中国古代的十大宫廷贡酒

8　中国古代的十大宫廷贡酒　Ten Tribute Alcoholic Beverages in Ancient China

古井贡酒Gujing Tribute Liquor

In 196 Cao Cao presented a kind of liquor brewed in his hometown to the Han Dynasty Liu Xie Emperor(汉献帝刘协).Back then it was called“Jiu Yun Chun Jiu”(jiuyun rich and good alcoholic beverage，九酝春酒).Jiuyun Chunjiu continued to be a tribute liquor during the ensuing dynasties.Its present name is Gujing Tribute Liquor.It was nominated as the famous liquor in Anhui Province in 1960，and it won the title of the Eight Top Brands in China in 1963.

鹤年贡酒Henian Tribute Liquor

Beijing Heniantang(北京鹤年堂)was established in 1405 and played a special role in preparing medicinal wine and tea for the Ming and Qing dynasties'imperial palaces.Invited by the imperial house of alcoholic beverages，Ding Henian(丁鹤年)produced a series of Henian Tribute Liquors based on a secret recipe handed down from his family's ancestors and the principles of Chinese medicine.In 1927 a new series of Henian Tribute Liquors appeared，which were derived from the same recipe，including Jinfo Jiu(金佛酒)，Jinju Jiu(金橘酒)and others that greatly appealed to distinguished figures and scholars then living in Beijing.

枣集美酒Zaoji Liquor

Zaoji Town(枣集镇)in Henan is well-known across the country for its long involvement in liquormaking，which can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period(春秋时期)and continued to develop during the Sui and Tang dynasties.It is said that Song Zhenzong(宋真宗)，a Song Dynasty emperor，issued an imperial order nominating the local wine in Zaoji Town as a tribute liquor.The emperor's nomination illustrates the popular saying:“Heaven bestows wellknown liquor，and Earth offers famous springs(天赐名酒，地赐名泉).”

酃酒Ling Liquor

Ling Liquor(酃酒)became a tribute liquor as early as the Northern Wei Dynasty(北魏).Moreover，Ling Liquor was one of the best known alcoholic beverages used for sacrificial purposes when emperors of the ensuing dynasties held a memorial ceremony for their ancestors or in honor of deities.

Originally this wine was a home-made beverage produced by peasants living near Ling Lake(酃湖)，located east of present-day Hengyang City(衡阳市)，Hunan Province.Almost all of the households in the Hengyang rural area are now able to make this wine using old methods.Whenever traditional festivals occur，local people usually offer guests Ling Liquor.

鸿茅酒Hongmao Liquor

Hongmao Liquor(鸿茅酒)first appeared in 1693 in Hongmao Town(鸿茅镇)，Liangcheng County(凉城县)，Inner Mongolia.In the fourth year of the Qing Dynasty Qianlong Emperor's reign(清乾隆四年)a Chinese doctor whose name was Wang Jitian(王吉天) arrived at Hongmao Town.He found the locally-made liquor to be so good in quality that he actually purchased the Hongmao Distillery.He planned to prepare Hongmao Yao Liquor(鸿茅药酒，Hongmao Medicinal Liquor)using the local liquor from the distillery，as well as the secret recipe of herbal medicine handed down from his family's ancestors.Afterwards the local liquor was all reserved for the use of Hongmao Yao Liquor.During the Qing Dynasty Daoguang Emperor's reign(道光年间)both Hongmao Liquor and the medicinal liquor were put on the list of tribute wines.

羊羔美酒Yanggao Wine

Yanggao means“lamb.”The recipe of the wine is unique.Its ingredients include high-quality millet，tender mutton，fresh fruit，and valuable Chinese medicinal herbs.The wine has an amber color and its alcohol content is 17%.The wine is good at offsetting yin deficiency，affects the lungs by making them less dry，and increases the body's strength or vitality.During the Tang Dynasty this wine served as a court palace tribute liquor.

汾酒Fen Liquor

According to historical records，this liquor was on the list of tribute liquors during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.The liquor's high-quality is largely due to the pristine water from the wells located at xinghua cun(the Apricot Blossom Village，杏花村)in Shanxi Province.The following line from a Tang Dynasty poem greatly helped the village and the liquor retain its fame throughout the history of feudal China:“May I ask where the liquor shop is?A shepherd boy points to the Apricot Blossom Village at a distance(借问酒家何处有，牧童遥指杏花村).”

The liquor won a gold medal at the 1916 Panama International Exhibition.

五加皮酒 Wu Jia Pi Liquor

This liquor，which is also called wu jia pi yao jiu(Wu Jia Pi Medicinal Liquor，五加皮药酒)，is produced in Meicheng Town，Jiande County，Zhejiang Province(建德县梅城镇浙江省).It is said that it first appeared during the Tang Dynasty and is one of ancient China's oldest tribute liquors.More than 20 unique Chinese medicinal herbs are added to the modern version of this liquor during the wine-making process.

菊花酒Chrysanthemum Liquor

The chrysanthemum has traditionally symbolized vitality or“longevity.”Chrysanthemum Liquor became a common Chinese liquor as early as the Han Dynasty，as well as during the Three Kingdoms Period.In ancient times people drank chrysanthemum liquor during the Double Ninth Festival because they considered it an auspicious liquor that could bring people good luck and help them avoid calamities.

The Double Ninth Festival occurs in the middle of autumn.People on that day normally enjoy seeing the blossoming chrysanthemum flowers while drinking chrysanthemum liquor.

“同盛金”烧酒 Tongshengjin Liquor

On June 9，1996 people accidentally found four ancient wooden liquor containers 80 centimetres underneath the Lingchuan Main Distillery'sold compound in Jinzhou City，Liaoning Province(锦州凌川酿酒总厂).The containers preserved some liquor that was still in good condition.The liquor was sealed up with xuan paper dipped in deer blood.It appeared slightly yellow in colour，and its alcohol content was 53%.According to the evaluation by archaeological experts，the liquor was originally made and preserved by liquor-makers from the Tongshengjin Liquor Workshop(同盛金酒坊).It dated back to the 25th year of the Qing Dynasty Daoguang Emperor's reign(清道光二十五年).

Notes: 1)tribute 贡物 2)ensuing 接踵而至的 3)nominate 提名 4)ancestor 祖先 5)trace back to 追溯到 6)deity 神 7)rural 乡村的 8)occur 发生 9)distillery 酿酒厂 10)millet 小米，谷子 11)amber 琥珀色的 12)deficiency 缺乏 13)vitality 活力 14)pristine 纯洁的，清新的 15)exhibition 展览会 16)process 加工 17)calamity 灾害 18)centimetre 厘米 19)compound 院子 20)container 容器