Brief compilation on Historical Tea Events in China
(Extract from <Chinese Tea Classics>)
◆Primitive Society
It was said that tea was invented in the Era of the Agriculture God (Shen Nong) which traces back to 28century BC. There is a record in <Shennong Bai Cao Jing> (<Classic on Herbs by God of Agriculture>) that “God of Agriculture tasted all the herbs. One day he suffered from seventy two types of poison and was detoxificated by tea.” It is regarded as landmark of tea usage as medicine.
◆Western Zhou Dynasty (1100-771 B.C)
According to <Hua Yang Guo Zhi>, approximately 1000 B.C. when Emperor Wu was subjugating Emperor Zhou, tea was already taken as precious tribute in the region of Sichuan. It was the earliest record of tea being used as a tribute.
- Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 B.C.)
During the Spring and Autumn Period, there appeared record of “only take husked rice, three hunted birds, five eggs and tea” around 547 B.C. to 490 B.C. (According to <Yanzi ChunQiu>). This evidence proves that tea has been used as an ingredient for food or soup in that time..
◆ Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-24 A.D.)
There appeared records of “use all utensils in serving tea” and “purchase tea at Wuyang (Nowadays a town to the south of Chengdu)” at 59 B.C. according to <Tong Yue> by Wang Bao. This evidence demonstrates that tea had already been commercialized in the Sichuan region, this is the earliest record of tea trade in China.
- Eastern Han Dynasty (25 A.D.-220 A.D.)
Famous doctor Hua Tuo wrote in <Food Theory> that “Drinking tea in long term helps thinking”. This is the first record of the medicinal efficacy of tea.
◆ Three Kingdoms Dynasty (220 A.D.- 265 A.D.)
Historical Book < The History of the Three Kingdoms> stated that Sun Hao (descendants of Sun Quan), emperor of State of Wu, did “allow (one of his official) to replace alcohol with tea secretly”. This is the earliest record over tea taken in royal banquets.
- Sui Dynasty (581 A.D. – 618 A.D.)
Drinking tea was getting more popular. Emperor Sui Wen Di once became sick. He was told by someone to take boiled tea leaves and sure enough he recovered. From then on people started to collect tea on a bigger scale. Tea was developed from medicine to social beverage gradually. However, the main consumers were from upper class of society.
◆ Tang Dynasty (618 A.D.-907 A.D.)
Tea was widely spreaded as beverage and taken by entire population during the Tang Dynasty.
From 770 A. D. tribute tea garden was established at Guzhu Mountain (nowadays Changxing
County in Zhejiang Province). Guzhu Zisun Tea Cakes were supervised and offered to royal court.
In 780 A.D., Zhao Zan’s proposal was accepted and tax started to be levied on tea.
Around the end of 8th Century <Tea Classics> written by Luyu was published.
In 805 A.D., the Japanese Buddhist monk Saicho returned home with tea seeds from China. This is the earliest record of tea transplantation to Japan.
In 874 A.D., exclusive tea wares appeared.
◆ Song Dynasty (960 A.D.-1279 A.D.)
On 976 A. D., royal tea refine workshops were set up at Jiangan (nowadays Jian’ou and Wuyi area in Fujian Province) that were denoted to produce Beiyuan Tribute Tea.
Emperor Song Hui Zong personally wrote <Overall Theory upon Tea>. He promoted tea culture and tea theory.
- Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D.-1644 A.D.)
In 1373 A.D., Minister of Tea who was in charge of tea trade affair was set up.
In September, 1391, Emperor Zhu Yuan Zhang announced imperial decree stating “abolish caked tea and promote loose tea”. From then tribute tea was changed from tea cakes to sprout tea (loose tea). This action played a very positive role in development of pan-fried loose tea.
In 1610, Dutch bought tea from Macao and transported it to Europe.
In 1618, Royal Count sent imperial envoy to Russia and presented emperor of Russia with tea.
◆ Qing Dynasty ( 1644 A.D.-1911 A.D.)
In 1657, Chinese tea was put on the French market.
In 1669, Eastern Indies Company started to transport Chinese Tea from Bantam(former country in Java Area, 1568—1813).
In 1689, Xiamen City in Fujian Province had exported 150 piculs (a Chinese unit equal to 133 1/3 pounds (about 60 kilograms) of tea to Great Britain.
In 1690 Chinese tea was granted Special Vendor License of Boston, the United State.
In 1896, Mechanized Tea Production Company was founded in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province which is the oldest mechanized tea company in Chinese history.
In 1905, China had organized a tea investigation team for the very first time to India and Ceylon (nowadays Sri Lanka) on observing tea manufacture. Part of tea production machine and skills of machine operation were obtained from it.
In 1907, Chinese Tea Committee was established in London.
2008-02-18
An interesting article on the history of Chinese tea can be found here:
http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/china/chinese-tea-4909.html