绿茶之源与茶文化工程
2012-04-29陈伟权
陈伟权
《影响中国茶文化史的瀑布仙茗》一书,系余姚市茶文化促进会编撰,前不久由中国文史出版社正式出版。有识之士推荐它为好书,堪称一项茶文化工程。
深究绿茶之源
茶源于中国,兴于亚洲,传播于世界,茶的故乡在中国。而茶的原产地在哪里?中华大地上关于茶的原产地有多种说法。西南说有云贵高原的大茶树为凭;西北说取《华阳国志 •巴志》及蒙顶山茶文化佐证;巴蜀说为陆羽《茶经》所记;华南说以神农氏在湖南的茶陵为由;江浙说更有考古实物和史事记载。各家所说,自有理由。在960万平方公里的土地上,地理环境不同,茶又有红、绿、黄、白、青、黑之分,多元说无可厚非,以绿茶而论,江浙说凿凿有据。余姚市茶文化促进会探索绿茶之源,揭开了茶文化史上新的一页。
1973年发现的余姚河姆渡遗址,表明长江流域和黄河流域一样,同为中华民族的摇篮。遗址上发现人工栽培的水稻,当时有些自持为稻谷原产地国家的专家,始则怀疑,继之倾倒,至今世界上人工栽培水稻出自河姆渡再无异议。而茶的原产地在中国,对境外人士来说,早已认同。但对于茶产在我国东南沿海地区、在江浙一带、在浙东四明山上,中华茶界人士难免心存疑窦。其实,2004年9月在四川雅安召开的第八届国际茶文化研讨会上,其论文集首篇已有文章透露,河姆渡遗址博物馆内有原始茶遗存。
原始茶遗存在漫长的封建社会里,演绎成何种文化形态?发掘整理积淀的茶文化,实施茶文化工程,有待余姚动用大手笔。
2008年,余姚市茶文化促进会启动绿茶探源活动,邀请全国著名的茶文化专家来到余姚,在紧依河姆渡遗址的四明山上,两次到《茶经》所记的瀑布泉岭考察,并于同年11月底,由中国国际茶文化研究会、宁波茶文化促进会、余姚市茶文化促进会联合举办“中国绿茶探源暨余姚瀑布仙茗研讨会”,专家学者和相关领导形成了著名的《余姚共识》,共识认定:科学考古,河姆渡遗址出土的樟科植物遗存,符合原始茶充饥、解渴和防病的古老饮茶习惯,余姚有原始茶源头。共识又指出,文字记载,由汉仙人丹丘子示余姚人虞洪以大茗,演绎到唐代名茶瀑布仙茗,为中国最早的产茶地之一。
《影响中国茶文化史的瀑布仙茗》一书,以《河姆问茶》为第一章,到最后一章《仙茗发新韵》收录《余姚共识》作结,具体地演绎了中国最早的茶类绿茶之源和它的茶文化轨迹。
细考古茶树根
2008年在茶文化史上余姚有两大茶事,事先互不相关,年底回归同宗,有异曲同工之妙。一桩是专家学者考察绿茶之源,发表《余姚共识》;另一桩是考古发现田螺山遗址有古茶树根。
与河姆渡遗址相邻的田螺山遗址,由浙江省文物局和北京大学考古研究中心于2004年发掘考古,并请日本金泽大学、东北大学教授参与研究,于2008年作出《田螺山遗址自然遗存的综合研究结项报告》,同年12月1日《参考消息》发表题为《中日专家发现六千年前茶地遗址》一文,指出“此次发现表明,茶叶可能在更早阶段已被栽培,对探索茶叶起源意义重大”。
六千年前余姚有茶地,令人大开眼界。各地茶学、茶文化及考古学专家和相关领导纷纷前往田螺山遗址考察古茶树根原委。
2004年上半年,在田螺山遗址1米多深的地下出土了多个块状和干条状的树根,它出土时全部直立,并大体位于建筑遗址附近。这些植物明显具有人工栽培的特征。日本东北大学铃木三男、金泽大学中村慎一等6位考古教授鉴定,此处6个树根样品均为山茶属树根,鉴定指出:“经过分析木材样本,结果显示均为山茶属的同种树木。……种种迹象表明,这些山
TEA CULTURE茶叶博览
第十届全国政协文史和学习委员会副主任、浙江省政协原主席、中国国际茶文化研究会名誉会长刘枫题词。
This inscription is done by Liu Feng, director of Cultural Dialogue, for the book on the origin of Chinese green tea.
