Zhao

Modern people generally live in a state of sub-health, and the high-fat, high-salt, high-sugar, and high-oil modern delicacies have changed the lives of modern people. The reasons are usually explained as a fast-paced modern lifestyle, overuse of drugs, lack of exercise, excess nutrition, etc. Such explanations are too broad, and while discussing these issues, we need a more concrete approach to solving them. The "Human Microbiome Project" launched in 2007 provides such an approach – the human microbiome. The human body is actually a superorganism composed of human cells and a large group of microorganisms living together symbiotically, with human cells accounting for 10% of the total cell count in the superorganism and human genes making up 1% of the total gene count. It can be said that any slight change in the health status of the human body involves microorganisms. Over 90% of the human microbiome resides in the gut. Ensuring a reasonable structure of the gut microbiome ensures one's own health. Around 2020, scientific understanding of the gut microbiome made frequent breakthroughs. We can now re-explain many issues from the perspective of the gut microbiome. Did you know? Our gut microbiome is shrinking. What is the problem with…

When the lid of a pot breaks, enthusiasts often want to find a replacement, while potters are often reluctant to make one. This can lead to some frustration among collectors. However, understanding the characteristics of Yixing clay and the process of making Yixing teapots can help enthusiasts comprehend the situation. In the world of Yixing teapots, there is a saying: “It’s easier to make three pots than to match one lid.” This is because the properties of Yixing clay vary, and factors such as clay mixing, firing temperature, and firing method can affect the final appearance of the pot, with different contraction rates after firing. ▲Dezhong pot in Ding Trough Qing, plain style A Yixing teapot undergoes two contractions from its raw state to being fired: drying contraction and firing contraction. The degree of contraction is directly related to the type of clay, the moisture content of the raw pot, the firing temperature, and the firing time. It is impossible to replicate the exact firing temperature and time, so even if the same type of clay is used to make identical pots, the size of each firing will vary slightly. ▲Dezhong pot in Ding Trough Qing, bamboo engraving style Therefore,…

"Burning incense, preparing tea, hanging paintings, arranging flowers— these four leisurely pursuits should not burden one's home." —Wu Zimu, Dream of the Liang Dynasty Readers who have watched the TV series Dreamy Song Dynasty will surely remember the scene where the main character Zhao Pan'er prepares tea with skillful and graceful movements, a sight that is pleasing to the eye. Tea became popular in the Tang Dynasty but flourished in the Song Dynasty. The custom of drinking tea was widespread in Song society, enjoyed by everyone from nobles and literati to merchants, gentry, and common folk, all of whom found pleasure in it, leading to the emergence of various tea-related activities. The method of drinking tea in the Song Dynasty differed from today's practice of steeping tea leaves in boiling water. In the Song Dynasty, tea was made from compressed cakes, which were ground into a fine powder before being mixed with boiling water. This process, known as "crushing the tea into powder, pouring hot water over it, and using a whisk to froth it," is referred to as "pointing tea." Song Dynasty people poured their hearts, filled with mountains and rivers, into their paintings and also into their tea.…

Duyun Maojian tea is a century-old prestigious Chinese brand. Its unique tea-growing environment and production techniques endow it with an elegant appearance characterized by tightly curled strands, silver tips, and a green luster, as well as qualities such as a lasting fresh fragrance and a sweet aftertaste. From winning the gold medal at the Panama World's Fair in 1915 to being listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2022, Duyun Maojian tea has garnered over 100 awards from international and national competitions over more than a century. Photographed by Zhao Yunchuan To further promote the protection and inheritance of the intangible cultural heritage project "Skills for Producing Duyun Maojian Tea," Duyun City adheres to the protection policy of "prioritizing protection, prioritizing rescue, rational utilization, and development through inheritance." The city upholds the principles of authenticity and integrity in its protection efforts. It continually improves the institutional mechanisms for building a team of representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage and considers strengthening this team as a critical link and core element in inheriting the skills for producing Duyun Maojian tea. Focusing on skill protection to ensure inheritance In terms of building the inheritor team, Duyun City actively strengthens…

