alcohol

[Guest guest]

Art what point in chinese history did it become common to see references

in medical texts to the damaging effects of alcohol. Zhu dan xi spoke of

its effects on ministerial fire and some historians have suggested his

emphasis on dampheat and yin vacuity was because alcohol consumption was

quite high in the area and era when he lived. Distilled alcohol was not

common in china until the ming dynasty. It was invented by medieval arab

alchemists (who also gave us white sugar) for medicinal purposes and in

fact, arab culture prohibits the consumption of even fermented beverages.

In earlier eras, only fermented beverages similar to beer and wine (but

made from a myriad of fruits, grains and herbs) were available. Many of

these beverages had purportedly remarkable health properties when consumed

in moderation.

 

I know the chinese have a medical tradition of medicinal wines that were

consumed to the point of mild intoxication. I know that sometimes the

herbs were fermented with the rice and yeasts, not added afterwards. but

I am curious about chinese folk traditions regarding inebriants to get

some insight into what the culture thought about alcohol and intoxicants

in contrast to the medical profession. Chinese history seems to present

us with a surprising lack of information on the use of mind altering

substances by the populace (aside from the aberrant opium problems of the

19th century, of course). No long history of ritual marijuana use like

India or the pagan wine rituals of dionysians in greece or the peyote of

certain native americans. I wonder if taoist priests were using any

rituals that involved the use of mind altering wines. It would seem to go

with the territory. Does anyone have any resources and suggestions

regarding this topic.

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre

minds " -- Albert Einstein