Many ancient ethnic groups once revered Tea as a totem, and it can be considered a common belief among these groups. To this day, traces of tea totem worship can still be found in the surviving cultures of various ancient ethnic groups, such as the Tujia people's venerated female ancestor— “Empress Yihé.”

— Empress Yihé and Tea —

According to legend, when Empress Yihé was a young girl, she went up the mountain to pick tea. Feeling thirsty, she chewed on some tea leaves and became pregnant. After being pregnant for three years and six months, she gave birth to eight brothers at once. With too many children to care for, Empress Yihé abandoned them in the mountains. Miraculously, the eight brothers grew rapidly, nourished by tiger's milk and became adults… Later, they served as generals under King Tupo Chongga, demonstrating great bravery in battle and achieving numerous victories. They were granted land in the area around Longshan and Yongshun in Hunan Province and have been venerated by their clansmen ever since, becoming the tribal deities—the Eight Great Kings—of the Tujia people.

From this, we can infer that tea was a commonly used plant among the Tujia people. The ancients, mystified by the phenomenon of reproduction, developed the totem “tea is the source of life,” which speaks to the sacred status of tea in Tujia culture.

The mythological stories about the Tujia ancestors and tea are rich in cultural color and mystery. There is another version of the myth concerning the Eight Great Kings and tea.

— The Eight Great Kings and Tea —

According to legend, there once lived an elderly couple by the You River who had no children despite their advanced age. Worried about this, they suddenly encountered an old man who gave them a pack of tea, saying that drinking this tea would bring them joy. As soon as the old man disappeared, the couple returned home and drank the tea steeped in hot water. Sure enough, the woman became pregnant.

One day turned into three, three days turned into nine, and she remained pregnant for a total of three years and six months. On one particular day, a loud thunderclap shook the ground and rattled the house. Amidst the earth-shattering sound of thunder, the husband waiting outside heard the cries of newborn babies. He entered the room joyfully but was startled: “Hey…”

Eight sons lay on the floor, each looking up at him with bright eyes. Thinking they were monsters, he took advantage of his wife's unconscious state and carried them off to the Dajin Mountain and left them there.

The Tujia ceremony honoring the Eight Great Kings

The eight brothers, abandoned in the mountains, grew quickly under the nourishment of dragon milk and phoenix feathers. Soon, they became tall and immensely strong. Guided by the dragon and phoenix, the eight brothers returned home.

Their parents named them from oldest to youngest: Ao Zheheshe, Xiti Lao, Xia Alao, Lidu, Sudu, Na Wumi, Long Ciesuo Yechong, Jie Ye Hela Feiye.

The eight brothers could capture lightning bolts from the sky and pluck stars. Catching a fierce tiger was like grabbing a kitten, and pulling out a large tree was like plucking a blade of grass.

Every day, the eight brothers either hunted in the mountains or fished in the river. Their family of ten could not finish all the food, so they invited the villagers from the Nine Streams and Eighteen Valleys to take what they needed. The villagers then elected them as the “Eight Great Kings,” each governing one of the valleys, as recorded in the stele inscriptions of the Eight Valleys: “The term ‘Eight Great Kings' refers to the governance over the Eight Valleys, where each valley represents a tribe.”

To this day, during the Tujia Grand Hand-Waving Festival in Longshan, western Hunan, every hand-waving team must carry five colorful dragon and phoenix flags to express gratitude for the kindness of the dragon and phoenix towards their distant ancestors, the Eight Great Kings.

These myths not only enrich the cultural heritage of the Tujia people but also demonstrate their deep affection and reverence for tea. They also reflect the Tujia people's respect for nature, life, and procreation.

Tujia girls picking tea

Let us journey back to the depths of the ancient mountains of western Hunan, where the ancestors of the Tujia people were struggling to survive, traversing rugged paths in search of food and water.

When they arrived in a lush valley, they saw tea plants shining brilliantly in the sunlight across the hills. Curiously, they picked a few tea leaves and put them in their mouths. Instantly, their lips and teeth were filled with fragrance, and they felt invigorated.

From that moment on, the Tujia people formed an unbreakable bond with tea.

They began planting tea trees in the valley, nurturing each one with their hard work and wisdom, creating a variety of unique teas.

Whenever friends and relatives gathered, they would Brew a pot of fine tea and sit together to chat and enjoy the tea. The air was filled with the aroma of tea and the sounds of laughter and warmth.

During traditional Tujia weddings, the bride and groom would serve tea to their elders, who would return the gesture with a beautifully wrapped tea gift, expressing their blessings and wishes.

Over time, the Tujia people developed a unique tea culture. Tea has become an indispensable part of their lives and an important medium for preserving and promoting their national culture.

After recounting the ancient stories, let us return to the present and witness the “legend” unfolding on this land.

— The Tujia People and Tea —

Stepping into the Wulong Mountain tea Estate, one sees tranquil green waters and a picturesque Landscape of tea fields. It is hard to imagine that just a few years ago, this place was barren soil.

“I'm going to grow tea here. What do you think of the location?”

In 2025, during a critical period in China's targeted poverty alleviation campaign, Xiang Minghai, in his prime, left behind lucrative careers in real estate and media to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to developing the gold tea industry in rural areas.

“Agriculture isn't easy. What's this old man thinking?” Facing the ridicule of others, I gained a different perspective on this shrewd businessman.

Tea garden in Xiaojia Village, Hongyanxi Town

Tea garden in Punadong Village, Hongyanxi Town

Xiang Minghai is a true Tujia person, chairman of Tianyi Tea Industry Development Co., Ltd. of Hunan Province, and the founder of the Wulong Mountain Tea Estate. He has been recognized as an “Outstanding Individual in Poverty Alleviation” in both Hunan Province and Longshan County.

The hardships along the way are numerous. If he were to tell the story in detail, he would need to brew several pots of good tea and spend several days and nights recounting it.