China lies in the east of Asia and on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, occupying an area of 9,6000,000 km2; her geographical situations are sloping from the west to the east, her west higher, her east lower, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau entitled to "the Roof of the World" is situated in the southern-west of China. In the north and east of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is situated Yun-gui plateau and Huangtu-Plateau, Northern-East-China Plain, Northern-China Plain and Yangtze River' Mid-and-Lower Reaches Plain extend far beyond one's eye's reach. A number of rivers run down along the sloping geographical situations from the west to the east and pour into the Pacific, mainly named Yangtze River, Huanghe River, Heilongjiang River, Zhujiang River, Liaohe River, Haihe River, Huaihe River and Qiantangjiang River etc. There exist distinct differences of natural conditions between the south bank and north bank of Huaihe River, which is the important boundary of geography in China. The main grain crops growing in China are rice, wheat, maize, corn and Chinese sorghum, and the raw materials of making alcoholic beverages are mainly from the grain mentioned above. Rice grows mainly in the south of Qinliang Mountains and Huanghe River, while wheat grows chiefly in the northern areas of the Great Wall, Qinliang Mountains and Huanghe River. Corns and Chinese sorghum are main crops in the northern China, which are also the important source of raw materials in making alcoholic beverages.
According to the archaeological data, as far as 1,700,000 years ago, the ancestors of the Chinese had been living, laboring and breeding here, developing from primitive groups into the clan society. In 1973, in Yu-yao Hemudu Relics, Zhejiang Province were discovered plenty of man-planted rice and potter-works, About 5,000 -- 6, 000 years ago, during Yangshao Cultural Period which was still in the stage of matrilineal commune, it was probable that only women did farming. Nearly 5000 years ago, the clan tribes in Huanghe River's and Yangtze River's reaches began to evolve from matriarchal clan to patriarchal clan commune one after another. In the late period of Longshan Culture the clan system was replaced by the slavery. In 21st century B.C., the first slave-owner dictatorship of Xia Dynasty was founded, after it were Shang Dynasty, Zhou Dynasty, Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period etc. In 221 B.C., Qinshihuang (the first emperor in the Chinese history) unified the whole China,estab- lishing the first central autocratic feudal state. Thereafter two-Han ynasty. Wei Power, two-Jing Power, North-and-south Powers, Sui Dynasty, Tang Empire, two-Song Dynasty. Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty thrived and died out respectively, the latter substituting the former. In 1911, Dr. Sun Zhongshan (Sun yixian) started and led an anti-feudalism Revolution and overthrew the last feudal Dynasty Qing Dynasty. The People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.
Chinese alcoholic beverages enjoy a history of over 5000 years. They have developed specific and peculiar flavors of their own in a long procession of development and they chiefly feature using Qu (a kind of distill yeast) with microorganism in which the mound grows as sarcharification fermenting mash, bio- fermentation and semi- solid fermentation. This bears the features of the brewing alcoholic beverage industry in the east hemisphere. The Chinese alcoholic beverages are mainly made from grains, there is also a small quantity of fruit wine. During the past a few years, beer brewing is shooting up in China, which enjoys the second place in the world. The Chinese alcoholic beverages, according to the current classification, can be identified alcoholic drinks, distilled liquors, beer, grape wine and mixed alcoholic drinks. The alcoholic drink is also named rice alcoholic drink, which is a brewed drink, while the filtered liquor is now called white spirit. There area variety of alcoholic drinks which are generally divided into five sorts; the dried alcoholic drink below 0.98g of sugar/100ml); the semi-dried alcoholic drink (1.0-3.0g of sugar/100ml); the semi-sweet-flavor alcoholic drink (3.0- 10.0g of sugar/100ml); the sweet-flavor alcoholic drink (10-20g of sugar/100ml); and the heavily-sweet-flavor alcoholic drink (over 20g of sugar/100ml). The alcoholic drinks have an average of around 15% of alcohol, enjoying a fame of liquid egg-cake. The distilled liquors, according to their flavors, can be classified into 5 sorts; the soy source flavor, the intense-flavor, the light-flavor, the rice-flavor and the other flavors. The traditional Chinese liquors possess an average of 55% ¡«65% of alcohol. During the recent years, the distilled liquors below 40% of alcohol have been developed and produced in many distilleries in China.
The alcoholic beverages are not a daily necessity in the viewpoint of the Chinese. However, in the social life, the alcoholic beverages play a peculiar role which can't be substituted by other articles, You can understand all aspects of the Chinese society through the alcoholic beverages. All the valuable information about politics, economy, farming production, commerce and business and historical culture exist in the culture of alcoholic beverages.