茶属的树木是人工种植的,其木材结构与栽培茶树一致,这也能够证明这些山茶属木材确为茶树。 ”
为进一步证明田螺山出土的树根为茶树,最有力的证据是现代生化检测,树根是否有茶树独有的茶氨酸成分。余姚市茶文化促进会依靠权威部门和专家检测,这些植物树根含茶氨酸,但含量明显少于当代茶树根,当时认为与六千年的年代久远相关。其实是考古检测过程中忽略了一个环节,经考古领队孙国平研究员介绍,茶树根出土后,为防止风化变形,五年来一直浸泡在水中保存。有关茶专家猛然醒悟,茶氨酸极易溶于水中。于是再把茶树根连同浸泡过的水做再次检验。经农业部茶叶质量监督检验测试中心测定,茶氨酸的含量明显增多。
田螺山遗址同属河姆渡文化系列,这块四明山北麓的余姚古土,6000年前已有人工栽培的茶树。
仙茗的前世今生
从原始茶、古茶树根以来,余姚茶文化在六千年中同样璀璨夺目。茶文化专家形成的《余姚共识》,就是以瀑布仙茗为代表。
且看瀑布仙茗的前世与今生。
事情还得从中日交往的一段佳话说起。30多年前,日本有一代表团到杭州,他们在品尝和礼赞西湖龙井后,提出可否品尝瀑布仙茗。接待人员心中没底,只得委婉解释,暂无备用,留待下次再品。说来外交无小事。在统购统销的计划经济年代,事后由省供销社通知各县,寻访瀑布仙茗。绿茶主产区余姚有关人士走茶山、访茶农、读方志、查史料,终于在四明山上白水冲,找到日本客人期盼的瀑布仙茗。同期还找到了瀑布仙茗的最早文字记载,见诸《神异记》:
“余姚人虞洪,入山采茗,遇一道士,牵三青牛(羊),引洪至瀑布山,曰:‘予,丹丘子也。闻子善具饮,常思见惠。山中有大茗,可以相给。祈子他日有瓯牺之余,乞相遗也。 因立奠祀。后常令家人入山,获大茗焉。 ”
《神异记》作者曾以西汉名士东方朔具名,后人考证为西晋洛阳道士王浮所写。陆羽《茶经》记其事,赐茶给余姚人的是汉仙人丹丘子,把大茗命名为仙茗,并在《茶经 •八之出》中指明,“浙东以越州上,余姚县生瀑布泉岭,曰仙茗。 ”《鲁迅全集 •古小说钩沉》也有收录。《浙江省农业志》关于记述浙江茶叶篇章中,首篇就是丹丘子示虞洪、山中有大茗,为浙江茶叶生产最早的记载。
这桩汉魏六朝的茶事,按西晋王浮所写计算,也有1700多年历史,与有的地方茶叶产出年代更早相比,别处多为后人所写,并且记的是传说。唐代之前的茶事文献,寥若晨星,即使片言只语,也常作为引经据典的实证。《神异记》所述的余姚茶事,有人物、有对话、有情节、有行动,写得如此具体生动,在当时全国也是少有的。在瀑布仙茗原产地的遗址上,2009年4月,宁波市人民政府设立了“瀑布泉岭古茶碑”。
中国国际茶文化研究会向全国发布一批“中华文化名茶”和“中国茶文化之乡”名录。根据余姚茶的历史地位,余姚市是第一个被授予两块牌匾的地方。在《影响中国茶文化史的瀑布仙茗》一书中,列出专章,分别记叙了第一个中华文化名茶,第一个中国茶文化之乡。全国政协文史学习委副主任、中国国际茶文化研究会会长周国富亲自为该书作序。序言申明:“瀑布仙茗作为绿茶代表,河姆渡遗址的原始茶遗址应是其源头,六千年田螺山古茶树根更可
田螺山遗址出土的人工栽培的古茶树根
The relics of the roots of cultivated tea trees cul-tivated at Tianluoshan site
瀑布泉岭古茶树碑揭碑仪式
An unveiling ceremony is held to celebrate the finding of the an-cient tea trees at Waterfall Stream Hill.
