Silk Road: Tea

The Silk Road was a serial publication of diachronic trade routes that connected cultures of European and Asian countries. Hidden in Southwest mainland China is a lesser-known trade route called Chamadao, literally translated as the Tea Horse Road, was a central trade route for the deputize of Tibetan horses and Chinese afternoon afternoon teatime (Elaine). The route started in Southwest China, where tea was produced, led north into the Tibetan mountains and into India (Yang). Due to its economic and heathenish impact, it has been dubbed the southerly Silk Road of China (Yang). Tea first stockated from Yunnan, through China, to the rest of Asia, because to the West.In its earliest uses, tea was first utilise as food thence concocted as medicinal brews. As more traditional tea deglutition practices developed overtime. It began transmit to social hierarchy and developed status (Heiss 4,7). The origin of tea trade could be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. During the Tang dynast y, emperor hardlyterfly Dezong sent his supervisory official Chang Lu to visit Tibet. Chang Lu offered around boiled tea to the Tibetan king, who then asked what it was. When Chang answered, the king informed him that Tibet already had tea and had his servants show it to Chang (Yang). The Chinese were the main exporters of tea.The Tea Horse Road, or Chamadao, was a central trade route for exchanging Tibetan horses and Chinese tea. though it is called the Tea Horse Road, other products such as salt, sugar and furs were as well as exchanged along this route. The increasing importance of tea in mundane life led to high demand and set up some markets outside of Southern China (Whitfield 238). Tea trade further expand after Europeans were introduced to it. Chinese Tea was traded as far as Kenya, Africa. Chamadao in short earned the title of Southern Silk Road of China, due to its importance in both economic and cultural aspects (Elaine).Tea played a great government agency in reli gion and politics. At the height of the tea trades prosperity during the Ming Dynasty, a bureau was established to manage the horse and tea trade. During that time, the Ming Court often used the tea trade as a means of maintaining political control over Tibetan leaders and lamas. Farmers compensable tea as tribute, or tax to the emperor, or ruler. The tea used in such tributes determined its quality (Yang). Tea was embraced by Chinas three great religionsBuddhism, Confucianism and Daoism for its perceived healthful virtues and powers of rejuvenation .The sanctum sanctorum leaders of these religions deemed the drink as a necessity and should be consumed by all practitioners. As each of these faiths spread, so did the practice of consuming tea (Heiss 10). In short, the lesser-known Tea Horse Road had great economic and cultural impact. Its cultural exchange and prosperity is comparable to the Silk Road in historical importance. This Southern Silk Road is no longer in use but its leg acy continues to play a crucial role in the colloquy and exchange of present cultures.