soundscape version; the finale "Return to Tea" shares its name with the Cloud-Foot edition, made for listening side by side.
Album IV · With story telling · live now
Sun and Moon in a Pot · Twelve Songs of Mulan
Mulan's strength steeps open in a pot of tea. Eight minutes an episode: one strength drawn from one story — narration, field-recorded sound and one complete original song, words and music and voice all original. Written for tea houses, and for anyone alone late at night.
All twelve episodes are live — with story telling and creative notes; listen at the theatre: Our Story · The Mulan Theatre.
MULAN 1.5 · the production standard — real performance is the "1"; the one real breath of a tea sitting kept in the mix is the "0.5". Every track is archived: number · recording date · instrument. Time is part of the material.
Woodblock print of the Ballad of Mulan · "Ji ji fu ji ji" — the first note of the tea music
Album Two · Instrumental edition · Listen online
Mulan Tea Music · Cloud-Foot
A light-footed set with "Cloud-Foot" for its soul — guqin, handpan and soft electronic pulses weave an airy rhythm, the gentle voice of the loom appearing here and there. Young in spirit, international in address; made for the atmosphere of a tearoom and for young listeners.
壹 · Departure
01
杼聲起The Loom Begins
A loom room under the moon; the weaving sound, "Ji ji fu ji ji," nearing from far away — the voice of Mulan, a woman deciding to go to war. A tender loom opens into clear, bright qin: the shuttle's rhythm become melody.
02
辭家Leaving Home
Leaving home at dawn, morning wind and birdsong for company. Inside the buoyant rhythm of the road hides the ache of parting; it closes on one soft sound of the loom — the last shuttle before the road.
03
雲腳Cloud-Foot
On the road, clouds hanging low. Handpan and light electronic pulses weave a weightless groove; the guqin hook unfurls like drifting cloud — Mulan on the road, meeting sky and earth.
貳 · On the Road
04
山是山Mountain Is Mountain
The three stages of Zen: mountains are mountains, mountains are not mountains, mountains are mountains again. The same phrase three times over, deepening each pass — having seen the world, she knows herself.
05
一盞予人A Cup Given
To hold something dear, and to know how to give. A warm melody in the zhi mode, like tea offered in both hands — the giving, and the echo, of one hot cup.
06
雨叩茶門Rain Knocks
A tea hut halfway up the mountain; fine rain at the door. Guqin harmonics and raindrops answer each other, a light groove scattering like rain — the very moment of return.
參 · The Return
07
爐上松風Pine Wind over the Stove
A tea session after coming home. Charcoal crackling, water boiling like wind in the pines; a bright melody braided into rolling water — the pleasure of boiling water and listening.
08
茶煙初上Tea Mist Rises
Leaf in, water poured — the first tea mist. The crisp sound of water filling the pot; a melody rising like steam.
09
山家茶事Tea Affairs in the Mountain Home
The great mountain for a screen, a clear stream for a sash. A brushwood gate pushed open to birdsong and running water — tea in a mountain home, easy and bright.
肆 · Sitting Still
10
月落茶涼Moon Down, Tea Cool
A summer tea gathering at its end; cool wind moving across the moonlight. An easy, unhurried talk among insect song and evening air.
11
落盞A Drop Falls
Tea falls into the cup — a clear, ringing reply. The bright moment of the final cup, a session drunk to its fullest.
12
歸來喝茶Return to Tea
Finale. The loom sounds once more, answering the opening bars — however far you go, you can still come home.
The Ballad of Mulan, calligraphy cover · Every tea music and every soundscape here grows out of five syllables — "Ji ji fu ji ji"
Album Three · Instrumental edition · Listen online
Return with Rain · Nature Soundscapes
The warm mood of "Return to Tea" folded into the nature soundscapes of "Rain Knocks" — rain, wind, water, birds, snow and moon become one of the lead voices. Bright, or slow and soft; made for listening closely over tea, and for quiet, restorative hours.
01
Rain at the Eaves
Overture. Rain under the eaves meets the sound of the loom — within the sounds of nature hides the voice of Mulan.
02
Rain Knocks · Nature Soundscape Edition
The title piece. A long, soft rain at the door, gentle from first to last; qin and rain in question and answer — the very moment of return.
03
Rain Over the Tea Mountains
Tea mountains after rain, fresh and bright. Raindrops slide from the tea buds; sunlight passes through the vapour.
04
Wind Through the Bamboo
Wind through the bamboo grove, rustling like a tide. Light and clear, the bamboo shadows swaying.
05
Stream Song in the Cup
A mountain stream murmuring against the sound of pouring water — the stream and the pot, all of it spring water.
06
Mountain Birds Calling
Mountain birds answering one another at dawn, call after call, bright and quick.
07
Boiling Snow, Listening for Tea
Snow falls in silence; the boiling water has its voice. Slow, soft, still — a room full of warmth.
08
Moonlight on the Road Home
Moonlight over the road home, warmth for company — however far you go, the moon lights the way back.
09
Spring Song Beneath the Pines
Wind in the pines and a ringing spring: the breathing of the mountain. Sit still beneath the pines and hear the mountain speak.
10
Night Insects and Tea
Insect song on a summer night, keeping company with the late tea. Slow, soft, at ease — the moonlight just right.
11
Tea Mist with Rain
Tea mist curling, mingling with fine rain. Slow, soft hours — a session of tea, exactly enough.
12
Return to Tea
Finale. The rain of the day of return; the loom heard once more — rain comes knocking: it is time to be home.
All twelve tracks are online — "Rain Knocks" in its nature-soundscape edition; the finale "Return to Tea" appears under the same name in two editions, for listening side by side with the Cloud-Foot set.
Album Four · With story narration & original songs · Now online
Sun and Moon in the Pot · The Twelve Songs of Mulan
Mulan's strength, steeped open in a pot of tea. Eight minutes an episode: from one Mulan story, one strength distilled — narration, ambient sound, and one complete original song, the words, music and voice all original. Written for tearooms, and for anyone alone late at night.
MULAN 1.5 · Production Standard — live performance is the "1"; the one real breath of a real tea session kept in the mix is the "0.5". Every track is archived: catalogue number · recording date · instrument. Time, too, is part of the material.
