| Two bronze nested utensils unearthed from the tomb of Marquis Haihun in Western Han Dynasty and the tomb of Zhangjiapu in the period of Xinmang,which were initially considered to be stills.But there is no consensus on their structure and principle.In order to verify the properties of distillers,explore the distillation function and efficiency,two imitations were made and simulation experiments were carried out.Firstly,rice was used as raw material for semi-liquid fermentation and solid-state fermentation respectively to obtain mash and fermented grains.And then began the experiment of liquid-state distillation and solid-state distillation with the materials of the mash and fermented grains.In addition,black magic rose chosen for extraction experiment.And then,the flower dew and distilled liquor were obtained.The alcohol content of wine determined by alcohol meter.The components of the liquor from solid-state distillation and flower dew from distillation with materials in water were analyzed by GC-MS.The experiment results are shown as follow: two sets of imitations can respectively product liquor with alcohol content of 20～50%,and can effectively extract the aromatic substances in the petals.After detection,the flavor characteristics of angel liquor were maintained in the distilled liquor,whose alcohols,esters,acids,ketones and so on were included.The 3,5-dimethoxytoluene,1,3,5,-trimethoxybenzene,α-ionol,dihydro-β-ionol and other aromatic substances detected in rose dew are the aroma components of petals.The above prove that the two sets are all distillers with distillation function and good effect,which indicate that the bronze distillers have appeared in China as early as the Western Han Dynasty.On the basis of experiments,the relation between the structure and the working principle is further analyzed,and the applicable objects of the distiller are explored.By analyzing the application of tenon and mortise structure on the cooler of Zhangjiapu distiller,it is inferred that the condensing object is more for the liquid with weak fluidity,and the distilling object is more for petals and drugs.The distillation mode of Zhangjiapu distiller is more suitable for distillation with steaming materials in water,and the way to receive condensate is external.According to the analysis of its structure,principle and unearthed situation,Marquis Haihun’s distiller can be used for distillation with steaming materials in water or above water,and the way of exposure is also external.We speculate that it is more suitable for distilling liquor.The two pieces of distillers unearthed in the Han Dynasty were all sleeve shaped ones,and their upper parts were all cylinder.The Han Dynasty was a popular time for many cylindrical ones.This paper attempts to find the relationship between them,and makes a data collection,discrimination and naming discussion on the common barrel shaped utensils in the Han Dynasty.Through analysis,it is considered that the shape and structure of the stills are affected by the cylinder.The popularity of tube shape utensils in the Han Dynasty was caused by the following factors: making utensils imitate other objects,Taoist ideas of alchemy,and the understanding of the structural characteristics tube shaped utensils.To a certain extent,distillers and cylinders are the embodiment and display of the concept of creation in Han dynasty. |
