TheChinesedonotseewineasoneofthenecessitiesoflife,butintheirsociallifethecultureofwineasadistinctculturalformhasmadeandcontinuestomakeanimpactonthewaytheChineselive.Chinesealcoholicdrinksarechieflymadefromgrain.ThroughoutthelonghistoryofChina,withitslargepopulationandlong-termrelianceonagriculture,theupsanddownsofthewinetradehavebeencloselyboundupwithpolitical,economicandsocialconditions.Thefluctuationsinthegrainharvestwerelikeabarometerfortheupsanddownsofthewinebusiness.Thesuccessiverulingdynastiesissuedorrelaxedrestrictionsonwineproductionaccordingtothegrainharveststomakesurethatpeoplehadenoughtoliveon.