Laszlo continues his 10-part series introducing the history of tea in China from ancient times to the modern age. This time the focus is on the 7th to 9th centuries during the Tang Dynasty. Tea by now has been transformed from a medicine to an enjoyable and inspirational beverage.



Terms Used In Episode Pinyin/Term Chinese English/Meaning Charen 茶人 Tea Person Shen Nong 神农 Shen Nong, the Divine Farmer Sui Wendi 隋文帝 Founding emperor of the Sui Dynasty Sui Yangdi 隋炀帝 Sui Wendi’s son, a man of many excesses Fuchai 夫差 King of the Wu State Han Gou 汗垢 The Han Canal Jin Dynasty 晉朝 The Jin Dynasty Tang Taizong 唐太宗 Tang emperor Taizong Cha Ma Gudao 茶馬古道 The Ancient Tea Horse Road Cha 茶 Tea Tu 荼 Former name of tea before the Tang Dynasty Gong Cha 貢茶 Tribute tea Qingming 清明節 The Qingming Festival Biancha 边茶 Border Tea Qiang 羌 The Qiang people 羌族 Baojianpin 保健品 health products Zhang Qian 张骞 Western Han adventurer and diplomat Shu yu niao zhi lu 鼠与鸟之旅 The road of mice and birds Wencheng Gongzhu 文成公主 Princess Wencheng Songzan Ganbu 松赞干布 Songstan Gampo Suyoucha 酥油茶 Tibetan buttered tea Qionglai 邛崃 Tea town outside of Chengdu Ya’an 雅安 Tea town outside of Chengdu Wenchuan 汶川 Tea town outside of Chengdu Leshan 乐山 Tea town outside of Chengdu Saicho 最澄 Japanese Monk Emperor Saga 嵯峨天皇 Emperor Saga of Japan Mt. Hiei 比叡山 Mountain near Kyoto where the Enryakuji is located Tiantai Buddhism 天台宗 The Tiantai sect of Buddhism Eisai 栄西 Song era Japanese monk Cha Jing 茶经 The Classic of Tea

Dezong Emperor 德宗帝 The Dezong Emperor Lu Tong 卢仝 The great poet and bon vivant Qi Wan Shi 七碗诗 Seven Bowls of Tea An Lushan 安禄山 Rebel Leader who launched a rebellion from 755-763

Yangxian Zisun Cha 阳羡紫笋茶 Yangxian Purple Bamboo Tea Yue qi 越器 Yue ware from Yuezhou near Shaoxing Xing ware 邢窑 Xing ware from Hebei