The culture of alcoholic beverages, a peculiar form of culture, enjoys a particular position in the traditional Chinese culture. During the course of thousands of years' civilization history, alcoholic beverages permeate among all the walks of the social life. Firstly, China is a state based on agriculture, so all the political and economic activities centralize round the development of agriculture. Therefore Chinese alcoholic beverages, mainly brewed by using grains and connected tightly with the agriculture, belonged to part of agricultural economy, and a good harvest of grains or a bad one decided the thriving or waning of brewing industry. So the rulers of all dynasties controlled alcoholic beverages production by issuing forbidden orders of alcoholic beverages of permission orders based on the agricultural harvests so as to assure adequate food for the people, On the contrary, the thriving or waning of brewing industry also indicated the symptom or agricultural production, and a clue to understanding of the natural disasters and manly woes in history. In certain districts. The thriving of alcoholic beverage brewing industry cast positive influences on the improvement of the people's living standard, the alcoholic beverages had a close connection with social and economical activities. In Emperor Han Wudi's Period during which the state controlled the sale of alcoholic drinks. the special tax collected from the brewing industry played a main part in the state financial revenue, The tax revenue on alcoholic beverages had a connection with the military expenditure and wars in history, directly deciding the state's fate of life-or-death. In some dynasties, the tax revenue on alcoholic beverages was also related to the corvee and other taxes, The state, wealthy merchants and the public all focused on the bump profits of alcoholic beverages. The changes of alcoholic beverages regulations indicated the changes of different class forces. The Issue of permission to drink publicly symbolized the change of dynasty and rulers and some fundamental activities of empire family. The alcoholic beverages ¡ªa kind of special commodity richly color people's life, The ancient Chinese summarized the alcoholic beverage functions as followings: a) alcoholic beverages could cure illnesses; b) alcoholic beverages could make the aged stronger and healthier; c) alcoholic beverages could serve as presents and courtesy. During the course of thousands of years the alcoholic beverages functions have gone beyond them, at least including that drinking helps get more cheers, forget one's worries and become more braver; and drinking also possesses some negative effects ¡ª make people indulged in it and degenerated and harm their health. Many a ruler in history was indulged in drinking, which resulted in perishment of his power.
In general, the alcoholic beverages are a symbol of social civilization, a study of civilization history can't neglect the history of alcoholic beverage culture. The rich and colorful connotations of Chinese alcoholic beverage culture can surely provide us with some interest and merries and profound thinking.
Different Opinions of Origin of Brewing Alcoholic Beverages
The alcoholic beverages made from grains have been dominating Chinese brewing industry in China, while fruit wine has a tiny share. Therefore the problem of origin of brewing alcoholic beverages in fact is a discussion of how alcoholic beverages were brewed by using grains.
Legends of origin of Brewing Alcoholic Beverages
In ancient times, the origin of brewing alcoholic beverages were considered to owe to some one's invention, saying they were grandfathers of brewing alcohol. The sayings had such a great influence upon people that they were taken for granted and became established opinions, about which an ancient book entitled ¡¶ Jiu Pu ¡· (Alcoholic Beverages' Records ) of Song Dynasty used to doubt about it, it says all the folklore's of origin of brewing alcoholic beverages were lack of facts and unreasonable and unreliable. Although these folklores are unreasonable, they can be considered a school of traditional culture. In view of it, it is necessary to conclude these legends as follows:
Yi Di started brewing of Alcoholic Drinks
It was said that during Xia Dynasty when a ruler named Yu was in power, Yi Di invented brewing of alcoholic drinks. A historical book named ¡¶Lu Shi Chunqiu¡· written in two centuries B.C. says, "Yi Di brewed alcoholic drinks." Another historical book named ¡¶Zhanguoce¡· by Liu Xiang of Han Dynasty gave a further explanation, "In the past, Yi Di, a daughter of Emperor Yu, brewed a tasteful alcoholic drink, and then tributed it to Ruler Yu, who drank it and felt cheerful, saying: 'There must be some imperial rulers indulged in alcoholic drinking in the future, which will lead to loss of their imperial power. ' He then gave an order to Yi Di stopping brewing the drink to Yi Di."
Du Kang Invented Brewing of Alcoholic Drinks
One legend says that Du Kong originated brewing of alcoholic drinks, (Du Kong lived in Xia Dynasty ). ¡¶Explanation of Articles and words¡· issued in East Han Dynasty explained the term of "alcoholic drink" saying: "Du Kong brewed kaoling alcoholic drink." Another book named ¡¶Shi Ben¡· holds the same opinion
Brewing of alcoholic drinks started in the period of Huang Di ¡ªa tribe chief.
