This founding leader not only had unparalleled wisdom in governing the country, but also a unique love of tea. Whether it was during the war years or in times of peace, whether living at home or visiting abroad, tea was always an integral part of his life.
He not only loves to drink tea, but also advocates the extensive planting of tea trees and actively promotes the benefits of tea drinking, making significant contributions to the prosperity and development of China's tea culture.
Mao Gong drank tea through the ages, and the great man was erudite and talented, and he had a wide range of knowledge. Not only does he have an in-depth understanding of Chinese history and culture, but he also has a unique insight into the history and culture of tea.
"Tea originated and was first consumed in China, first to Japan, and then to Europe and India," he said. He also knew that the "Book of Tea" written by Lu Yu of the Tang Dynasty was the world's first book devoted to tea, and once said: "This is also the contribution of Chinese to the world." ”
Modern scientific research has found that tea has many benefits for the human body, and the Japanese regard tea as a "panacea" for the prevention and treatment of diseases. * He also regarded tea as a "good medicine", and he once said to his health care doctor, Xu Tao: "The four medicines in my life are: eating, sleeping, drinking tea, and urinating.
As long as you have an appetite, get enough sleep, drink tea often, and have smooth bowel movements, it is more effective than any medicine. Smedley, a famous American female journalist, is a friend of our Chinese people and is known as "one of the writers who have a deep understanding of the truth about China."
She sympathized with the plight of our people, actively supported China's revolutionary cause, and came to Yan'an for the first time in 1937 to conduct interviews.
It's so delicious, it's more fragrant than tea! You Americans will really enjoy it. His thick Hunan accent and humorous words made Smedley burst out laughing. Next, the two had a pleasant conversation while enjoying coffee.
Smedley was deeply attracted to the concept of beauty. Although *** said that coffee is better than tea, he rarely drank coffee in his life, and he loved Chinese tea more.
In his later years, he still maintained the habit of drinking tea. To ensure that he is able to get enough nutrients, the staff mixes his favorite tea water with glucose or lemon juice.
At first, he was not used to this new tea, but after tasting a few cups, he found that it tasted good, so he gradually formed a habit of adding sugar to the tea.
is a special leader who likes to smoke and drink tea and is not very good at drinking. Therefore, in many cases, it is rare to use alcohol, tobacco and tea together.
However, when he commanded the Battle of Shajiadian in 1947, it was a typical exception. At that time, he led the first organ to evacuate Yan'an and began to fight in northern Shaanxi, leading the liberation war in the northwest and the whole country.
On the Northwest Battlefield, after three battles and three victories such as the Yangma River, he planned the Battle of Shajiadian, which was decisive for the Northwest War. The main opponent of the Northwest Field Army commanded by *** was the 36th Division, the main force under Hu Zongnan, and the division commander Zhong Song was a graduate of the first phase of the Whampoa Military Academy, a well-known general in the Kuomintang, and was also known as Chiang Kai-shek's trump card "Iron Army".
Before the battle began, ** said to Li Yinqiao, the chief of the guard: "This is a big battle, the main forces of both the enemy and us are concentrated here, Zhong Song has just been rewarded by Chiang Kai-shek, it is the time when the arrogance is strong, Liu Kan and him are less than a day's journey."
If we fight this battle well, then the situation will change, and if we don't fight well, we may need to continue to fight ......"The Battle of Shajiadian is about to begin, and everyone is nervous and unsure whether they can win.
At this moment, ** suddenly said to Li Yinqiao: "Is there any wine?" You bring me a bottle of wine! ”
The chairman and his guard Li Yinqiao were once engaged in an important battle, and the chairman offered to drink. Li Yinqiao was a little puzzled, because the chairman was not good at drinking.
He asked the Chairman if he wanted wine. **The chairman shook his head and said that the wine is not good, it is not strong, and the Zhongsong wine is a little spicier than the wine, and it is not so delicious.