Tea is one of the world's three major beverages. In addition to its fresh and fragrant taste, the rich substances it contains are also one of the reasons people enjoy drinking tea. As is well known, tea is rich in polyphenols. Polyphenols are antioxidants with excellent antioxidant functions that can eliminate harmful free radicals, fight aging, resist radiation, and have antibacterial properties. But does drinking tea regularly really slow down the process of brain aging? Chinese scholars provide the answer. Addressing existing issues, they conducted extensive data analysis to arrive at more reliable conclusions. On November 21, 2023, a research paper titled "Tea consumption and attenuation of biological aging: A longitudinal analysis from two cohort studies" by Professor Zhao Xing's team from the School of Public Health, West China Hospital, Sichuan University was published online in the prestigious international journal "The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific" (IF=7.1). The results show that regularly drinking tea can slow down the aging process, and drinking about 3 cups of tea or 6-8 grams of tea leaves per day may provide the most significant anti-aging effects. In this study, there were 13,929 participants, including 7,931 participants aged 30-79 from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) and…

To support the vigorous implementation of return-home social practice by university students and rural revitalization, from July 14 to July 23, the "Village Rhythm" practice team from the North China University of Technology, building on the phased research results of their earlier "return home" social practice, conducted in-depth fieldwork in southern Fujian. They carried out activities themed around "Boosting Rural Revitalization of Fujian's Tea Industry," aiming to fulfill their mission, enrich farmers, and assist in revitalization. Following the basic guidelines of integrating governance with education, science and technology with education, and industry with education, they aimed to deliver a "traveling major ideological and political lesson." In this process, they received education, developed their abilities, and made contributions in the societal classroom, giving back to their hometown through concrete actions. Integration of Governance and Education, Gathering Great Ideological Power The Village Rhythm practice team seized the opportunity of red education, learning ideas and strengthening spirits, closely combining ideological and political education with academic practice teaching. Upholding the practice philosophy of "leadership guidance, practicing our original aspirations," they integrated youth ideological and political education throughout social practice. Through visits to the Xiamen Tong'an Highland Party School's Museum of Original Aspirations and Missions,…

Shiting Green Tea is produced in the town of Fengzhou, Nanshi City, Fujian Province, at Lotus Peak on Jiuri Mountain. The tea at Lotus Peak is not only a beverage but also a scenic feature. On the rocks of Lotus Peak are inscribed the words “Lotus Tea (i.e., tea) bosom,” which means: standing on Lotus Peak and looking down, one sees an expanse of green tea fields. The inscription of “Lotus Tea Bosom” dates to Taiyuan Bingzi (376 AD). This is the earliest known record of tea in Fujian Province, predating Lu Yu's Tcha: A Treatise on Tea by more than 300 years. This suggests that tea production at Lotus Peak dates back to the Jin Dynasty, attesting to the long history of Shiting Green Tea. From the Jin Dynasty through the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the development of Lotus Peak tea was rapid. In a poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Han Wu, he writes: "Seeking the old man among the cliffs for immortality herbs, the local custom is to gather tea songs," indicating that tea picking was already a common practice. By the Northern Song Dynasty, the development of Lotus tea reached unprecedented heights, with scholars visiting the…

The Chinese nomination project "The Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape of Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er" was approved during the 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and has been added to the World Heritage List as China's 57th world heritage site. Below, let's explore through a series of posters the World Cultural Heritage Site The Ancient Tea Forest Cultural Landscape of Jingmai Mountain in Pu'er Credit: Publicity Department of the Pu'er Municipal Committee Photography for the posters: Zhang Cheng, Zhao Jiaqi Design of the posters: Huang Jin, Bao Ziqian

Recently, Duyun Maojian Tea Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. has made new progress in its production line – Duyun's first microwave and lightwave automated tea production line has been put into operation. Entering the production workshop of Duyun Maojian Tea Industry (Group) Co., Ltd., rows of automated equipment can be seen. On the production line, tender leaves of Duyun Maojian tumble, with a pleasant aroma filling the air. Staff members are conducting equipment adjustments and production processing in an orderly manner according to the tea-making techniques and equipment operation requirements, including spreading, fixation, rolling, drying, flavor enhancement, and packaging. With five workers and four hours, thousands of pounds of fresh leaves are transformed into delicately fragrant Duyun Maojian tea. Reducing costs and increasing capacity, technological innovation has truly brought new opportunities for enterprise development. The fully automated tea production line introduced by Duyun Maojian Tea Industry (Group) Co., Ltd. realizes mechanical automatic control throughout the process. The design is strictly based on the characteristics of Duyun Maojian tea, employing processes such as microwave fixation, automatic rolling machines, and lightwave drying. Compared to traditional manual tea-making, this not only ensures the quality and output of Duyun Maojian tea but also significantly reduces…

