Tea to change the world

    Tea beverage that originated from China's special for us Chinese people is too common, and it has deeply penetrated our daily lives, so we turn a blind eye to their role and influence. But on the history of tea in the modern world the role and the important role played by, but can not be ignored, since it directly or indirectly affect the course of history, though many people may be skeptical of this view.

    With the "wall flower wall Hong," phrase a well-known poem to describe the history of tea in the re-fitting. First, the tea ceremony etiquette in China has almost gone, it touches Japan and Japan has become the authentic tea ceremony today, even as the Japanese culture is an important integral part of the Japanese and proud of this. Even far away in the Western Britain now also have their own tea culture - Tea, and become a spectacle in contemporary British culture. Since the 80s of last century has been the resurgence of traditional culture, the Chinese Tea culture has been committed to the revival, unfortunately though we have a long cultural history of tea, but the final shape of the tea ceremony for non-traditional, or may have long lost once had exhausted the Therefore, always know where the tea culture of the soul, barely pieced together a wide variety of so-called "tea ceremony", how to see how people like, but also with the surrounding environment and people's mood hardly harmonious. This very general said as we started to talk the traditional culture, in the end what is the soul of traditional culture, nobody had a clue, we all know it existed thousands of years, can it seems only the existence of chaos, like a cloud of swirling clouds, most of it can be felt but not explained. The reason, I think the important point is that our culture lacks a sense of the contents of a stylized ritual, but without these ceremonies and programs, the so-called culture of the soul to possession? Secondly, from the tea production and processing point of view, this singular plant was the only Chinese people know it, only the Chinese people know how to cultivation, management and processing it. Before the mid-19th century, China is the absolute empire of tea, tea totally dependent on American imports from China. Later the British in India and Sri Lanka to try to grow and succeed, and built many large tea plantations, and the use of advanced machining methods, results in a very short time on the yield and quality of more than China, led China's tea exports dropped sharply since then to only have tea Yeda Guo's name only.

    The impact of tea in Japan, we are familiar. However, tea, especially the West's influence in Britain, we know little. Tea from the tea trade, customs and the influence of Western culture in this unique perspective to contemplate the past few hundred years the history of Western relations, give us a lot of unexpected inspiration.

    Modern scholars of Western Europe's latest research showed that the industrial revolution, the opening of new routes and the development of trade between East and West is the industrial revolution created an essential component. European settlers in America found a lot of silver, filled their pockets, while the East, especially China's booming domestic market and strong demand for silver has provided a way out for these silver, so a large number of manufactured goods destined for Western Europe America, while a large number of oriental spices, silk, porcelain, tea, rhubarb, and pouring shipped to Europe. This is a demand-led market chain. At first, silk and porcelain are the bulk of Chinese exports. However, from 1717 to late, the tea has become China's biggest exports, until the 1890s, before the export of tea in China is always ranked first. Britain is the main target of China's tea exports, dominated by the East of the East India Company trading privileges in the tea trade, although access to the huge profits, it faces what may be back goods in return for Chinese Tea problem. Chinese, of course, welcome to silver, in the 18th century, the British buy tea in addition to other payment in sterling silver, almost no other means to cover the trade deficit. East India Company, deck cargo, silver, often accounting for 2 / 3 or even 90%, and silver exports to China each year are generally among the 45 102 000, up to 1.5 million 2. To compensate for the huge trade deficit, British businessman exhausted all means to the so-called new industrial products imported from China, such as textiles, tableware, piano, and even coal and so on. However, these commodities in China is simply no way out. Chinese people prefer to wear durable hand woven cloth, instead of buying British, but not durable fine woven cotton, and finally the British merchants had to sell below cost, and other goods is no one is interested, West tableware, piano corrosion In the warehouse, and coal are free to give the British Museum in Guangzhou's business. Left with no alternative, the British secretly and began to evil acts, namely opium smuggling in China. British businessmen were part of the Chinese people gradually develop a habit of smoking opium, opium planting in India, hope to make up the deficit in trade with China. In this way, the British industrial products sold to India, Indians (it is mainly the British) through the smuggling of opium to sell to China, the Chinese put the tea sold to the British, so British - China - India and the formation of a unique triangular trade, In the triangular trade, no doubt by the great danger of the Chinese people. With the increase in the Chinese opium, the opium trade has become increasingly rampant smuggling, opium has far exceeded the total value of imports of Chinese Tea, silk, etc. The total value of merchandise exports. In this case, China's silver in large quantities taking flight, a huge silver re-formed into British pockets, resulting in China's "silver shortage." In the United Kingdom - Chinese - Indian triangular trade, the British get the most benefit, they not only get large amounts of silver from China, again a large number of industrial products sold to India, and their levying import duty on tea became a British revenue is an important part. East India Company's monopoly in the last few years, the tea leaves to bring the UK Treasury's tax revenue up 3.3 million pounds each year, accounting for treasury income of 1 / 10. More noteworthy is that, tea income is almost all the profits of the East India Company, it has even become the East India Company business reason to exist.