专家实地考察瀑布泉岭古茶树
Experts conduct a field study on ancient tea trees at Waterfall Stream Ridge.
作证。在漫长的汉魏六朝岁月中,余姚茶传播到长安、洛阳等地。唐宋以来位列名茶,虽经沉浮,仍名垂千秋,堪称中国第一古名茶,其产地可谓中国绿茶之源。”
瀑布仙茗原产地在白水冲大瀑布上端,那里风光秀美,植被苍翠,溪流纵横,云蒸霞蔚,形成独立的小气候,至今还有石骨嶙峋的古茶树遗存,具有得天独厚的生态优势、资源优势和人文优势。那里地处北纬30°附近,专家发现全球北纬 30°附近有名山大川、奇山异水,又有金字塔、“空中花园”、河姆渡遗址等奇迹,中国的十大名茶中,西湖龙井、祁门红茶、蒙顶甘露等六只名茶,也处于北纬30°附近。瀑布仙茗出产在有奇迹的土地上,适逢盛世,亮点纷呈。
在全国性茶叶参赛评奖中,瀑布仙茗多次获得金奖,被列为浙江省十大地理标志区域品牌、中国驰名商标,入选中国鼎尖名茶、上海世博会中国元素礼品茶。瀑布仙茗以其特有的文化内涵和优良品质,成为馈送亲友的礼品。它的产品结构已经发展成绿、白、黄三大系列,每个系列又有若干等级,受到广大消费者欢迎。
在历史长河中,名茶由大茗、仙茗到瀑布仙茗,现在正步向更大规模的明州仙茗。
茶文化工程备考
呈现在读者面前的《影响中国茶文化史的瀑布仙茗》精装本,由中国国际茶文化研究会名誉会长刘枫题写书名,打开书页,装帧精美,图文并茂,每节文字以名诗作引子,无论浏览还是细读,都会开卷有益。
全书文字精益求精,10余万字,数易其稿,文史出版社编审评价全书文笔流畅,文字精悍。又倾余姚市摄影家协会之力,从数千张图片中精选图片入书。从2010年2月着手启动书稿,到2011年10月成新书,上架新华书店。在20个月时间内,撰有形之文于帷幄,事先写无字之书于大地,前前后后投入相当的人力、物力。
在完成本书的茶文化工程中,值得一写编委会主任叶沛芳先生的书外佳话。出本好书,没有钱是寸步难行的。而有了钱,不一定能出好书。叶沛芳在筹取资金的同时,更多的精力投放在编辑工作上。他曾任慈溪市委常委、宣传部长,后来从余姚市的主要领导岗位上退下来,现任余姚市茶文化促进会会长深谙好书,既是个体脑力劳动的心血结晶,又必须依靠众人智慧,集思广益。他曾说:“这本书如果出了差错,责任由我承担。 ”从讨论全书的编写大纲、文稿修改到照片选定等一系列工作中,叶沛芳主持了13次编委会议,会上大家畅所欲言,对书稿逐字逐句讨论,文字去掉粉饰,提倡白描,表达真意。在编写过程中,既发扬民主,又高度集中,编委会主任真正履职到位。
《影响中国茶文化史的瀑布仙茗》已由浙江图书馆、宁波图书馆的地方文献部以及天一阁博物馆收藏。大批量书本在社会上流转,并向世人宣告:到目前为止,余姚是人类煮饮“原始茶”最早的地方,也是世界上人工栽培茶树最早的地方。至少在晋代之前出产的仙茗,为陆羽《茶经》所称颂,《茶经》还赞扬余姚越窑青瓷是全国最好的茶具。当你处在清幽的环境里,伴着幽幽丝竹,品尝神仙赐予的仙茗,可以陶冶身心,领略有滋有味的人生。□
日本东北大学铃木三男教授参加余姚茶文化学术交流活动
Professor Suzuki (left) of Tohoku University of Japan attends an aca-demic exchanges program in Yuyao.
