Why are tea cakes basically 357 grams? What's the special meaning?
In the past, the caravan transported tea in barrels, and each barrel contained seven cakes of tea (so the early Pu 'er tea was also called "seven cakes"). 1959, the State Council issued "the State Council's Order on Unifying China's Metrology System", which changed from "16kg" to "12 1 kg", and from then on it became 50g every two.
However, according to the traditional "seven cakes", a barrel of seven pieces x 350g/ piece ≈ 2.45kg ... The 2.45 kg barrel of tea here is not an integer. In order to round up the whole number, the tea merchants added 7g to each tea cake. 357g X7 cake tea =2499g, about 2.5kg, nearly 5kg. This is much more convenient in transaction statistics. Although the number 357 is not an integer on the surface, it is actually approaching an integer quietly.
Metaphysics, 357 is a positive number (positive number is 1.3.5.7.9). The sum of yang numbers is 25, which is the algorithm of sun's law. Take 3, 5 and 7 as zhongyang, which is also auspicious. Yin is the month, the number of Yin is (2.4.6.8. 10), and the sum of Yin is 30, which is also the hidden mystery of 30 days per month, and that's how the month came about.
First, it is convenient for transaction statistics.
In order to facilitate transportation and storage, Pu 'er tea is pressed into pressed tea, and the shape of pressed tea is more conducive to the transformation of Pu 'er tea than loose tea, so tea leaves are made into cakes, cakes, bricks and other shapes. So in fact, it is not difficult to think that unifying the weight of tea cakes is also for the convenience of trading. Pu 'er tea, also known as "edge-selling tea", is sold to the border with frequent trade. In order to reduce the dispute over weights and measures and facilitate tax collection, tea cakes are made into a unified weight, which is also convenient for trading.
Second, it means beauty.
In ancient times, horses and chariots were slow and letters were far away. Tea merchants left home to do business and stayed away from their families. How many tea merchants left their love for their loved ones on the ancient tea-horse road? The result of 3+5+7 in the weight of tea "357" is 15, 15, which means reunion and well-being. "357 grams" is not only the weight of tea cakes, but also the love of tea merchants for their families.
Third, the digital meaning:
Three talents: heaven, earth, man and the combination of heaven, earth and man.
5 is the five elements, gold, water, wood and fire.
(The Origin of China Culture)
7 is shaoyang, earthquake, lightning and dragon.
Whether this is a positive interpretation of the established number or a beautiful coincidence, the number 357 is indeed a lucky number for Pu 'er tea.