Yi Di and Du Kang are both ancient Chinese legendary ancestors of winemaking, Yi Di was from the Xia Yu period, and Du Kang was from the Shang Dynasty. They are considered to be the founders of rice wine and baijiu, respectively. In ancient texts, there are many legends about how they invented winemaking.
Yidi's winemaking method was first recorded in the book Shiben, which is one of the earliest historical books in China, written around the Eastern Han Dynasty. According to the Shiben, Yi Di was a female winemaker in the Xia Yu era, who used raw materials such as millet rice, glutinous rice and honey to invent the brewing method of rice wine through fermentation and distillation. The invention of Yidi is considered a major breakthrough in the history of Chinese winemaking, which not only changed people's lifestyles, but also became an important part of Chinese food culture.
Compared to Yidi, Du Kang's method of winemaking is much more mysterious. According to the "Historical Records", Du Kang was a ** during the Shang Dynasty, and he was named the "ancestor of wine" because of his invention of wine-making technology. Du Kang's winemaking method is known as the "rebrewing method", that is, through reverse fermentation and distillation, the starch and sugars in the grain are converted into high alcohol. This method of winemaking requires a high level of technology, so Du Kang's invention is also considered a milestone breakthrough in the history of Chinese winemaking.
In addition to inventing the method of winemaking, Yidi and Du Kang are also regarded as representatives of Chinese wine culture. Their story was widely disseminated and written into many literary works. In ancient times, drinking alcohol was seen as a cultural activity that not only satisfied the appetite, but also fostered friendships and inspiration. Therefore, the invention of Yi Di and Du Kang not only changed people's eating habits, but also profoundly affected the inheritance and development of Chinese culture.
In short, Yi Di and Du Kang, as two ancestors in the history of Chinese brewing, not only had a profound impact on Chinese food culture, but also fully demonstrated the wisdom and creativity of the ancient Chinese people. Today, we can still see wine in various banquets and festivals, and it is an important medium for us to convey emotions and express respect. And all this is inseparable from the contributions of the two great ancestors of winemaking, Yidi and Du Kang.