Du Kang

Who is Du Kang?

Du Kang - a semi-legendary inventor of liquor, the patron saint of brewery in China and Japan. Since wine is widely known as an important part of the ancient Chinese rites and the court culture, its invention is not attributable to a single person. Du Kang is sometimes reported to be a minister of the Yellow Emperor, being more of a cultural symbol than a historical personality.

It is unknown where and when Dù Kāng lived; the dates in ancient sources range over thousands of years, Eastern Zhou dynasty to the Xia dynasty. In the Shuowen the name is identified with Shaokang, the 6th ruler of Xia China. The earliest full story of his life comes from Cao Cao's poems of the 3rd century. Since Cao Cao Du Kang is used as a metonymy for good wine. Presently it is a famous wine brand in PRC.