The National Palace Museum in Taipei is offering visitors a closer look at an ancient Lunar New Year tradition, practiced by emporers, that has vanished from the modern world.

The exhibition, titled “Tusu Wine: The Emporer’s First Drink of the Chinese New Year”, examines the once-common practice in China for people to drink tusu herbal wine during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Historical documents say tusu wine is usually made with seven or eight herbs, and every member of the family takes a sip on New Years Day while toasting towards the east.

This tradition was also practiced by the Qing emperor Qianlong, during a ceremony to pray for favorable weather for the coming year.

The exhibition, which showcases antiquities from the palaces of the Qing emperors Qianlong and Jiaqing, will run through March 25th.

 

photo via National Palace Museum