An Introduction to Wine [Plain-Language Edition]

In four volumes, written by Shen Shen of the Ming Dynasty. The author also called himself Zhendanyimin Yuanyuanfu, and in the preface referred to himself as Hezhifu. The names Yuanyuan and Shen Shen are so strange that it is impossible to determine who the author was. The surname of the proofreader listed in each volume is always given as Hailing. Hailing was the name of the person who printed the book. The work is mainly about matters related to wine. Volume One has three sections: Wine, Names, and Vessels. Volume Two has seven: Explanation, Methods, Production, Origins, Names, Measures, and Drinking. Volume Three has six: Appraisal, Peculiarities, Dedications, Connections, Events, and Oddities. Volume Four has six: Benefits, Virtues, Prohibitions, Disorder, Rules, and Writing. The book draws on a variety of other works and follows the format of Lu Yu's The Classic of Tea. Its claim that Confucius was the Sage of Wine, with Ruan Ji, Tao Qian, Wang Ji, and Shao Yong as his four companions, is absurd and fanciful, and was likely invented by the author. The Complete Library of the Four Treasuries General Catalogue lists it among the works retained in the catalogue, based on a copy submitted by the Zhejiang governor.