Cai Xiang
Cai • Illustration — Image of Cai Xiang from the book "Wan hsiao tang-Chu chuang-Hua chuan（晩笑堂竹荘畫傳)", published in 1921 • Illustration — Letter on Cheng Xin Tang paper (求澄心堂紙尺牘) by Cai Xiang Cai Xiang (1012–1067) was a Chinese calligrapher, politician, structural engineer, and poet. Along with Su Shi, Huang Tingjian and Mi Fu, Cai Xiang is typically regarded as one of the Four Great Masters of the Song dynasty.
Also recorded as Tuan-ming Tsʻai · Tuan-ming Ts‘ai · Chün-mo Ts‘ai · Jun
Cai Xiang
Gisling · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Born
- 1012 · Putian.
- Died
- 1067
- Nationality
- Song dynasty
- Occupation
- poet · engineer · architect · calligrapher · historian · politician
- Known for
- The Record of Tea
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Documentary summary
Cai • Illustration — Image of Cai Xiang from the book "Wan hsiao tang-Chu chuang-Hua chuan（晩笑堂竹荘畫傳)", published in 1921 • Illustration — Letter on Cheng Xin Tang paper (求澄心堂紙尺牘) by Cai Xiang Cai Xiang (1012–1067) was a Chinese calligrapher, politician, structural engineer, and poet. Along with Su Shi, Huang Tingjian and Mi Fu, Cai Xiang is typically regarded as one of the Four Great Masters of the Song dynasty.
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Note VALÉORINE
Cai Xiang (1012–1067) was an architect, calligrapher and engineer, among other activities, a national of Song dynasty. The architect was born in Putian. Cai Xiang was a member of Four Calligraphers of Song. Among the works is The Record of Tea.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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Authority files
getty · 500315265 · gnd · 1014869773 · gnd · 1096352087 · loc · nr00036974 · wikidata · Q1289157 · wikipedia · Cai Xiang
In this article
Biography
Biography
He was born during the Dazhongxiangfu (大中祥符) era of the Song dynasty in Xianyou (仙游) county of Xinghua (興化) prefecture, now Xianyou County in Putian of Fujian province. In the eight year of the Tiansheng (天聖) era (1030 CE) he obtained the degree of jinshi (進士, lit. "advanced scholar"), a graduate who passed the triennial court exam. His highest rank was Secretariat Drafter of the Duanming Court (Duanmingdian Xueshi), in charge of written communication of the imperial government. During the Qingli (慶曆) era (1041–1048 CE), he was the Officer of Transportation (Zhuanyunshi) in Fujian. While acting as a prefect in Fujian, he also was in charge of overseeing the construction of the Wan-an Bridge at Quanzhou. He pioneered the manufacturing of small Dragon Tribute Tea Cake of superlative quality, as it was reputed to be harder to obtain than gold. Cai Xiang's style name was Junmo (君謨), and his posthumous name was Zhonghuei (忠惠).
Works
Works
One of his most famous publications is his essay "The Record of Tea", also known as the "Tea Note", which he wrote in 1049–1053. • Calligraphy: Wan'an Bridge Report Tablet • Poetry: Collected Works of Cai Zhonghuei • Letter: Letter on Cheng Xin Tang Paper
Quotes
Quotes
Tea has intrinsic aroma. But tribute tea manufacturers like to mix small amount of Dryobalanops aromatica camphor, supposedly to enhance the aroma. The local people of Jian'an never mix any incense into tea, afraid to robe the natural aroma of tea.
Identity
Identity
Cai Xiang is recorded as poet, engineer, architect, calligrapher and historian.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1012–1067
The full dated record · 3 entries
1012
Cai Xiang born at Putian.
1053
The Record of Tea is dated 1053.
1067
Cai Xiang died.
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1014869773, Cai, Xiang.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1096352087, Cai, Xiang.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
- Getty Union List of Artist Names 500315265, Cai Xiang.
General reference · The Getty Research Institute
- Library of Congress Name Authority File, Cai Xiang ji Ke Cai wen hua yan jiu cong shu (nr00036974).
General reference · Library of Congress
- VIAF cluster 53002190 for Cai Xiang, aggregating national library name authorities.
General reference · OCLC
reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q1289157: Cai Xiang
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
- “Cai Xiang”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Ci hai bian ji wei yuan hui (辞海编辑委员会）. Ci hai （辞海）. Shanghai: Shanghai ci shu chu ban she （上海辞书出版社）, 1979. Page 610.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1014869773, Cai, Xiang.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1096352087, Cai, Xiang.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessauthority file
Getty Union List of Artist Names 500315265, Cai Xiang.The Getty Research Institute
Secondary witnessauthority file
Library of Congress Name Authority File, Cai Xiang ji Ke Cai wen hua yan jiu cong shu (nr00036974).Library of Congress
Secondary witnessauthority file
Secondary witnessreference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q1289157: Cai XiangWikimedia Foundation
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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