There are many "obviously fake" imitations and traps in the Purple Clay market. Many enthusiasts often ask us to authenticate various teapots. Here are a few types of teapots that you may have come across. Be very careful. Injection-molded teapots Pure Purple Clay cannot be used to make injection-molded teapots, so during the process of making these, a lot of glass water is added to the clay. The clay is placed in a ball mill for 48 hours, turning it into a very fine slurry. The slurry is then poured into molds, left for 1-2 minutes, taken out, dried, and processed into teapots. One person can produce 300-500 injection-molded teapots in a day. The glass water does not evaporate at high temperatures but seeps directly into the Purple Clay. Glass water contains water, alcohol, ethylene glycol, corrosion inhibitors, and sometimes methanol, formaldehyde, and glycol. Methanol is highly toxic to the human nervous and blood systems, causing toxic reactions when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Methanol vapor can damage the respiratory mucosa and vision. To deal with such fakes, first, do not be misled by low prices of a few dollars or tens of dollars, buying cheap teapots with…

In early winter 2018, we held a tea gathering in front of the Mogao Caves, titled "Glimmering Light - A Visionary Experience." The tea practitioners scooped up the sand from Mogao and placed it into a glass hourglass. As the hourglass was turned over, the tea ceremony began. Water was poured, tea liquor extracted, served, and sipped. We did not invite many people; just a few tea lovers who had traveled far to sit with us in the desert. The transparent glass frames held tea notes, with sand and wind swirling outside, and the corners of the tea practitioners' robes and their footsteps. The tea wasn't scalding hot, but it still warmed us. Thinking about this tea, I returned again. Yangguan – Flickering Fires in the Wind I've been to Yangguan several times, each time bringing tea and a pot of wine. Zhao Wen carried her zither, saying she would play "Three Stanzas of Yangguan" there. On a clear winter day, the wooden walkway on the Gobi Desert was empty. The brown-red Gobi was protected by the boardwalk, the sandy and gravel ground layered deep and shallow, extending all the way to the horizon. Within these layers, air currents made…

Since ancient times, the Chinese people have had a profound connection with tea, evolving from consuming to drinking tea, and from cultivating, picking to processing it. The industrious and wise Chinese people, based on local conditions, have utilized core techniques such as fixation, withering, yellowing, oxidation, piling, fermentation, and scenting to develop six major types of tea - green, white, yellow, oolong, black, and dark teas - along with flower-scented teas and other processed teas, totaling thousands of varieties. In this deep-rooted relationship with tea, different tea-drinking and tea-meeting customs have been formed and passed down through generations. On November 29, 2022, China's "Traditional Chinese Tea Processing Techniques and Associated Customs" was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This entry encompasses 44 national-level intangible cultural heritage representative projects, including four traditional tea customs: Bai ethnic three-course tea, Yao ethnic oil tea, Tea Gathering Festival, and Jing Shan tea banquet. The Chinese tea culture is not only long-standing but also constantly renewed. To further enhance the recognition of Chinese tea customs and the entire Chinese tea culture, and to promote their protection, inheritance, development, and dissemination, the All-China Co-operative News·Tea Weekly has specially planned…

Ascending Mount Jingmai, one is drawn for the sea of clouds and the ancient tea. Nuogang Village in Jingmai Village especially captured my imagination. To me, this is what a fairyland should look like. Lush forests embrace the thousand-year-old village; mists linger around this auspicious ancestral land. Nuogang Village is part of Jingmai Village Committee in Huimin Town, Lancang County, Pu'er City, Yunnan Province. All 121 households are Dai people. Suitable for growing crops such as tea and rice, the tea industry is an important source of income. Despite fluctuating tea prices over the years, the price of tea from Nuogang Village has never dropped. This is due to two reasons: First, the trees are old, with the oldest being over 800 years and the youngest more than a century, producing a rich and powerful flavor. Second, the tea is ecologically grown in deep mountains where villagers voluntarily refrain from using pesticides, preserving its natural taste. I have visited Mount Jingmai twice, staying both times in Nuogang Village. The first visit was years ago when there were no guesthouses in the village. I was hosted by a Dai family who made tea, refusing any payment for accommodation and meals. I…

