Spreading the Fragrance of Wormwood Across the World.pdf

FeelingChongqing/渝阅外事礼品重庆故事Teing he Story of ChongqingGtitr ForinAffairs EventsTONGLIANGAYTSAOSpreading the Fragrance of WormwoodAcross the WorldBy Liu Dingrui/The World and Chongqingingredient and traditional methods.It emits afresh and elegant herbaceous aroma.The smokeproduced by the incense resembles a snow-whitewaterfall pouring down and then flowing silently,and also a light white cloud leisurely drifting in thesky.Amidst the lingering aroma of wormwood,Chen shared his story with wormwood.Exploring New Paths of Rural Revitalizationwith WormwoodWormwood,also known as“medical grass,is a common medicinal herb found in rural areas.According to the Compendium of Materia Medica,wormwood can warm channels for arrestingbleeding,dispel cold and relieve pain,removewind,and stop itching.In my hometown,theresa saying that goes,“When wormwood is readilyAs the Dragon Boat Festival approaches,the aroma of wormwoodfills the air.In March 2023,the backflow incense under the brandTONGLIANG AY TSAO was inscribed on the fourth list ofChongqing Gifts and Foreign-Affairs Gifts Recently,Chen Ping,founderof Chongqing Zhenai Agricultural Co.,Ltd.and the TONGLIANG AYTSAO brand had an interview with The World and Chongqing at theiroffice.Moxa sticks,backflow incense,wormwood essential oils,wormwoodsachets,moxa pillows,sweet wormwood green rice balls,foot bath bags.Chen showcased over ten varieties of wormwood products and proudlystated,“These are all self-developed and self-produced products.Ourwormwood is 100%pure and natural,without the use of chemical fertilizersor pesticides.Chinas incense culture has been one of the most pervasive culturallegacies,intimately linked to everyday life since ancient times.Whilelighting a Bodhi seed-shaped backflow incense,Chen said,“This particularbackflow incense was made using three-year-old wormwood as the mainavailable at home,theres no need for a doctor,Chen Ping from Shaoyun Town in TongliangDistrict often suffered from wind-cold-causedcolds in his childhood,and his mother would usewormwood medicinally to treat him.The strongaroma of wormwood in his childhood memoriessowed the seed for Chens future career workingwith this herb.After completing his university education,Chen worked in the main urban area of Chongqing.During holidays,he would visit his parents in thevillage,where he was saddened to see the once-fertile land of his childhood now abandoned.This led to an idea sprouting in his mindhewould return to his hometown and start a businessgrowing wormwood.To realize his idea,Chenconducted several investigations across different74The World and Chongqinglocations in China.In 2017,he establishedChongqing Zhenai Agriculture Co.,Ltd.inShaoyuan Town.In addition,he promoted large-scale wormwood cultivation by visiting householdsand villages and also set up production workshopsequipped with modern facilities.His hard work and dedication eventually paidoff.With the support of the local government andChens active leadership,over 3,000 householdsin 1l1 villages of Shaoyun Town participated inthe collective economy projects.The wormwoodplanting gradually scaled up,from a few hundredto several thousand mu,making Shaoyun Townthe largest wormwood full-industry chain basein southwest China.Through a combination oftraditional craftsmanship and modern technology,over 30 wormwood-derived products have beendeveloped by the company.These products havebeen exported to various countries and regionsincluding Europe,America,Japan,and the RepublicofKorea.Inrecentyears,Chenscompanyhasbeen recognized with awards such as the“Chongqing Municipal Leading Enterpriseand“Demonstration Enterprise for RuralRevitalization.Its flagship brand,TONGLIANGAY TSAO,has also been named among the“Top100 Iconic Brands of Agricultural Products inChina and“National Famed,Special,Premium,and New Agricultural Products.The companystraditional production technique of“time-honoredlong-kept wormwood-based health productshas been inscribed on the fourth list of intangiblecultural heritage in Tongliang District.Disseminating the Culture of WormwoodAcross theWorldAfter thousands of years of inheritance,thewormwood culture is shining with its uniquecharm.Chen has made many efforts to promoteand preserve the wormwood culture such asoffering incense-making experience courses,hosting intangible cultural heritage exhibitions andworkshops,and providing moxibustion servicesand skills training,with the aim of attracting morepeople to appreciate and continue this tradition.I hope that after experiencing and enjoyingwormwood products and services,people will fallin love with wormwood,said Chen.How can the fragrance of wormwood be spread all overthe world?This is a persistent question in Chens mind.Whilecontemplating how to preserve and promote the wormwoodculture,Chen has made more efforts to expand its reachglobally,in the hope of sharing the unique charm of thistraditional Chinese culture with the world.In 2019,Chen Ping showcased signature products such asTONGLIANG AY TSAO-branded sachets,moxibustion sticks,and essential oils at the Tongliang Pavilion during the 2ndWestern China International Fair for Investment and Trade.On the opening day of the event,the wormwood productsdisplayed at the booth were sold out.What made Chen morepleased was that the products garnered a great deal of interestfrom foreign visitors.In 2021,the“Discover Four Seasons,Love All Beings Chongqing-Hong Kong SAR-Macao SARYouth Nature Exploration Charity Event made its way toTongliang.More than a hundred teenagers recently visitedTONGLIANG AY TSAOs wormwood base to learn aboutthe plant.During their visit,they had the opportunity to plant,draw,and write about wormwood,make wormwood wreaths,and bundle wormwood bunches,as well as learn how to rollmoxibustion sticks and practice moxa-moxibustion.Throughthese activities,the students gained a deeper understanding oftraditional Chinese culture and developed an appreciation forthe mystical charm of wormwood.“An increasing number of people are discovering theallure of wormwood,and I am dedicated to further promotingits benefits.My goal is to bring wormwood products intoevery home,and spread the delightful aroma of Tongliangswormwood throughout the world,expressed Chen.Photo/Deng Siyuan and the IntervieweeThe World and Chongqing75