The Folk Story of West Lake: Qu Yuan's Wind Lotus Wine

It was in the early years of the Southern Song Dynasty that Zhao established Hangzhou as the capital and became the first emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty. Zhao Gou drank and had fun all day long, and specially set up a Qu Yuan in the Hongchun Bridge in Jiulisong, West Lake, recruiting experts from all over the world to specialize in brewing fine wine for the imperial court to enjoy.

Qu Yuan was carefully constructed. A big pond was dug in front of it, and the West Lake water was introduced, and various rare lotus flowers such as ice lotus, red lotus and Anbaili were planted, and winding cloisters and pavilions were built around it, followed by wine-making and brewing workshops. In early summer, the lotus pond is full of dew, and the south wind sends fragrance. The red and white lotus flowers in full bloom in the yard are really beautiful.

In June this year, Qu Yuan's pool was full of lotus flowers, and the green lotus leaves seemed to have dried up. Red and white lotus. Like a bright red makeup. The old winemaker is busy drying and making koji. Suddenly, a scholar in his fifties came in at the gate of the yard, wearing a square towel and a blue shirt. When he saw a pool of lotus flowers, the south wind blew and the fragrance was refreshing. He couldn't help but blurt out, "What a lotus! It's really a lotus viewing resort! " While watching, he strolled up to the old man who made wine and asked, "Grandpa, what is this?"

The old brewer replied, "This is brewing Qu Yuan."

The scholar was deeply impressed: "Although the lotus is good, there is no wine to entertain."

Seeing that he was a well-read man, the old winemaker invited him to rest in the Lotus Pavilion by the pool, and said, "Please sit down, sir, and leave me some thin wine so that I can fetch it for you."

The scholar smoothed his beard, smiled and nodded, thanking him again and again. Not long after, the old winemaker carried a gourd of wine, put a big bowl on the table, poured it all over the floor and said, "Please use it, sir." At this time, just a gust of wind blew and rolled up the lotus petals in the pool. It happened that a petal fell in the wine bowl, fragrant and fragrant. The old winemaker was about to pick the lotus petals for him when the scholar quickly reached out and stopped him: "Don't pick them, don't pick them! This is a bowl of mellow wine! " On the one hand, he picked up the wine bowl and gulped it down. He repeatedly praised: "good wine, good wine, there is a lotus fragrance!" "

The old winemaker listened to the guests' praise for his good wine, poured a big bowl and said, "To tell you the truth, lotus powder is often blown in the yeast of our winery, and the wine brewed is really fragrant!"

After drinking three bowls in a row, the scholar greeted the old brewer drunkenly and said, "Thank you, old man, please bring pens, ink, paper and inkstones!" " "The old brewer took the pen and paper, only to find that the scholar spread the rice paper on the table, looked at the pool full of lotus flowers, dipped it in thick ink, and splashed it on the paper. A few strokes were added, and an ink-colored lotus flower came to my face. The scholar was still unfinished, and went to Quyuan Caotang, wrote the words "Quyuan Feng He" and wrote his own name. The scholar gave the painting to the old brewer as a reward and left.

Although the old winemaker can't read, he likes this painting and hangs it in the opera house. Later, someone told him that it was written by Ma Yuan, one of the four great painters in the Southern Song Dynasty!

From then on, Qu Yuan's wind and lotus became famous all over the world and became one of the "Ten Scenes of West Lake". The fragrant lotus wine brewed by Qu Yuan has also become a famous wine in Hangzhou.