[Stone Gourd] A gourd cup for a simple life, its shape with tension holds a wondrous charm. The sound of stone resonates far, and with tripod legs, it heralds new poetry. Period: Qing Dynasty Made by: Chen Mansheng Description: The body of the pot is trapezoidal, with soft and smooth curves, giving an appearance that is thick and rustic. The spout is straight, simple yet powerful, often integrated into the overall shape of the pot. The handle is mostly in the form of an inverted triangle, complementing the shape of the pot to create a harmonious aesthetic effect. The lid is flat and the knob bridge-shaped, clean and neat with appropriate proportions, fully embodying the characteristic of exquisite craftsmanship. [Antique] Its might without a drum is like a drum, its scholarly belly pays homage to the sages of old. Low-key and refined, it cultivates diligently, joyfully serving as a sage of the earth. Period: Modern Made by: Gu Jingzhou Description: The Antique teapot is a classic type among many styles of zisha teapots. This teapot has a plump, sturdy neck that contrasts with the lower shoulder. The body is large, squat, and flat. The rim is wide, and the mother-and-child…

The Drum-bellied Handle Pot and the square seal on the bottom reading “Made by Shao Yunsi” Early purple clay pots were mostly handle pots, as they were not used for steeping tea, but rather as water-heating utensils. With a handle, it was convenient to place them over fire or on a stove. Purple clay handle pots have been excavated from Song Dynasty kiln sites in Yangjiaoshan, Yixing, and the earliest dated purple clay pot in the Nanjing Museum collection is also a handle pot. It is said that Zhao Liang, one of the four great masters of the Ming Dynasty, specialized in making purple clay handle pots, but actual examples are hard to find. Some may exist without his mark, leaving their attribution uncertain. After the late Ming Dynasty, purple clay pots began to be used directly for steeping tea, but the handle did not disappear. To this day, handle pots are preserved as traditional purple clay forms. The pot shown in the figure is a purple clay handle pot, measuring 13.4 cm tall overall, with a flush-fitting lid, a flattened round knob, and a three-curved spout. Its body is shaped like a drum, both the lid and the base…

For over a century, Liubao tea has been continuously exported through the ancient tea ship route into Southeast Asia, deeply integrating into the daily lives of local Chinese communities. The September monsoon breezes across the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, adding a cool touch to Malacca's evenings. In front of Wu Kunlun's house, in a simple tea pavilion, more than a dozen tea enthusiasts gather around, savoring the fragrant aroma of Liubao tea, chatting and enjoying each other's company in a harmonious atmosphere. These tea gatherings have continued for over a decade, with most participants being avid fans of Liubao tea. Over the years, they've formed bonds over their shared love for tea, spending time together tasting, discussing, and purchasing tea, with Liubao tea always being the central topic of conversation. For many Southeast Asian tea enthusiasts, the cup of tea holds not just the rich and aromatic Liubao tea but also encapsulates the diverse social dynamics and sentiments of their homeland. Because Liubao tea, through its export along the ancient tea ship route in Southeast Asia, has witnessed the region's changes over more than a century and become deeply ingrained in the daily lives of local Chinese communities.…

During the War of Resistance against Japan, the central region was occupied. This period of history is a heavy topic for our nation, but for Yunnan, it did indeed receive more attention during that time, with a high density of intellectuals and skilled craftsmen coming to Yunnan, leaving behind many legacies. And Dianhong is among these legacies, a very brilliant gem. Father of Dianhong - Feng Shaoqiu Feng Shaoqiu is known as the father of Dianhong. Those of us who have truly studied and delved into tea appreciation have a different feeling about Feng Shaoqiu. He was a true master. Among the tea makers of his generation, in terms of how to shape the quality of fresh leaves and varieties, and the precise and delicate handling of tea, Feng Shaoqiu was the top person. His combination of theory and practice, his integration of knowledge and action, was at a very high level. Of course, this might be a subjective expression, so let's talk about an objective standard. △Feng Shaoqiu, image source from the Internet When Feng Shaoqiu later went to Shanghai to conduct export inspections, he had a nickname – "Feng Nose." Because with a sniff of a tea, he…

