Du Kang

Du Kang (Chinese: 杜康; pinyin: Dù Kāng), sometimes identified with Shao Kang, is the inventor of fermented drink in Chinese legend, and the deified patron of winemakers in China and Japan (Tōji). Chinese wines are an important part of ancient Chinese rites and court culture. Their invention is not attributable to a single person. Du Kang is sometimes said to be a minister of the legendary Yellow Emperor, being more of a cultural symbol than a historical personality.

It is unknown where and when and if Dù Kāng actually lived; the dates in ancient sources range over thousands of years. In the Shuowen Jiezi (2nd century AD), Du Kang is identified with Shao Kang, the sixth ruler of the Xia. Du Kang's story is referenced in Cao Cao's poems of the 3rd century. Since Cao, Du Kang is used as a metonym for good wine. Ruan Ji references Du Kang in his attributed guqin piece Jiukuang.^[1] Presently it is a famous wine brand in PRC.

See also

• Ancient Legends
• Baishui County
• Chinese alcoholic beverages
• Poetry of Cao Cao
• Ruan Ji
• Sima Xiangru

References

Further reading

• Zhengping Li (3 March 2011). Chinese Wine. Cambridge University Press. pp. 17–. ISBN 978-0-521-18650-6. 
• Peter Lovrick; Wang-Ngai Siu (1 January 2011). Chinese Opera: Images and Stories. UBC Press. pp. 155–. ISBN 978-0-7748-4445-1. 
• Jian Chen; Yang Zhu (23 November 2013). Solid State Fermentation for Foods and Beverages. CRC Press. pp. 102–. ISBN 978-1-4398-4496-0. 
• Yinke Deng (3 March 2011). Ancient Chinese Inventions. Cambridge University Press. pp. 51–. ISBN 978-0-521-18692-6. 
• Dwight B. Heath (1 January 1995). International Handbook on Alcohol and Culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 44–. ISBN 978-0-313-25234-1. 

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