Academic literature on the topic 'Grain tribute (China)'

This study examined the major contents of some 70 kinds of tea rites and eight kinds of tea books from Song Dynasty based on A Collection of Chinese Historical Materials on Tea Leaves (中國茶葉歷史資料選集) compiled by Jin Jo Gyu and Ju Ja Jin. In China, the writing of books on tea started with Tea Classic(茶經) by Yuku in Tang. In Song Dynasty, a hefty 30% of Chinese ancient books on tea were published, including Cheonmyeongrok by Dogok, Darok by Chaeyang, Yongcharokhuseo by Gu Yang Su, Pumchayorok by Hwang Yu, Donggyesidarok by Song Ja An, Daegwandaron by Emperor Huizong Zhao Ji, SeonhwaBukwonGongChaRok written by Woongbeon(熊蕃), and Bukwonbyeolrok by Jo Yeo Ryeo. In Song, some 70 kinds of tea rites were further enriched by literati s literary talent and emotion such as the writing of poems or literary commentaries. In those times in Song, many literati, scholars, and government officials were the very masters of teas, and they created the harmonious beauty and deep mental world into poems, calligraphies and paintings, from their tea life. In particular, most of books on tea published in Dynasty feature many contents of tribute tea. Nearly all authors of tea books were government officials in charge of tea rites in Bukwon, including officials responsible for transporting grains as taxes in Bukwon, Geonan. The books recorded the authors first-hand experience, detailing the entire process of making tea from cultivation to collection to drying, as well as kinds of tribute tea. Books on tea published in Song are important historical materials for researching Song s tea industry and tea culture. Song s tea culture reached the loftiest level in the history of China. Considering the times publication circumstances and expansive geographical scope, however, the distribution of books on tea and exchange of knowledge presumably were not facilitated. Due to such circumstances, Song s books on tea were generally written based on compilers experience, observation and knowledge.