During the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties, with the high development of agriculture and animal husbandry, the products provided by planting and breeding had become the main source of food. The food of the Shang Dynasty included grains such as corn, millet, wheat and rice. Meat food includes two categories, one is livestock, cattle, sheep, boars, dogs, horses, chickens and so on. The other category is wild animals and fish. The royal family of the Zhou Dynasty had more abundant ingredients, including five grains, five vegetables, five fruits, six fowls, six animals and so on.

Seasonings were also very rich in this period. Natural seasonings included salt, plums, honey and ginger, and artificial seasonings included vinegar, wine, sauce and minced meat. Many dishes with added seasonings appeared in the feasts of the Zhou people, such as squash impregnated with vinegar, finely chopped meat made from cow's peper and large clams, and preserved deer, dolphin preserved meat, venison paste, crab paste, and pickled fish.

The status of animal food is becoming increasingly important, Yin and Shang period, the breeding of horses, cattle, dogs, etc. Classification is very fine, there is a distinction between service, sacrifice and food. At this time, the pond fish and fishing industry has also had a great development, according to records, merchants often eat fish mullet, carp for mackerel, grass carp, red-eye trout and so on. With the popularity of meat food, people began to eat animal fat.

Cooking process pattern

Summer and Shang Dynasty cooking methods are very little, to the Zhou Dynasty, cooking methods have been very diverse, mainly boiling, steaming, baking, moxibustion, deep-fried, fried and so on. At that time for cooking food cooking utensils are mainly kettles, tripods, and so on. Food varieties continue to increase, a variety of cooking utensils invented one after another, cooking methods and more advanced cooking methods of the emergence of the logical, such as frying, deep frying, stewing, simmering, braising, simmering, as well as wax, minced meat, minced meat and other pickled dishes of the method, have laid the foundation for the development of the Chinese culinary arts.

In the selection of materials. On, the Zhou Dynasty has paid attention to the seasonal and hygienic requirements for the selection of raw materials. The Analects of Confucius. Xiangtang" recorded that Confucius once said: "Fish discouragement and meat failure, do not eat. If the color is evil, do not eat it. If the color is bad, don't eat it. If the smell is bad, don't eat it. If the food is not cooked, don't eat it. If it is not in time, don't eat it. If it is not cut correctly, don't eat it. Do not eat if you do not have the right sauce. Though meat is plentiful, one should not eat it in excess. If the wine is not in quantity, it is not as good as chaos. If you do not sell wine and preserved meat, you will not eat. If you don't remove the ginger, don't eat more." It is said that the food and drink after a long time and corruption, or food discoloration and stink, or not in the morning, the middle of the day, the evening three times, do not eat, as well as meals should not be greedy to eat more meat, and do not drink too much alcohol. These eating habits are scientific and reasonable.

In the cut and match, the knife work is increasingly exquisite, pay attention to the grades of materials and cut on demand. Such as the Zhou Dynasty, according to the requirements of etiquette, the animal raw materials for the "seven body" (spine, two shoulders, two beat, two thighs), "nine body" of the division, the implementation of the graded material, and then cut into blocks, slices, silk, ding and so on.

The food market is beginning to take shape

Documentation shows that the Shang Dynasty capital market has begun to have food and drink stores to sell wine, meat and rice, with specialized food and beverage operators, professional chefs, professional waiters. Yi Yin, the famous prime minister of the Shang Dynasty, was one of the ten most famous chefs in China, and was honored as the "God of Kitchen" and the "Sage of Cooking" by the people, and it is said that he once worked as a bartender. According to Qiao Zhou's "Ancient History", Jiang Shang "slaughtered cows in Chaoge and sold drinks in Mengjin". Zhou Dynasty, the rapid development of commerce, in order to meet the dietary needs of merchants, food market has developed greatly, and even in the capital area for people to eat and stay in the inn, some of which is sponsored by the government, known as the "Lords and Lords Pavilion," or called "Chuan She".