Yang Lasan: inheritor of the De’ang Acid Tea Making Technique

我是杨蜡三，德昂族，今年六十四岁，我是省级酸茶（制作）技艺传承人。

I’m Yang Lasan, a member of the De’ang ethnic group. I’m 64 years old now. I’m the provincial-level inheritor of the De’ang Acid Tea Making Technique.

德昂族是古老的茶农，也是我们中华民族种茶比较早的民族之一。

De’ang people are tea farmers since ancient times. They are one of the earliest ethnic groups that planted tea in China.

之所以人家说有茶山的地方，就是德昂族居住过的地方，

There’s a saying that, where there’re tea mountains, there’re De’ang people living.

因为我们是以茶为生，以茶为图腾，

The reason for this saying is that we live on tea, and regard it as our totem.

茶是代表了德昂族的性格。性格就是要和睦相处，像茶一样，发出自己的芳香。

Tea represents the personality of the De’ang people, who get along well with each other and emit their own fragrance, just like tea.

德昂族与茶息息相关，就是在日常的生活之中，在社会交流当中，茶是不可缺少的。

De’ang people are closely related to tea, that is, tea is indispensable in our daily life and social communication.

敬客茶、迎客茶、迁徙茶、乔迁茶、提亲茶、定亲茶、和睦茶，

We use tea to welcome and treat guests, to celebrate migration, for housewarming, for marriage proposal and engagement, and as a symbol of harmony.

有的茶在生产生活当中是与人之间的联系，是缺少不了的一种物品。

In work and daily life, tea represents the connections between people, and is a must-have item.

一个小伙子看中了一个小姑娘，必须要先拿提亲茶，

When a young man falls in love with a woman, he must present tea in order to propose.

她母亲发现了以后，要是这个小伙子又会做茶，又勤劳，又会种茶，会制茶，会卖茶，她就很喜欢，她就很愿意把自己的姑娘给她，

Her mother will be happy and willing to approve their marriage, if he is an industrious person who can plant tea, make tea, and sell tea.

就是这么个情况。

This is a classic case.

和睦茶，煮一杯茶坐下来把矛盾挑开后，

Tea as the symbol of harmony (is another case). When we make a cup of tea and sit down to discuss a conflict between people,

使大家把矛盾化开了以后和睦相处，

we hope that they can settle the conflict and get along well with each other.

这个就叫做和睦茶，要用茶。

(In such a situation,) We need to use tea, and we call it tea of harmony.

德昂茶也有清茶、绿茶、还有酸茶，不仅仅是酸茶，酸茶只是其中的一种。

The De’ang tea also includes green tea and acid tea. Acid tea is merely one kind of De’ang tea.

德昂族酸茶历史也比较久，历史也大约有2000多年了，酸茶是随着历史的变迁一直发展到现在，

Acid tea has a long history of more than 2,000 years, and it has developed along with historical transformations.

时代不同了，茶还是原来的味道，

Time changes, but the tea retains its original flavor.

因为茶将来是渊源，茶的原料要保证保质保量，

As the tea will be a source in the future, we should guarantee the quality and quantity of its raw materials,

做也是按原来老传统手工艺来做。

and do everything according to traditional craftsmanship.

德昂族的老人对自己的子女、子孙，他说我们不能够懒，要勤劳，

The elderly of our De’ang ethnic group told their children and grandchildren that we should be hard-working instead of being lazy.

种茶，喝茶，爱茶，因为这个茶能够给我们带来生活上的富裕。

We should plant tea, drink tea, and love tea, as it can bring us a wealthy life.

我的徒弟大约有十几个，都还是比较能做，技术能够学到手，

I have a dozen apprentices, all of whom are quite capable and diligent. They have successfully learnt skills for making acid tea.

能够传承下来，不丢失我们德昂族的茶文化是我最大的骄傲。

The technique can be passed down, and the tea culture of our De’ang ethnic group won’t be lost. This is the pride of myself.