The Tea Production and Drinking of Song Dynasty in Sichuan

• Main Authors: Feng-Yi Liu, 劉奉一
• Other Authors: Ming-Sun Wang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2016
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/85961403394448006307

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 歷史學系所 === 104 === Sichuan is considered as the cradle of drinking and growing tea. However, the culture of drinking Sichuan Tea and the features of the tea is little recorded in the Book of Tea during Song Dynasty. The Song People indicated that the quality of tea from the east-southern China is much better than Sichuan Tea. The records of tea history during Song Dynasty were based on the monopolization policy on tea-leaf sale, trading in Tea and Horses, and tea producing. The origin and growth in production of Sichuan Tea were increased during Song Dynasty. Before the monopolization policy on tea-leaf sale, the productions were only enough for local small landowners and tenants to maintain their livelihood, while large landlords gained more profit. Moreover, tea merchants gained more profits than tea farmers. Usually based on the production of Sichuan Tea and tea from the east-southern China, the production of tea during Song Dynasty has always been an important subject for studies, because the increasing of origin and growth in production of Tea. According to historical record, comparing the quantity of tea from the east-southern China and Sichuan Tea was hard to make an conclusion during Northern Song Dynasty. However, influenced by Jin-Song War, the production of tea from the east-southern China were decreased numerously during Southern Song Dynasty. The main function of Sichuan Tea was for Military and Policy. The profits of tea offered government for Sichuan -Shaanxi finance support and tea trading gave people the opportunities of trading in Tea and Horses. Sichuan Tea culture was based on the studies of producing process, tea services of Tang-Song Dynasty, and the art of tea drinking. Caky tea has gotten the most producing process of tea; steaming tea and whisking tea have the same way to use tea services; the traditional way of boiling tea, Lu Yu tea, and whisking tea of tea culture are spreading in Sichuan. Moreover, a small species of Sichuan Tea has health effects, especially Mengding Tea. In conclusion, the emphasis of Sichuan Tea culture in Song Dynasty is still for the monopolization policy on tea-leaf sale and the tea trade, not the art of tea drinking.