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/Term | Chinese | English/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 Buddhism | 禅 | Chan 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 |
| tú | 荼 | 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 |
| Jiǎ | 槚 | Another ancient name for tea |
| míng | 茗 | Another ancient name for tea |
| chuǎn | 荈 | Another 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 |
| shè | 蔎 | Another 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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