Li Yinqiao laughed out loud after hearing this, and then asked the chairman if he wanted to take sorghum white, but the chairman still shook his head and said that sorghum white is not good, isn't this exalting him? He is also spicy under 60 degrees, not so unpleasant, it is recommended to take a bottle of brandy.
During the campaign, the chairman of ** has been guarding **, while contacting the front line, while looking at the map in front, and then writing a message. When his brain gets tired, drink some brandy to stimulate it.
In addition to this, his cigarettes are also uninterrupted, and the tea is drunk every time. The Battle of Shajiadian lasted for three days and two nights, and the chairman never went out of the house, did not sleep, and did not eat.
He smoked a total of five and a half packs of cigarettes and drank dozens of cups of tea. It wasn't until the good news came that the chairman relaxed.
At the banquet of the founding of New China, ** replaced wine with tea and replaced the original wine with black tea. In fact, he usually prefers green tea and flower tea, and rarely drinks black tea.
However, this did not affect his love of tea, which can be reflected in his daily life and travels. During the visit to the Soviet Union from December 16, 1949 to March 4, 1950, breakfast was generally Western breakfast, such as milk, boiled eggs and bread.
Although he is tolerant of other foods, he does not like hot milk. As a result, he can always see a steaming cup of tea on his breakfast table. According to the staff around him, the chairman wakes up every day with a cup of tea and then reads the newspaper, and usually doesn't get up until an hour later.
Even the world-renowned founding ceremony is no exception. These fully reflect the deep love for tea.
**I have a soft spot for West Lake Longjing, and I have tried a variety of teas such as Yumaofeng, Meijiawu, Tieguanyin, Biluochun, etc., but he thinks that these are not as mellow as Longjing tea, and finally chose Longjing tea.
On his desk, there is always a steaming cup of Longjing tea. Every day, the staff prepares two bottles full of hot water for him, and keeps adding fresh Longjing tea leaves.
Every month, ** has to drink more than 4 catties of Longjing tea, which is a lot of expenses. **Considering Hangzhou as his second hometown, he once said: "Hangzhou is a very good place, suitable for both work and rest. ”
According to statistics, from 1953 to 1975, ** came to Hangzhou more than 40 times to work and rest, and he lived in Liuzhuang in the Longjing Tea District most of the time.
In the interval between intense work, ** often goes out for walks and climbs, and his footprints are almost all over the entire Longjing tea area.
** One day in May 1955, the chairman suggested that the guard office reclaim the wasteland and plant fruit trees, and a few years later, he came to Hangzhou again and was very happy to see a piece of green land.
On April 28, 1963, he took a walk in Liuzhuang and saw the guards picking tea leaves, and he joined in with great interest, saying "Plant melons and get melons, plant beans and get beans, plant tea and get tea".
He tasted the Longjing tea he picked and praised it as "Longjing tea bubbles tiger running water, a must in the world". He believes that the value of gifts is not in the many, but in whether they can represent the characteristics of the country, so he gave West Lake Longjing tea to foreign guests as a precious gift.
** The cherishing of West Lake Longjing and his in-depth understanding of the tea ceremony are not only reflected in his selection of foreign gifts, but also in his personal tea drinking habits.
Back then, during his visit to the Soviet Union, he saw that black and green tea were mixed and crushed and then distributed, which he deeply regretted and said that it was a waste of good tea. He is well aware that the quality and taste of tea needs to be preserved and appreciated, not confused or destroyed.
This respect and appreciation for tea is also reflected in his annual purchase of West Lake Longjing tea from Hangzhou, as well as his own tea and payment when he goes out for meetings or inspections.
In 1954, the host of Xishan Xishi Nunnery was grateful for the care of ***, carefully selected two catties of high-quality tea, and sent it to Zhongnanhai. **After receiving the tea, immediately ask people to write a letter to express their encouragement and appreciation, and also hope that they will achieve greater achievements in tea production to meet the needs of people's lives.
