Ep. 2 | A Bitter Brew in Bronze Age China

Tea's progress as an enjoyable beverage starts to make some headway since Shen Nong's time. But it's still one bitter brew during the Bronze Age centuries. It remains a work in progress but showing tremendous promise.

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Terms in Episode

Pinyin/TermChineseEnglish/Meaning
Zhōu Dynasty周朝Dynasty that followed the Shang. Lasted from 1046 to 256 BC
Xià Dynasty夏朝Mythical dynasty that lasted approxumately 2070-1600 BC
Shāng商朝Dynasty that preceded the Zhou, lasted 1600-1046 BC
Lǎozǐ老子Also known as Lao Tzu, founder of Daoism
Kings Wén and Wǔ周文王/周武王Kings Wen and his son King Wu, the first two Zhou kings
Duke of Zhōu周公Son of King Wen, brother of King Wu, a very revered figure in ancient Chinese history
Hán Fēizǐ韩非子Name of the Legalist philospher and the book of his writings
Mèngzǐ孟子Also known as Mencius, a great philospher from the Ru School
Guǎn Zhòng管仲720-645 BC, chancellor to Duke Huan of Qi, revered philospher and official
Duke Huán of Qí齐桓公Ruler of Qi State from 685-643 BC
Qín Shǐhuáng秦始皇The first emperor of China and founder of the Qin Dyansty
Eastern Zhōu东周The Eastern Zhou Dynasty, divided up into The Spring & Autumn anbd Warring States Periods
Warring States Period战国时代The Warring States Period 476-221 BC
Yīn Xū殷墟The Ruins of Yin where the Shang Dynasty had one of its capitals. Ther famous Oracle Bones of China were found here
Ānyáng安阳City in Northern Henan where the Ruins of Yin were located
Hénán河南Province in central China north of Hubei and south of Henan
Huáxià华夏A term for the many tribes that clustered around the Yellow River and are considereds the most ancient ancestors of the Han Chinese.
Chán BuddhismChan Buddhism, also known as Zen in Japan
Yúnnán云南Province in southwest China
Zhòu Xīn紂辛The last Shang king, known also as King Di Xin
Chéngdū成都Capital of Sichuan province and site of the ancient Shu State
Fúzhōu福州Capital of Fujian Province
Wú Lǐzhēn吴理真Buddhist Monk credited with the cultivation of tea on Mengding Shan
Emperor Xuān汉宣帝Han Emperor from 74-48 BC
Méngdīng Shān蒙顶山Méngdīng Mountain
Méngdīng Gān Lù Cha蒙顶甘露茶A type of tea that comes from Mount Mengding in Sichuan
Xiān Cha仙茶the tea of the immortals, another name for Ganlu Tea
Yǎ’ān雅安Ya'an, a city not too far from Chengdu
Qiónglái邛崃Qionglai, a city not far from Chengdu
Sānguó Zhì三國志Records of the Three Kingdoms
Sūn Hào孙皓grandson of Sūn Quán 孙权, former king of Eastern Wú who loved to drink
Wéi Yào韦曜Eastern Wu official and literary figure who was a teetotaler
yǐ chá dài jiǔ以茶代酒to substitute drinking tea instead of wine.
Sīmǎ Yán司马炎Jin Dyansty founder, known as Jin Wu Di 晋武帝
Jìn Dynasty晋朝The Jin Dynasty, 266-420
The character for tea before it was called cha 茶
Sìchuān四川Province in southwest China
Luòyáng洛阳One of the ancient capitals of China, located in Henan province
Cháng’ān长安Located in present day Xian, Shaanxi Province, capital of the Western Han and Tang Dynasties (among other dynasties)
Ěr Yǎ尔雅The first surviving Chinese dictionary
JiǎAnother ancient name for tea
míngAnother ancient name for tea
chuǎnAnother ancient name for tea
kǔ tú苦荼Bitter Tu, or bitter tea
Bā Shǔ巴蜀The states of Ba and Shu
Chóngqìng重庆Formerly part of Sichuan, now an independant municipality
Shǔ Guó蜀国The state of Shu, located in modern Sichuan
Yíng Zhèng嬴政Personal name of the first Qin Emperor
Ānhuī安徽Province in eastern China
Fújiàn福建Coastal province south of Zhejiang
Zhèjiāng浙江Coastal Province north of Fujian
Jiāngxī江西Province in eastern China
Jiāngsū江苏Coastal Province north of Zhejiang
shèAnother ancient name for tea
Guǎngyǎ广雅Chinese dictionary written during the 3rd century
Húběi湖北Province in central China
Hàn Wǔdì汉武帝Western Han emperor
Liú Sòng刘宋Liu Song Dynasty 420-479 the first of the southern dynasties during the Southern and Northern Dynasties Period, 420-589 that preceded the Suí
Wùchéng婺城A city in Zhejinag "which grows the tea reserved for the emperor as tribute tea.”
Zhūgě Liàng诸葛亮Great strategist and statesman of the 3 Kingdoms period
Yáng Jiān杨坚Second Sui emperor and grandson of founder Wendi
Suí Wéndì隋文帝Founder of the Sui Dynasty
Táng Dynasty唐朝Dynasty that followed the Sui, 618-907

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Ep. 3 | Tea Hits the Big Time (The Sui, Tang, and Tibet)

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Ep. 1 | Tea's Ancient Beginnings in China