ISHS Acta Horticulturae 620: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural Practices, and Utilization
HISTORY OF ASIAN HORTICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY |
| Author: | J. Janick |
| Keywords: | agriculture, China, Japan, India, Korea |
| Abstract:
The beginnings of agriculture in eastern Asia date to Neolithic times, 7000 to 9000 years ago, with rice cultivation about 4000 BC. Agricultural origins in the Indus valley occur about the same time. In North China and Manchuria, a civilization was established about 2000 BC and by the Zhou dynasty, 1000 BC, there is evidence of canals and extensive irrigation. The writings of Confucius (552–479 BC) mention 44 food plants including horticultural crops such as peach, plum, Japanese apricot (Prunus mume), jujube, chestnut, mulberry, quince, Chinese cabbage, bottle gourds, and various melons. First century agricultural manuals describe intensive production of crops, pretreatment of seed, irrigated rice with circulated water, ridge cultivation, pot irrigation, crop scheduling, composting, and iron tools. Books on agriculture and horticulture are produced between 221 and 550 AD. Ornamental horticulture became embedded in the culture of China and spread throughout Asia with the development of rural retreats and urban gardens of the emperors. Flower cultivation became one of the seven arts and assumed mystic importance. Exchange of crops and technology through trade and conquests between East and West has an ancient and continuing tradition as is evidenced by silk strands on Egyptian an mummy in 1000 BC. The biblical trade in spices involved both sea routes via India and the Mideast as well as overland routes (the Silk Road) through Persia, and it is by this route that the peach, mulberry, and citrus reached the West. European incursions in the Americas in the Age of Exploration increased direct East-West contacts and New World crops such as hot pepper, maize, sweet potato, potato, and peanut become important crops in China. Recent Asian innovations in horticultural and agricultural technology include advances in plastic culture through the development of energy saving greenhouses, grafting technology for vegetable production, and the development of hybrid rice. | |
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