China is one of the origin countries in Asia of cultiv ated rice (O. sativaL.), and rice is one of the aged-long food crops in the country. The results of the ~14C evaluation on the carbonified rice grains unearthed from Hemudu in Yuyao County and Luojiajiao in Tongxiang County of Zhejiang Province indicated that rice in these area has been plante d more than 7,000 yrs and indica (hsien) and japonica (keng) rices coexisted with each other. Because of the long history of rice cultivation and wide distribution of rice-growing regions, the diversity of rice genetic resources has been formed through long-time natural and artificial selection. As recorded in the ancient Chinese books, there are such rice and different germplasm resources as japonica and indica rices, glutinous and nonglutinous rices, lowland and upland rices, and early-season and late-season rices, etc. Meanwhile there have been many descriptions about the geographical distribution of wild rice. Based on studies in ancient China, origin and China is one of the origin countries in Asia of cultivate ated rice (O. sativaL.), And rice is one of the aged-long food crops in the country. The results of the ~ 14C evaluation on the carbonified rice grains unearthed from Hemudu in Yuyao County and Luojiajiao in Tongxiang County of Zhejiang Province indicated that rice in these area has been planted d more than 7,000 yrs and indica (hsien) and japonica (keng) rices coexisted with each other. Because of the long history of rice cultivation and wide distribution of rice-growing regions, the diversity of rice genetic resources has been formed through long-time natural and artificial selection. As recorded in the ancient Chinese books, there are such rice and different germplasm resources as japonica and indica rices, glutinous and nonglutinous rices, lowland and upland rices, and early-season and late-season rices, etc. Yet there have been many descriptions about the geographical distribution of wild rice. Based on studies in ancient China, origin and