四明山高山云雾茶基地 A high-mountain tea plantation in Siming Mountain
Waterfall Tea, a green tea made in Siming Mountains in Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, is believed to have been the grandmother of all green teas in China, according to a recently published book entitled “Waterfall Tea that Impacts the History of Chinese Tea Culture.” The book was put together by Yuyao Association for Promotion Tea Culture and published by China Culture and History Press. It is widely acclaimed as a good book.
It is agreed that tea originated in China before it flourished in Asia and spread all over the world. However, where it originated in China remains controversial. Green tea originated in Yuyao if you believe Yuyao Association for Promoting Tea Culture. The associa-tion believes it is correct to say so.
The Hemudu Site in Yuyao was discovered in 1973. Archaeologi-
cal findings from the site indicate that the Yangtze River, like the
Yellow River, was a cradle of the Chinese civilization. One of the findings at Hemudu was cultivation of rice crop. The conclusion
was disputed at first, but now it is agreed that China was the worlds first rice grower. Hemudu holds more wonders for scholars. In Sep-tember 2004, a paper was presented to 8th International Tea Culture Forum held in Yaan, Sichuan Province and it was published in the proceedings of the forum. The paper mentioned that the Hemudu Museum has the remains of a primitive tea.
Scholars and government departments concerned in Yuyao de-cided to find more about the tea unearthed at Hemudu. In 2008, the association launched a research project to explore and decide whether Yuyao was the first tea grower of China. Tea historians of national renown were invited twice to visit Siming Mountain, which is located near Hemudu. The destination of their visits was Waterfall Stream Hill, mentioned twice in Book of Tea written in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). In November 2008, a symposium was held in Yuyao to look at the results of field studies and theoretical understanding. They decided that the remains of the primitive tea unearthed at Hemudu met the criteria for identifying what tea is and they concluded that Yuyao was a source of primitive tea. The sym-posium published a manifest called Yuyao Consensus.
In 2008, something else that happened in Yuyao became a defini-tive evidence to help conclude that Yuyao was indeed the cradle of green tea in China. An archaeological site at Tianluo Mountain, which is near Hemudu Site, was unearthed in 2004 by a team of Zhejiang Relics Bureau and Archaeology Center of Beijing Uni-versity. Six professors from Kanazawa University and Northeast University of Japan participated in research work. The result was published in 2008. The Chinese and Japanese experts agreed that the archaeological findings at a 6,000-year-old site indicated the re-mains were those of tea trees, that the tea trees had been cultivated, and that the discovery was significant for exploring the origin of tea in China. Moreover, scientific tests proved that the remains were
indeed those of ancient tea trees. The newest archaeological report excited the tea experts and gov-
ernment officials who had played a part in Yuyao Consensus. They
rushed to Tianluo Mountain to take a look.
In April 2009, a stone stale with a long inscription was estab-lished at the ancient Waterfall Ridge where the ancient Heavenly Waterfall Tea was produced.
With all the textual and archaeological results, Yuyao Association for Promoting Tea Culture decided to write a book and establish Yuyaos unique status as the very origin of place of green tea in the history of Chinese civilization.
The writing began in February 2010. An editorial panel of local talents met 13 times. They formulated a guideline for contents and style and discussed manuscripts. Thousands of photographs were pooled for the final selection of the best for the book. Ye Peifang, a retired city leader, raised the funds for the book project and chaired the editorial panel. Liu Feng, honorary president of China Interna-tional Tea Culture Research Institute and chairman of Cultural Dia-logue, inscribed the book title. In October 2011, the book was put on the market.
Zhejiang Library and Ningbo Library have copies of this book in collection. Tianyige Library, one of Chinas oldest existing libraries, also has it in collection. Numerous copies have been sold. □