A Short History of Chinese Wine Culture: Short Histories from Encyclopedia Publishing House (Beijing)

By Encyclopedia of China Publishing House

China has a long and splendid history of jiu, which can be translated as "wine" or as "liquor." China has many ethnic groups with different time-honored customs and traditions, and their differences extend to their relationships to wine. The culture of wine is an integral part of local folk customs with regional variations and wine plays an irreplaceable role in public rituals, ceremonies, banquets, and social functions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Berkshire Publishing
• Release date: Feb 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9781614721154

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Knowledge for our common future

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© 2018 BY ENCYCLOPEDIA of China Publishing House and Berkshire Publishing Group

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission from the publishers.

This is one of a series of books created by the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House from material in their 73-volume Encyclopedia of China. The books are about aspects of Chinese history and culture that are of most interest to non-Chinese readers. Berkshire Publishing Group was commissioned to edit and publish the series in English and Chinese as an adjunct to the China Encyclopedia USA, an online edition of the shorter Encyclopedia of China. Ebooks are available to subscribers, and are also sold separately.

For information, contact:

Berkshire Publishing Group

Great Barrington, Massachusetts 01230-1506 USA

Email: [e-mail]

ePub ISBN 9781614721154

Preface

Although I am a historian , for the most part, I learned history independently rather than in school. To be more specific, nearly all my basic knowledge of Chinese history was obtained through reading books. Looking back on those early days, I feel deeply indebted to the short handbooks of history that led me into the glamorous palace of Chinese civilization. Given my personal experience, I believe that handbooks like the History of Chinese Civilization series, which are brief and to the point, can be of great help to Westerners in their efforts to learn more about the history and culture of China.

It is critical that history books tell the truth. Telling the truth is easier said than done, and it is simply impossible to do a perfect job. For one thing, history, by nature, is complicated and difficult to comprehend; for another, recounting history in a popular style is an even more difficult task. Luckily, readers will be quite aware that these books are just a guide in their journey to discover the treasures of Chinese civilization. History of Chinese Civilization will win over its readers with fascinating and inspiring historical facts and anecdotes, told in accurate yet vivid, simple yet thought-provoking language. With carefully chosen and arranged content, the series will not only help Westerners and overseas Chinese to learn about the history and culture of China, but also will serve as easy-to-read handbooks for Chinese readers—young readers in particular—to obtain more knowledge of Chinese history and culture. Furthermore, by reading these books in English, Chinese readers will learn idiomatic expressions and thus be able to communicate more effectively with people around the world.

Chinese civilization has a glorious history. Personally, however, I do not believe that this series, which primarily targets overseas readers, is written with boastful intentions. The cultures of all countries and peoples, resplendent as they are, have flaws. What we need is to communicate with each other and understand each other. Back at the end of the Qing dynasty, numerous Japanese used the word incomprehensible to describe the bewilderment they felt upon visiting China and experiencing Chinese culture. Today, a similar feeling of bewilderment still exists between different cultures. Considering that even the Japanese could feel this way despite the frequent cultural exchanges between Japan and China throughout history, it is almost certain that people living in more geographically and culturally distant countries would feel even more bewildered. I therefore hope that History of Chinese Civilization and other similar books will help Western readers learn more about China and understand it better so that we can expel this sense of bewilderment, bridge the gaps between cultures, and enjoy an increasingly harmonious world.

Professor Xin Deyong, Peking University

Introduction

Wine, like a magical spirit, sometimes presents as fire, sometimes as ice. It is sometimes like a lingering dream or a piece of soft silk, and sometimes it is as sharp as a sword. It is powerful and omnipresent. With it, you may find yourself unfettered, able to display your genius in full blossom; you may also become unscrupulous and degenerate, falling into the abyss.

China has a long and splendid history of wine, a substance which has been closely related to social habits and culture ever since its invention. China has many ethnic groups with different time-honored customs and traditions, and their differences extend to their relationships to wine. The culture of wine carries both local and universal features. On the one hand, it has long been an integral part of local folk customs with regional variations. On the other hand, as wine culture derives from the reality of people’s lives, it reflects the common spiritual pursuits of people from all ethnic groups. Therefore, from Chinese wine customs, we shall be able to explore not only the meanings and