明代宫廷香料来源与消费述论

The Supply and Demand of Spices for The Ming Imperial Court

明代是中国香文化发展的重要时期,社会上用香风气极为浓厚。宫廷作为最高统治者的政治生活与王室生活的特殊场所,对香料的消费需求巨大。宫廷香料来源主要有中国境内各地土贡、域外朝贡以及直接采购几种。明代宫廷设有专门的香料管理机构。王室贵族为满足奢侈生活,多方搜求和消费上佳香品,这推动了香料由宫廷向民间的传播,对明代各阶层人士的生活方式产生了十分深刻的影响。同时,香料也在一定程度上成了反映明代政治走向的参照物。

The spice culture enters an important era of development in the Ming dynasty,during which spices are used widely in the society,including the imperial court that consumes a huge amount of spices for their political and royal life.In addition to direct procurement,the imperial court collects spices from the domestic and foreign suppliers who provide them as tributes to the court.There is a special office in charge of spice management in the Ming dynasty.That the royal clans demand for high-quality spices in their luxurious life hastens the popularity of spices from the court to the ordinary people,which has profound influence on the way of life of the people of all levels in the Ming dynasty.The spices to some degree play as a mirror reflecting the political tendency of the Ming dynasty.