粮食加工是农业生产的最后环节,又是饮食消费的必要前提,一般说来,它应包括种植、收割后的脱粒和食品加工前的磨制等。我们权且把脱粒(包括简单的去壳行为)称为粮食的初加工,而把脱粒、仓储与食品加工之间的磨制称作粮食的精加工。中国古代,它们同属粮食加工业的范畴,却有着不同的发展态势。对古代粮食初、精加工技术的认识,引起了我们对中国农业发展中有关问题的再思考。 Food processing is the last step in agricultural production and an essential prerequisite for food consumption. Generally speaking, it should include planting, threshing after harvest and grinding before food processing. We also call threshing (including simple dehulling) the first processing of grain, and the grinding between threshing, storage and food processing as the finishing of grain. In ancient China, they belong to the category of food processing industry, but have different development trends. The understanding of the early grain and finishing techniques of ancient grain aroused our rethinking on the relevant issues in the development of agriculture in China.