    If I say the British Industrial Revolution and the East-West trade-related, probably no one opposed. But if I say the British Industrial Revolution and the tea trade directly related, there may be some doubt. In fact, the actual history is far more than that, I would even add that not only the English Revolution of the occurrence of trade-related with the tea, the British formed modern culture and re-casting also tea trade.

    This is an issue of considerable means. We had more attention to the silk, porcelain, lacquer ware and other effects in Europe, and less noted the impact of tea to Europe. In fact, to date the real impact on the world still is not silk, porcelain, etc., but tea, so we should spend more energy to explore it. British scholar Alan McFarland (Alan Macfarlane) recently published the monograph "Green Gold: Tea Empire," a book, reveals to us tea on the UK and the impact of the western world culture, the issue raised many enlightening as tea tea culture of origin and the place of Chinese readers, Yan Juan meditation, deep feelings too.

    Read "Glass World" (Commercial Press, 2003) Readers of the book may have been written about the characteristics of McFarland and inventive thinking. And "Glass of the world" compared to "green gold" is a shocking work there, especially for Chinese readers.

    As a tea plantation owner's son, McFarland famous tea producing in India, Assam (Assam) spent his childhood memorable tea fragrance remained in his memory, the experience made him special later became a distinguished social anthropologist. Although he is very familiar with tea, tea culture, but he really understand is that in a number of visits to Japan, and in many places in-depth anthropological research study. Japan's tea culture shock for him greatly, in order to truly understand the tea culture, and his access to a wide range of books on tea, and drink tea culture and history of the world were studied, put forward many valuable proposition, essays become "green gold" of the book. If he proposed to set up these propositions, then we say "tea changed the world" could be no exaggeration.

    Macfarlane on Preamble explicitly raised, he did research and conducted recent thinking of is for a large Theme: Industrial Revolution origins. Industrial revolution, the unprecedented changes in patterns of human civilization, why the first major historical event took place in 18th-century West? Why first appeared in the UK? Why exactly happened at this time? McFarlane believes that all these are clearly related with the tea. He further asked: What is the spread of tea throughout the world? What is the life of British tea into the center of the? Rest of the world civilization of tea What kind of impact? And so on. One more question means is: the spread of tea and the Rise of Civilization necessarily looking for? If not, why in the 18th century, the most active of several of the most economically developed regions, namely China, Britain and Japan, but also carry forward the development of tea culture, most have areas? And thought-provoking is that the economic development of these areas is still alive. The spread of the tea and economic development and even the birth of a new civilization link, some people may not agree with him, but it is most instructive book creative.

    Three drinks in the world tea, coffee, cocoa, only succeeded in conquering the world of tea. Today, everywhere in the world of tea, tea consumption in the world, more than coffee, chocolate, cocoa, carbonated drinks and alcoholic beverages combined. In many parts of the world, if not tea, it simply become unthinkable, "better day without oil, salt, not get along without tea," not an exaggeration. Therefore, we can not stress the importance of tea, are not excessive.

    Why is tea so quickly become a global drink? It is clear that compared with other beverages, tea has the following advantages: easy to grow and relatively fast growth, thus ensuring adequate production; taste easily accepted by most people, but cocoa, coffee bitter, need sugar; a safety assurance, water tea or tea only to the disinfection and sterilization, and long-term health benefits of drinking tea efficacy of many of today's science has proved, and other beverages such as milk before the invention of refrigeration equipment are very unsafe alcohol consumption is not suitable for women and children; also a very important, that is relatively cheap, compared to other beverages, tea, widely grown around the world, the price has been able to mostly middle and lower classes accepted by the people. In short, with coffee, cocoa than tea leaves are clear advantages compared with alcoholic beverages, tea has more features for all ages, so tea every reason to become a global civilization and drinks.