When the tea harvest was harvested the next year, the host sent two catties of tea, but *** resolutely refused to accept it. After the secretary's office understood the market price of tea, it sent the money back according to the market price, and conveyed the instructions of ***: "The staff of state organs are not allowed to accept gifts, and the tea sent this time will be sent back to ...... as a price."”
**Insist on buying tea at your own expense, for other people's gifts, if the other party does not collect money, he will return it in its original form. His behavior not only reflects his frugal qualities, but also adheres to national discipline and integrity.
In the 60s of the 20th century, Huang Yanpei visited the Longjing tea production process in Meijiawu, Hangzhou, and was ready to give a can of good Longjing tea to ***, but the comrades in the tea field heard that it was given to ***, and resolutely refused to accept Huang Yanpei's money.
In desperation, Huang Yanpei brought the tea back to Beijing and wrote a letter explaining the situation. **After receiving the tea, although I was very happy, I did not hesitate to return the tea to the Meijiawu Tea Farm after reading the letter, and wrote a letter to express my gratitude.
** A simple life, never drink public tea, and often bring their own tea to entertain guests. Wu Liandeng, who is the life manager of ***, has been taking care of ***'s daily life and is also responsible for the accounts of ***'s family.
**The Chairperson's family financial management is unique. Although he doesn't take a penny and doesn't ask how it is used, he will never skimp on a penny where it should be spent.
For example, when buying daily necessities such as matches and toilet paper, he will make sure that every penny is spent just right. In addition, when he drank tea outside, he would also pay for it, and he would settle the bill every time, never taking advantage of the public.
So, how does drinking tea in the Great Hall cost money? It turned out that the tea that the senior cadres drank at the meeting had to pay out of their own pockets. At that time, the price of good Longjing tea was 15 yuan a catty, and the waiter would divide a catty of tea into about 150 portions, each of which cost a dime.
Before the meeting, one of the basic tasks that the cadres need to do is to put a dime under the teacup to show that they need to provide tea. If you don't put money, it means that you don't need tea.
This shows the strict self-discipline and meticulous management of the finances of the chairman.
Party and state leaders such as ** and *** do not have to pay fees every time, but accumulate a certain amount by way of orthography and then settle it uniformly. This incident shows us two points of view: first, our party has effective methods and capabilities in the construction of party style and clean government, and our party can be well managed even in seemingly trivial matters such as drinking tea; Second, the exemplary role of leaders is very important.
Leaders lead by example and be an example to others. The only difference with the guests' utensils is that they have the habit of drinking strong tea, overnight tea and eating tea leaves.
One day in the early spring of 1957, ** was working at the Juxiang Book House in Zhongnanhai, and the guard slowed down and walked in gently, ready to add water to the teacup of ***.
According to the law of ***, his teacup should be refilled every hour.
When the teacup was empty, ** stood up and prepared to add water, only to see him put down the pen in his hand, stretched out his fingers and gently picked at the bottom of the cup, and put the tea in his mouth and chewed it slowly.
The guard was stunned on the side, and then asked Li Yinqiao suspiciously: "Does the chairman think that the tea is not strong enough?" Li Yinqiao smiled and shook his head, "What's wrong with eating tea?"
The chairman ate it when he was in northern Shaanxi, after all, tea can refresh the mind, and it would be a pity to throw it away. "* Eating tea is normal for Li Yinqiao. This habit began in the Jinggangshan period and even dates back to his childhood.
In Shaoshan Chong, people have been accustomed to drinking tea from rice bowls for generations, and after drinking tea, everyone will eat the tea. Even though the people of Shaoshan are accustomed to using teacups, they occasionally put a few plates of melon seeds, peanuts and other snacks, and only the habit of eating tea has never changed.
The chairman, who has been away from his hometown for many years, cannot forget the customs of his hometown, nor can he change the living habits he has cultivated since childhood.
**In 1959, the chairman returned to his hometown of Shaoshan after a 32-year absence, sitting on a wooden bench in a farmer's home, smoking cigarettes, drinking tea, and talking cordially with the villagers.