Another legend indicated that the people of Huang Di Era started brewing of alcoholic drinks . One works called ¡¶Huang Di Nie Jing ¡¤ Su Wen¡· recorded the detailed conversation carried between Huang Di and Qi Bo, Huang Di inquired, "How to make sweet alcoholic drink from rice ?" Qi Bo answered, "Rice must be needed and rice straw is also used to heat the rice; but rice should be in a fine quality and the flame great enough as well." ¡¶Huang Di Nie Jing¡· also mentioned an old alcoholic drink¡ªLilou which was brewed by using the animal's milk. Huang Di was our common ancestor of Chinese nationalities, a lot of inventions occurred during Huang Di's period. ¡¶Huang Di Nie Jing ¡· was actually written by a group of authors in the name of Huang Di, what were recorded in the book true to the facts or not need further testifying for this reason.
Alcoholic Drinking Occurred in Harmony with the Existence of the Universe
A more mythological legend said, "There exists a god of alcoholic drinks, which was brewed when the universe existed."
Although there are a variety of legends about the origin of alcoholic drinks, it can be concluded that the brewing of alcoholic drinks started as early as during Xia Dynasty or ever earlier than that, which has been proved by what the archaeologists have discoverd. Xia Dynasty existed 4,000 years ago, however over 5000-years- old vessels that were used to brew alcoholic drinks have been discovered. ¡¶Xing Ming Evening Daily¡· published an article entitled ¡¶The Oldest Chinese Characters are discovered in Ju County, Shangdong Province, China¡·on 23rd. August, 1987, its subtitle ¡¶Over 5,000-year-old -brewing-alcoholic-drink vessels are also discovered¡·, which shows that brewing of alcoholic drinks came into existence at least as early as 5,000 years or it originated even earlier than that time. In the distant ancient time, people chanced to find some alcoholic drink naturally fermented, then began to copy it. It might take a fairly long time to complete it
Origin of Brewing of Alcoholic Drinks Proved by Archaeological Discoveries
All over China dot the cultural relics of the New- Stone Age which are as many as 6,000¡«7,000. Among all discoveries, some grains remains and a large number of antiques not only provide considerably valuable data for us to study how our ancestors of the New- Stone Age behaved in the social life, but also present direct proofs of how the brewing of alcoholic drinks originated.
Brewing of grain alcoholic drinks requires two necessities, that is the raw materials of brewing and brewing vessels. Of course the existence of raw materials of brewing and brewing vessels can't suggest the origin of brewing alcoholic drinks; which can only be used as reference. The followings are some typical cultural relics of the New-Stone Age.
Pei Ligang Culture Period
Pei Ligang Culture Period, as early as 7,700¡«8, 000 years ago (another opinion considered as far as 7, 000 ¡« 8, 000 years ago) , situated in Zheng-zhou, Xing-zheng and other places, Henan Province of Central China, is the earliest cultural relics of the New- Stone Age discovered till now in China. Among other remains are some stone sickles, stone spades, stone axes, stone knifes, stone mills, stone grinding rods, fin-clay red potter- works and remains of grains. Although the shapes of the pottery are in difference from the drinking vessels discovered latter, it is certain that they were one of material conditions for brewing of alcoholic drinks at that time.
Homedou Culture Period
It is situated in Homedou Village , Yu- yao County Zhejiang Province of Yangtze River's lower reach, it existed as far as 6,000¡«7 ,000 years ago. Some primitive tools such as stone axes and stone ploughing tools etc. were discovered in it. A large quantity of man -cultivated rice grains and rice leaves and stems still existed. People at that time began raising pigs, dogs and cattle, and potter- works were delicately made. This period had developed into the typical stage of agriculture. Among the discovered remains, exists a container, called "±" (pronounced "you") ¡ª an ancient- time small - mouthed drinking vessel, which aroused people's peculiar interest and attention. So there was great possibility that brewing of alcoholic drinks started during Homedou Culture Period.
Ci-shan Culture Period
Ci-shan Culture Period which existed 7,355¡«7,234 years ago , possessed developed agricultural economy. Some experts calculated there existed a mass of 100 m3 of grains, equaling 50,000 kg's in the remains (¡¶On the Era and Society of Ci-shan Culture and Pei- ligang Culture¡· by Huang Zhong-yue, published in a special issue of ¡¶ Central China's Culture Relics¡·, Sept., 1987). In the relics were discovered a kind of the watering-pot , small-mouthed pot for storing liquids and a kind of potter-cup, as well as the big- belly container probably used for fermentation. It is worth mentioning here that the mouth of the watering pot has a diameter of 0.2 cm, which couldn't be used for pouring water. So we can reach a conclusion that there probably existed brewing of alcoholic drinks by using grains during the Ci-shan Culture Period.
Shang Xiang Dui Relics
It lies in Guang-han of Sichuan Province. The remains buried in the relics, according to the result of testifying C-14, existed 48, 000 ¡«2,870 B.C. A big number of potter-works and bronze vessels such as a kind of Jia, Gu. (both were drinking vessels) and tea- pot etc. in shape were dug up, they were really rare so far as their sizes were concerned among the pre-historical cultural remains.