    Tea in Britain, particularly far-reaching social impact, which McFarlane had personal experience. Give a simple example, in the traditional status of women in British society is very low, both in public places or at home, women are just the men's foil. In the early pubs and cafes, usually only see men dashing figure, women do not have the performance and the occasion to vent their own. After the formation of the British tea-drinking culture is completely different, and the family's tea for the hostess offers a performance of their special occasions. Here, men and women sitting together with friends and family, and only then women became the real masters. In particular, more than the middle class family, women do not go out to work, therefore invited his girlfriend to drink tea together is their best way out of loneliness. Over time, the British tea into a similar ceremony Japanese tea ceremony, and become the nation's living habits and culture an integral part. Can be said that the advancement of women in the British families and the formation of tea culture has a close relationship.

    McFarland made a more significant problem, that tea is not only shaped the British way of life of people in the upper and tea to promote the development of British society and economic growth also plays an important role. In the factory or mine workers engaged in heavy physical labor as well as on other occasions After a hard day working people, though only eat simple food, that is, bread and a small amount of vegetables, cheese, and occasionally a little meat, but if the United States and the United States to drink a huge cup of tea, is not only conducive to restoring physical strength, but also without too high a cost, but also avoid drinking alcohol may be caused by alcoholism. For many British people who work, because of the tea, even the dull, hard, hard things become a tolerable.

    In the initial stage of industrialization, the role of fossil energy and machinery so far as it is now important to manual workers in factories or mines production still plays an important role, a heavy workload. Only by allowing workers to focus on and maintain the stamina to increase production and ensure safety. At this time, we need a refreshing release fatigue, cheap and good food, tea, bread precisely meet this need. Famous British economic historian Williamson said: "If there is no tea, shoddy food factory workers so that they can not withstand live to stay here." Macfarlane said China's timely arrival of tea, just adapted to the British industrial production demand, and greatly promote the development of British industry. McFarland thinking perspective is enlightening. In short, the introduction of tea and even the development of the industrial revolution and the progress of civilization linked to deepen our understanding and dissemination of tea culture in recent modern history in the process of status and role, but also better able to reflect on how to carry forward the Chinese Tea culture .

    The impact of tea on British culture is a mirror.

    The popularity of tea to the UK significantly improve the level of civilization, and even change the British national character. British tea in the know before, a few upper class people can enjoy coffee, cocoa and other beverages, most of the major drinking gin and beer, regular consumption of these alcoholic drinks, many men develop an aggressive character, rude (in Europe the traditional duel may be related to the role of alcohol); habit of tea drinking, the British gradually from the warlike character of temperament, stirred into a more moderate, less violent, "to become a gentleman Binbin "and that is what we call a gentleman. This also can imagine that the character of the Chinese people more moderate and long-term tea drinking may have a direct relationship. British tea also changed the pace of life and diet. Original breakfast eat a lot of people in the upper meat and beer, now changed to eat small amounts of meat, accompanied by bread, pastries and hot drinks, especially tea; before dinner earlier, and now joined the poetic and national characteristics pm tea (four or five o'clock in the afternoon), dinner usually deferred to the seven or eight o'clock. Enjoys popular custom of drinking tea and tea culture quite unique, making the United Kingdom and other countries in Europe so different, is a rather interesting thing.

    McFarlane believes that the praise on how tea is not too high, he even said: "Tea changed everything." (Tea changed everything) As stated above, this evaluation is particularly apt on the United Kingdom. British history, with many new things about tea, such as advertising, media in London (then mainly newspapers) on the first ad is to appear on the tea ad, then advertising in a market economy is an indispensable element. It can be said to change the British tea, like tea in China and Japan as the impact. More importantly, this change took place in the history of a very critical moment, that the human from the agricultural society to industrial society, from village-based civilization to a civilization based on urban change when the tea as it favorite beverage throughout the world. Think about it, except when in the 1650s outside of Asia, little was known of tea, a hundred years later become the most popular British drink, but it is during this period, the United Kingdom to become the world's most powerful capitalist countries, the establishment of a large colonial system. Anthropologist Sidney Mintz sighed: "British workers to drink hot tea is a landmark historical event, because it indicates that the social changes and economic and social infrastructure of the reconstruction." In Mintz view, as the industrial society the arrival of an unprecedented human destiny fundamental change occurred, in which tea is no doubt play a very important role, even, if not Cha Ye, already in the historical process may be another one like.