The Southern Song Dynasty: Zhou Jichang, Lin Tinggui, et al., “Arhats Drinking Tea” Have you watched the recent hit Song Dynasty drama, "Dream of the Red Chamber"? Actress Liu Yifei plays the lead character Zhao Pan'er, who is the owner of Zhao's Teahouse and stuns viewers with her fluid tea preparation skills in her first appearance. From a tea enthusiast's perspective, the most captivating aspect of "Dream of the Red Chamber" is its portrayal of "tea culture," filled with ancient charm and texture, with tea utensils and tea-making techniques largely true to Song Dynasty style. Let’s now appreciate the exquisite saucers used by ancient people for drinking tea. In the Song Dynasty, tea was prepared by "beating and stirring" using a tea whisk to stir and strike the tea broth; saucers were designed to prevent scalding hands. Southern Song to Yuan Dynasty: Gilt Silver Flower and Bird Patterned Tea Saucer and Saucer – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA Collection Ruyao Porcelain Northern Song Dynasty: Ruyao Sky Blue Glazed Paulownia Petal Shaped Saucer – British Museum Collection Guan Porcelain Song Dynasty: Guan Porcelain Celadon Saucer – Palace Museum Southern Song Dynasty Guan Porcelain Saucer - Excavated from the Southern Song…

Paradise Mountain stands as a divine presence in the hearts of the people of Changning. Mr. Ou Zhide, a writer from Yunnan Province, once wrote: “‘Paradise’ is the pursuit of an idyllic place, a paradise that people yearn for on earth. Astonishingly, there is a Paradise Mountain in Changning, and its name wasn’t given by contemporary people to attract tourism benefits; it has been passed down from our ancestors. Paradise has had the beauty of a fairyland since ancient times…” Paradise Mountain, with its picturesque landscapes of mountains, water, rocks, and forests, high-altitude wetlands nestled among peaks, natural scenery created by rock springs and tree vines, and flowers dancing amidst the forest, resembles a paradise on earth. It is a “natural gene bank for flora and fauna,” where many species are rare in China or even worldwide. Just like the Paradise Big-Head Tea, Red Flower Oil Tea, Water Fir, Red Cypress, Rhododendrons, Magnolias, and Long-Stamen Magnolias, the wild tea trees bestowed by nature have found their “haven” here, coexisting and thriving with other flora and fauna as integral parts of a complete ecosystem. Located to the north of Changning County, Paradise Mountain is part of the southern range of the…

The late renowned painter Mr. Tang Yun, not only excelled in painting but was also a famous expert in cultural relics appraisal at home and abroad. Before his passing, he was a member of the National Cultural Relics Appraisal Committee. He had a particular fondness for Yixing purple clay teapots and owned more than ten of the famous "Mansheng Teapots," with both the quantity and quality of his collection unparalleled in the world. The actual number of surviving "Mansheng Teapots" may not be very scarce, for two reasons: firstly, they were made during the relatively recent Qing Dynasty period of Qianlong and Jiaqing; secondly, the original production quantity was large, numbering in the thousands. However, those we can see today are extremely rare. I recently went through auction catalogs from major Beijing auction houses over the past few years and did not find a single "Mansheng Teapot," which is quite puzzling. Perhaps it's because collectors cherish them as treasures and are unwilling to part with them. The so-called "Mansheng Teapot" originated with Chen Hongshou (1768-1822), known by his pen name Mansheng, a famous scholar from Qiantang, Zhejiang, who lived during the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods of the Qing Dynasty. Alongside…

Zhao Lingzhi was a renowned poet from the late Northern Song to early Southern Song dynasties, known for his profound literary accomplishments and calligraphic talent. His work, The Tea Grant Postscript, is housed in the Tokyo National Museum in Japan, making it a precious cultural heritage. Overview of the Work The Tea Grant Postscript is a work of running script, consisting of fifty-seven characters spread across nine lines. This calligraphy piece showcases Zhao Lingzhi's unique artistic style through its straightforward yet lively brushwork and composition. It subtly reflects the elegance of Dongpo's style while also demonstrating the author's concise literary expression. Content of the Work The Tea Grant Postscript is a letter that touches on the tea-granting system of the Song Dynasty, which was a form of etiquette between monarch and minister. In the letter, Zhao Lingzhi mentions that due to continuous heavy rain, he received greetings and pears and chestnuts as gifts from the other party, for which he expresses gratitude. He also notes that he was fortunate enough to receive tea from the emperor and wishes to offer one cake of it to his esteemed benefactor. The phrase "I hope you cherish this time" in the letter conveys…