On the Evolution of Attitude Towards Alcohol in the Zhou Dynasty:Centered on The Classic of Poetry
From establishing the nation based on resisting alcohol in ritual and music to the collapse of ritu-als and music caused by excessive drinking,the fate of the Zhou Dynasty has always been intertwined with al-cohol.The Classic of Poetry,from Court Hymn,Eulogy to Ballad,vividly reflects the changing attitudes to-wards alcohol since the Western Zhou Dynasty,demonstrating the synchronous evolution of the Zhou alongside the spirit of drinking.Duke of Zhou formulated Jiu Gao,establishing the spiritual tone of drinking for the Zhou people.From the sacrificial rituals and filial drinking in Zhou Song and Greater Odes of the Kingdom to the private banquets and personal drinking in Minor Odes of the Kingdom and Ballad,drinking gradually shifted from a public affair to an individual behavior,and the functions of alcohol gradually transformed from mere gustatory enjoyment to recuperating body and mind.The increasing prevalence of private drinking,intoxication for pleasure or solace,moved away from the spirit of Jiu Gao and continuously challenged the system of ritual and music.In particular,with banquets held more frequently,attitudes towards drunkenness shifted from avoid-ance to acceptance and even being ridiculed for not getting drunken,which completely subverted the attitude towards intoxication.The emergence of alcohol outside the realm of ritual and music marked the dual disinte-gration of the system and spirit of Zhou Dynasty.How to accommodate the assertive and rebellious nature of alcohol which is filled with desires,became a significant issue in the Spring and Autumn period and beyond.
The Classic of Poetrydrinkingdrunkennessbeing ridiculed for not getting drunkenattitude towards alcohol
万方数据