    I do not know this tea can not afford the high honor, but we can confirm that the tea in the role of East and West is not exactly the same, it is quite interesting.

    Flourish in the West the early industrial society, people are trying to find all possible means to get rich and the available energy and power. Think of energy, we naturally think first of coal, iron, water, etc. These can be converted into mechanical power of energy, which of course is true. However, what makes their produce more energy is relatively little attention. Of course, some people took note of the changes in diet, such as the intake of meat, eggs, dairy products increased in human body function resulting from the important role, but the tea leaves to improve and change people's physical fitness played an important role in people's estimation and evaluation is obviously inadequate. Of the British, in particular the role of tea irreplaceable. This can help us understand why the industrial revolution just beginning in this crucial historical period, sudden popularity of tea beverages as the UK national. I think such an objective phenomenon, not simply to the east India company from monopolizing the Far East trade and other reasons to explain, but must be some deeper reasons.

    All in all, in modern history, the British brought tea is health and wealth, the Chinese people are brought shame and disaster. British Government to meet the huge domestic demand for tea and had to resort to illegal means, that is, as indicated above through the smuggling of opium from India to China in exchange for Chinese Tea, this despicable ugly opium trade serious harm to the Chinese people's health. While the Chinese may be the first British use of opium is not directly related, but the cause of so many Chinese people hooked on this drug is British, do not escape blame the British, they should for their own ancestors such immoral business practices to apologize. Tea trade, the British Government not only brought the huge wealth, and the British through the tea much higher fitness, infectious diseases (mainly malaria, schistosomiasis, plague, etc.) drastically reduced. Many scholars point out that the eighth century in 17 levels to improve living and health care under limited circumstances, British physical improvement and reduction in the number of deaths due to infectious diseases, and develop a good habit of drinking tea has a great relationship, even is a critical factor.

    With the growing opium trade by the Chinese people and the Chinese government's opposition, the British began to experiment in other parts of the tea, although the start was not very successful, but the huge profits to lure more investment in this and finally get the British successful, then British India and Sri Lanka to become a major exporter of tea, actually more than the Chinese. Last couple of years of Chinese Tea slump, the first factor of course is due to the war, small-scale operation, processing, backward technology, no assurance of quality, but the Indian, Sri Lankan tea is also very important competitive advantage of one of the reasons.

    Some people say, "To a small pot of tea, Chinese culture almost destroyed"; It was also said, "The role of tea in the UK is as important as the steam engine, it helps the British through the crisis and create a new world." On the two claims, holding in favor of the McFarlane's attitude, he thought the significance of the British tea really is no trivial matter. Tea on the significance of the British Industrial Revolution as described, the significance of the war is also very important. Wide range of tea in the 1720s before the British, the British only in North America, the West Indian colony and part of India and the Far East trade, and more than a century thereafter, the British colony not only include Australia, Canada and Africa also have and many parts of South America, India and other places, is not truly Japanese Empire. During the British tea instead of alcohol as an important necessity, because people have been convinced that drinking tea can guarantee the health of soldiers, to enhance its combat effectiveness. At that time, some people say that if there is no tea, the British simply could not win the war. It is because tea can bring people good health, good mood, good culture, so tea with the British Empire's cruel oppression, and quickly spread throughout the world, become a veritable "empire drinks", in addition to Britain, Canada people, Americans like to drink tea, Australians, New Zealanders also like tea. As the Spaniards, Portuguese and French colonies in the process of expansion to provide their drinks - wine and coffee - like the British in the expansion process is to promote and rely on tea.

    McFarland repeatedly raised in the book such a view, that is, if not tea, it is possible for the British Empire and the emergence of British industrialization. Read the author's argument, we probably will no longer simply think that this view is alarmist talk of. However, there is a problem we should remember that the tea can not be equated with China, Britain exaggerated the role of industrialization in China. Although China invented gunpowder, as the compass, but to truly see the value, so a huge role to play is another. Here, the inventors may be irrelevant. Therefore, if only proud of certain inventions, rather than in-depth reflection on why these inventions have been useless, have far-reaching effects on the human history of this strange phenomenon, that we always used only in a man's status and his inaction. For the tea and its impact, so we should be the same.