CHP-140-The History of Tea Part 1

Published: Nov. 21, 2014, 5:56 a.m.

Laszlo is back with a new ten-part CHP series covering the history of tea from its mythical discovery clear through to the 20th century.  

TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE

Sanhuang Wudi 三皇五帝 The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors

Wang Xufeng  王旭烽  One of China’s great writers and Tea Ambassadors

Mao Dun Prize  茅盾  China’s answer to the Booker or Pulitzer Prizer

Charen Sanbu Qu  茶人三部曲 Trilogies of the Teamen, written by Wang Xufeng

Wang Laoshi  王老  Respectful salutation, “Teacher Wang”

Yipian Shuye de Gushi  一片叶的故事   The Story of a Leaf

Yuantou  fountainhead, source

Li Yuan  李渊 Tang founder Tang Gaozu

Li Shimin  李世民 Son of Li Yuan and co-founder of the dynasty

Emperor Xuan  宣帝 Han Emperor Xuan

Wang Bao   王褒 Western Han individual involved in a contract for a servant

Wuyang  武阳  City on the Jiangxi-Fujian border, home of an ancient tea market

Jiangxi   江西 Province in eastern China

Nanchang  南昌 Capital of Jiangxi Province

Cha    Tea

Jia   a former character for tea

Tu     ancient name for tea

Chuan     a former character for tea

She     a former character for tea                

Ming    a former character for tea

Lu Yu    The tea saint, writer of the Cha Jing

Cha Jing     The Classic of Tea

Cha Sheng  茶圣  The Tea Saint, Lu Yu

Shen Nong    The Divine Farmer, Shennong

Wugu Xiandi  五谷先帝The Emperor of the Five Grains, another nickname of Shen Nong

Shen Nong Bencao Jing  本草  Shen Nong’s Materia Medica or Herbal

Baicha   白茶  White tea or plain boiled water

Cha Lin  茶林  Village in Hunan where Shen Nong died

Zhangjiajie   家界  Beautiful scenic area in northwest Hunan

Ren     person

Liang Shiqiu   秋   One of China's greatest lexicograpers of the 20th century. His 新實用漢英辭典 was my first and favorite dictionary going back to 1979.

Kucai   苦菜  Bitter vegetable

Shijing   诗经  The Book of Songs

Liji    The Book of Rites

Fujian  福建  Fujian province

Guangdong    广  Guangdong province

Guangzhou   广州  Guangzhou, a.k.a Canton

Xiamen     Xiamen in Fujian

Fuzhou   福州  Fuzhou or Foochow as it was once called

Quanzhou  泉州  Coastal port city in Fujian

Shuowen Jiezi  文解字  Han Dynasty Dictionary 

Cun  Village

Chan Buddhism    Zen Buddhism

Zhou Xin 紂辛  Di Xin, 帝辛, Infamous last king of the Shang Dynasty                 

Jiuchi Roulin   酒池肉林  The Wine Pool and Meat Forest.

Chengdu   成都  Capital of Sichuan

Gan Lu Cha  甘露茶  Sweet Dew Tea, the famous tea of Mengding Shan.

Wu Lizhen  吴里真 Buddhist Monk credited with the cultivation of tea on Mengding Shan.

Mengding Shan  Mountain in Sichuan where tea cultivation began in China

Xian Cha   仙茶  The Tea of the Immortals, a.k.a. Gan Lu Tea from the seven original trees

Ya’an  雅安  City outside Chengdu famous for tea

Qionglai     City outside Chengdu famous for tea

Sanguo Zhi  三国志  Record of the Three Kingdoms

Sun Hao    Eastern Wu king known for his drunkeness

Wei Yao   Loyal official to Sun Hao

Sima Yan     (also known as 晋武帝) Jin Dynasty founder

Jin  晋朝  The Jin Dynasty

Shang-Zhou-Han   商周  The three dynasties of Shang-Zhou Han

Luoyang  洛阳   One of China’s ancient capitals

Chang’an    One of China’s ancient capitals  (present day Xian)

Qin Shihuang  秦始皇  Qin dynasty founder

Er Ya    The first dictionary in China

Guangya   广雅  An updated version of the Er Ya

Longjing    Village outside Hangzhou famous for Longjing, Dragon Well tea

Shu Guo  蜀国  The kingdom of Shu, present day Sichuan

Sanxingdui  三星堆  Neolithic ruins discovered outside Chengdu

Ba Shu   巴蜀  Ancient state from the Shu Kingdom

Zhou King Wu    周武王  Brother of the Duke of Zhou, conquering king.

Haojing      Western Zhou Capital

Ying Zheng  嬴政  The future Qin Shihuang

Han Wudi  武帝  The great martial emperor of the Western Han

Liu Song   刘宋  1st dynasty in the south during the Nanbei Chao, 420-479

Wucheng  婺城 District of Jinhua in Zhejiang, Province.

Nanbei Chao  南北朝  The Northern and Southern Dynasties

Zhuge Liang  葛亮  Great strategist and statesman of the 3 Kingdoms period

Yang Jian  杨暕 Second Sui emperor and grandson of founder Wendi.

Sui Wendi  隋文帝  Founder of the Sui Dynasty

Taishan   台山  City in southern Guangdong, southwest of Jiangmen.

 

THE ANTHILL

SHANGHAI HOMES by JIE LI

Link to CCTV Documentary THE STORY OF A LEAF