They watched the chairman eat tea, just like the old farmers in Shaoshan who were natural and skillful, and there was no change in the slightest. Although the chairman has a soft spot for tea, he also has times when he quits tea.
For example, in 1950, after his eldest son Mao Anying died in North Korea, he told his daughter-in-law Liu Siqi the unfortunate news, and in order to let her come out of her grief, he began to find a partner for her.
Air Force officer Yang Maozhi was recommended to *** When he first met ***, he found that the cuffs and trouser legs of the tunic he was wearing had been polished. The chairman handed him a glass of boiled water, and it was their first meeting.
Yang Maozhi looked at the boiled water in his hand and the chairman's old clothes, and truly understood why the people of the whole country would love their leaders so much.
On October 31, 1959, ** came to Hangzhou, and his temporary residence was still Liu Zhuang. As soon as he settled, telegrams and documents from all over the country poured here, and he read them one by one with seriousness.
A telegram from Shandong said: "The disaster situation in the whole province is very serious, and there is no grain harvest in some places. Anhui's materials reflected: "Last year's output was too high, and now the inventory is very small, and most of the people eat grain ...... adulterated with grass."The situation in Henan is even more severe: "In some places, the bark and leaves of trees have been eaten, and many people have become swollen and even starved to death......Looking at these heavy reports, tears involuntarily slipped down my face.
The staff on the side couldn't bear it and quietly wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes. **Choked up and said: "All parts of the country are suffering, many people are starving, should we not eat meat, do not drink tea, let me set an example?" ”
**During my stay in Hangzhou, I never drank a single tea. It wasn't until my country's economy gradually recovered and the people's lives improved that he began to drink tea again.
** Knows some about the history and culture of tea, but he pays more attention to the health benefits of tea than to the choice of tea utensils and the elaboration of tea ceremonies. He advocated simplicity and casualness, and opposed extravagance and waste.
Whether waking up early in the morning or in between work, he takes a few sips of tea. On his desk, the must-have "tea pot" is always ready for hospitality.
Whether he was receiving guests or on field trips, he would always carry tea leaves and his own "tea jar" with him. Among them, there are many little-known stories about "Tea Jar".
In 1949, in order to celebrate the founding of the People's Republic of China, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province specially designed a ** set and tea set, the bottom of which was printed with the words "Founding Commemoration", so it was also called "Founding Porcelain".
This set of porcelain was used to entertain foreign guests in the Great Hall of the People, and *** also got a set of specially equipped "founding porcelain".
It turned out that in 1965, the "founding porcelain" was already very rare, and the styles and patterns were somewhat outdated. In order to solve this problem, the staff of the ** office decided to give *** a new set of tea sets.
So, Wang Dongxing got in touch with Jiangxi, hoping that Jingdezhen would participate in the design and production. Moreover, they also want these tea sets to have their favorite orchids on the appearance.
Jingdezhen accepted this task, but considering that there was a difference between the self-use teacup and the guest teacup, the "single orchid" and "double orchid" were designed.
In 1966, Wang Dongxing and Wu Liandeng completed their work in Shangrao, Jiangxi, and went to Jingdezhen to pick up tea sets. When *** saw the tea set printed with orchids, he was very happy.
Eventually, he decided to use the "single orchid" himself and the "twin orchid" for his guests. Since then, these tea sets represented by "single orchids" have been accompanied by ***
It wasn't until 1976 that the chairman died of illness, and when people were sorting out the relics, they found out that the chairman didn't even have a decent teapot, only a few teacups printed with orchids.
This can't help but make people sigh that the original chairman's love for tea is more reflected in his love for life.
**The chair has a wide range of hobbies, including tea tasting. He made tea tasting his way of life, just as he smoked and ate chili peppers and braised pork.
**The Chairman's works are rich and varied, including many deeply rooted theoretical works and magnificent poems. Some believe that he drew inspiration from the process of tasting and eating tea with great indulgence to create these works.