On November 16, Zhejiang University issued an obituary stating that Liu Zusheng, Professor and PhD supervisor in the Department of Tea Science at the College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, passed away in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province at the age of 94. Professor Liu Zusheng’s memorial service is scheduled for 9:00 AM on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at the Hangzhou Funeral Home.
Professor Liu Zusheng was a renowned Chinese tea scientist and educator who dedicated his life to tea research and cultivated countless tea professionals, making significant contributions to the establishment of China’s complete tea science higher education system and the training of high-level tea talent. In 2016, Professor Liu Zusheng was jointly awarded the title of “Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Chinese Tea Teacher” by the China Cooperation Times · Tea Weekly and the China Tea Professionals Association.
Professor Liu Zusheng was born in August 1931 in Anhua County, Hunan Province. In 1950, he was admitted to the tea major of the Faculty of Agriculture at Wuhan University (later merged into Huazhong Agricultural University); after graduating in 1953, he remained at the university to teach; in October 1954, due to departmental restructuring and mergers, he joined Zhejiang Agricultural University (formerly Zhejiang Agricultural College); he was promoted to lecturer in September 1963, associate professor in April 1981, and professor in December 1986, and was appointed as a PhD supervisor in 1990; during this period, from 1981 to 1992, he served as the Head of the Department of Tea Science at Zhejiang Agricultural University, and he honorably retired in December 1997.
Additionally, Professor Liu Zusheng served as the leader of a national key subject in tea science, a member of the third and fourth disciplinary review groups of the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council (1992–2002), Vice President of the fifth and sixth councils of the China Tea Association (1992–2002), President of the seventh and eighth councils of the Zhejiang Tea Association (1993–2001), Vice President of the Wu Juenong Tea Science Thought Research Society, Consultant to the China Tea Museum, Senior Consultant to the China International Tea Culture Research Association, Consultant to the Zhejiang University Tea Culture and Health Research Association, and Honorary President of the Zhejiang Tea Association, among other positions.
Liu Zusheng inspecting the growth of tea trees.
Professor Liu Zusheng was long engaged in higher education in tea science; he taught tirelessly, and his students are spread far and wide. He served as the editor-in-chief of the national unified textbook Cultivation of Aromatic Flowers for Tea Use, deputy editor-in-chief of Tea Tree Cultivation (2nd edition), and a contributor to Tea Tree Breeding (1st and 2nd editions), earning several awards including the Excellent Textbook Award from the National Education Commission and the Second Prize for Excellent Provincial Textbook. He presided over the formulation (and revision) of the national “Master’s Degree Program for Tea Science” and the “Basic Requirements for Doctoral Degree Programs in Tea Science,” and established China’s first doctoral program in tea science, making significant contributions to the establishment of China’s complete tea science higher education system and the training of high-level tea talent.
Professor Liu Zusheng was long dedicated to tea science research, achieving fruitful results. He successively developed a large number of new tea tree varieties that are high-quality, high-yielding, and multi-resistant, such as Zhenong 113, Zhenong 21, Zhenong 25, Zhenong 139, and Zhenong 117. In 1989, he was named a “National Excellent Teacher,” and in the same year, his name was included in Who’s Who in the World published by Cambridge University Press, UK; since July 1991, he has enjoyed the special allowance of the State Council. In 2001, he was honored with the titles of “National Excellent Scientific and Technological Worker” and “Advanced Worker of CAST”; in 2020, he was named an “Outstanding Chinese Tea Person.” Over the years, he has received more than 30 awards, including the Third Class National Science and Technology Progress Award, the Second Class Provincial/Ministerial Science and Technology Achievement Award, and the Technology Promotion Award, contributing significant strength to the progress of China’s tea science and the sustainable development of the tea industry.
Professor Liu Zusheng devoted his entire life to tea science research and was passionate about education, with students spread far and wide; he studied diligently and innovated bravely, achieving fruitful results; he was sincere, humble, and helpful, possessing a righteous spirit; his scholarly attitude was rigorous, and his character and talent were both exemplary, truly embodying the spirit of a master.
A lifetime devoted to tea nurtured thousands; in heaven, there is tea, so you shall not be alone. May the Professor rest in peace!
Produced by: China Cooperation Times · Tea Weekly All Media
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Author: Lam Sam (LamSam), the Old Tea Head
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