Ep. 9 | The Ming Dynasty Tea Revolution

The epic story continues after the greatest advances ever in tea production and tea culture in the Song. After surviving the Mongol Yuan Dynasty Camellia Sinensis experiences revolutionary improvements with the founding of the Ming Dynasty by Zhu Yuanzhang. Now tea starts to become more familiar to us after the Hongwu Emperor demands all future tribute teas must be sent in loose-leaf form.

With loose leaf teas came greater demands for tea-ware. The history of the kilns of Jingdezhen is introduced, along with their calling card: Blue and White porcelain, China's first global brand. Other innovations such as teas scented with flowers and the Tea Manual of Zhu Quan are also discussed.

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Terms in Episode

Pinyin/Term	Chinese	English/Meaning
Míng	明朝	The Ming Dynasty 1368-1644
Mǒchá	抹茶	Ground powdered tea. called matcha in Japanese
Cài Xiāng	蔡襄	1012-1067, Chinese politician, engineer, poet, and arguably the greatest calligrapher during the Song dynasty
Hūizōng	宋徽宗	Northern Song emperor who reigned from 1100-1126
Eisai	明菴栄西	Myōen Eisai, 1141-1215, Japanese monk credited with bringing green tea to Japan from China. He also studied the Rinzai school of Chan or Zen Buddhism
Zhào Kuāngyìn	赵匡胤	Founder of the Song Dynasty
Khitan	契丹	Qìdān, Mongol people who ruled Manchuria and poart of north China from the 10th to early 12th century under the Liao Dynasty
Liáo	辽朝	The Liao or Khitan Dynasty 907-1125
Jürchen	女真	A Tungus ethnic group, predecessor of the Manchu ethnic group who founed the Later Jin Dynasty (后金) and Qing Dynasty
Jīn	金朝	The Jin Dynasty 1115-1234
Northern Sòng	北宋	The Northern Song Dynasty 960-1126
Yuán	元朝	The Yuan Dynasty 1279-1368
dòuchá	斗茶	A "tea battle" between contestants whipping up the best bowl of tea
Chǎoqīng	炒青	a kind of drying perfected in the Ming that used a pan or wok to fry the withered leaves of the freshly picked tea
Zhèng Hé	郑和	1371-1433, Ming dynasty admiral, diplomat and explorer
Zhū Yuánzhāng	朱元璋	Founder of the Ming Dynasty. He lived from 1328-1398
Liú Bāng	刘邦	Founder of the Han Dynast, reigned as Han Gaozu
Hóngwǔ emperor	洪武帝	Era name for the founing emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang
zǐshā	紫砂	Purple clay used in the manufacture of clay teapots
Jǐngdézhēn	景德镇	City in Jiangxi where the most famous porcelain in China is made
Qín	秦朝	First imperial dynasty of China, founded by Qin Shihuang. Lasted from 221-206 BCE
Xīnpíng	新平	Former name of Jingdezhen
Chāngnán Zhēn	昌南镇	Another former name of Jingdezhen. Some say the term "China" comes from Changnan
Zhēn	镇	A town
Shì, Zhēn, Cūn	市，镇，村	A City, Town, Village
Zhēnzōng	真宗	Song Emperor who reigned 997-1022
Jǐngdé	景德	Era name during Zhenzong's reign that gave us the name of Jingdezhen. It lasted from 1004-1007
Zhūshān	珠山	Pearl Hill, today a district of Jǐngdézhēn, a special ceramics operation was set up there to produce porcelain-ware exclusively for the capital
Qīng	清朝	Last imperial dynasty of China, lasting 1644-1911
Liú Yìqiān	刘益谦	Shanghai real estate tycoon who shelled out $36 million US to purchase a tiny porcelain cup, 3.1 inches in diameter.
Chénghuà	成化帝	Ming emperor who reigned 1464-1487
Gāolǐng	高领	kaolinite
Sānbǎo Shān	三宝山	Mountains which were chock full of feldspar enriched china stone, the other main component in making porcelain.
Gàiwǎn	盖碗	A lidded tea bowl used for preparing and drinking tea
Huāchá	花茶	Scented tea (Jasmine, Orchid, rose, osmanthus etc...)
Huìzōng	惠宗	Yuan Dynasty emperor , the final one, who reigned 1333-1368
Yǒng Lè	永乐	Ming Emperor who reigned 1403-1424
Dà Míng Yǒnglè Zhì	大明永乐制	Made during the reign of the Ming Yongle Emperor
Zhōngguó Zhìzào	中国制造	Made in China
Lù Yǔ	陆羽	The Tea Saint, and author of the Classic of Tea. He lived 733-804
Chá Jīng	茶经	The Tea Classic, Lu Yu's most famous work
Chá Lù	茶录	Name of the Tea Treatise by Huizong and the Treatise written by Cai Xiang
Zhū Quán	朱权	Brother of Zhu Di, the future Yongle Emperor. Zhu Quan write the Cha Pu
Gù Yuánqìng	顾元庆	Great Ming era literatus who compiled the Cha Pu (Classifications of Tea) in 1541
Chá Pǔ	茶谱	Tea treatise written by Gu Yuanqing in 1541
Zhū Dì	朱棣	Personal name of the Yong Le Emperor
Xíng ware	邢窑	Chinese ceramics produced in Xingzhou Hebei province, most notably during the Tang dynasty. Xing ware typically has a white body covered with a clear glaze
Yuè ware	岳器	Yue ware, an early kind of tea ware prized among aficianados and those who could afford it
Zhèngdé	正德帝	Ming emperor who reigned 1506-1521
Jiājìng	嘉靖帝	Ming emperor who reigned 1522-1566
hē chá	喝茶	to drink tea
pǐn chá	品茶	to sip tea
sānge kǒu	三个口	"three mouths" 口口口 make up the character "pin" 品
chánpǐn	产品	product
pǐnzhǒng	品种	kind or type

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