Yidi is a legendary ancient Chinese figure credited with the invention of wine. In Shiji or Records of the Historian, historian Sima Qian writes that more than 4,000 years ago an official named Yidi made zhijiu for Dayu, founder of the Xia Dynasty (c.21st century-16th century BC).
Zhijiu, or wine, is fermented from rice. According to literature the earliest ancestors of the Fangfeng family, namely Yidi's tribe, established a state called Suoman – in the area currently named Gaoqing – a county administered by Zibo city, in East China's Shandong province.
Gaoqing was recognized as an important origin for wine making in China. Nowadays, the county is an important production area for Chinese liquor.
Modern-day China named the nation's top wine brewing award after Yidi, to reward the best producers or individuals engaged in wine making and related products – selling such things as raw materials, equipment and wine itself.
The story of Yidi making wine was included on the list of Shandong's provincial intangible cultural heritage in 2016.
A Chinese painting depicts the legend of Yidi making wine. [Photo/WeChat account: zibowenhualvyou]
