When mentioning lotus root? What do you think of? Is it the light and delicious lotus root and pork ribs soup, or a bowl of lotus root noodles by the West Lake. As Chinese people who have always paid attention to food and color, lotus root has become an indispensable delicacy in the food circle. Not only that, after thousands of years of development of Chinese civilization, lotus root is no longer a purely practical natural object, but has become a unique cultural image in Chinese culture.

West Lake Lotus Root Noodles

Since the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, records about lotus roots have appeared in historical documents; the "Qigen lotus root" in "Erya" is the earliest lotus root. Relevant written records. These data are enough to show that China has a long history of cultivating lotus root.

While cultivating this book vegetable for a long time, people began to collect lotus roots, chant lotus roots, and paint lotus roots. Lotus roots became more meaningful than food, and literati gave lotus roots a noble and flawless character. sentiment. If you want to interpret the cultural phenomena and humanistic sentiments related to lotus root, you need to understand the connotation of lotus root in ancient Chinese traditional culture.

Lotus root decorative painting

First of all, the interpretation is the lotus root culture at the social level. Lotus root is a vegetable that grows in water. This vegetable has a wide planting area and a higher yield than other aquatic vegetables. Not only that, compared with other aquatic vegetables, lotus root has a high sugar content and also contains starch and protein. It was an indispensable relief crop during ancient times of famine.

For example, "Compendium of Materia Medica" records that lotus root can be used as a substitute for food in bad years; "Boxing County Chronicle" also says that lotus root can be used to replace food to provide food and clothing for poor and famine-stricken people. . During the Wuxu period of Emperor Qianlong's reign, there was a severe drought. Some poor farmers living by the lotus ponds and streams ate lotus roots to provide food and clothing and resist famine. Everyone knows how valuable food is, but they don’t know that during famine years, lotus roots, used to relieve victims and maintain social stability, have made great social contributions.

Lotus Root and Bird Picture

Secondly, the important role of lotus root culture can still be seen at the economic level. As a vegetable, lotus root is naturally sold in the market. According to local chronicles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, records of the cultivation of lotus root as a vegetable were recorded in East China, North China, Northeast China, Southwest China and other regions in ancient times.

For example, the "Changshu County Chronicle" recorded during the Jiajing period: Lotus root, Binhu people are engaged in planting, and the best ones regard it as produced in Hengtang. ?Two conclusions can be drawn from the above paragraph. The economic value of lotus root as a vegetable has been affirmed, and at the same time, there have been differences in the quality of lotus root.

Lotus root

In addition to being sold as a vegetable, lotus root also has certain medicinal value, which is also commendable in lotus root culture. Traditional Chinese medicine has a history of thousands of years in ancient my country, and herbal medicines were the main treatments for ancient diseases. Lotus root is also one of the herbal medicines. It is sweet and flat in nature and has the effect of dissipating heat and removing blood stasis. Whether it is eaten raw or cooked, it has good medicinal effects.

In books such as "Qi Min Yao Shu" and "Qian Jin Prescription", the properties and efficacy of lotus root are recorded, as well as the methods of eating lotus root raw and cooked. From these documentary records, we can get a glimpse of the important position of lotus root in ancient Chinese medicine.

Lotus root in traditional Chinese medicine

In addition to the above, lotus root also plays an important role in diet. This is also the most noteworthy aspect of the culture related to lotus root. Chinese people have always been very particular about what they eat, and edible vegetables like lotus root have also been made into many special delicacies.

For example, Fujian cuisine includes jujube paste and glutinous rice with lotus root. In the south, fish and shrimp are often cooked with lotus root, or ground into lotus root powder for drinking. Ancient food books such as "Dietary Instructions" of the Yuan Dynasty, "Suiyuan Food List" and "Vegetarian Guide" of the Qing Dynasty record in detail the preparation methods of ancient lotus root delicacies. Regular consumption of food made from lotus root has the effect of treating yin deficiency, liver hyperactivity, and various types of blood loss.

Lotus root with jujube paste and glutinous rice

Finally, let’s talk about the spiritual significance given to lotus root by literati. Those who love Tang poetry and Song lyrics will definitely find that poems related to lotus roots can often be seen in ancient poetry. When Sima Xiangru wrote "Zixu Fu", he wrote: "When the humidity is low, lotus roots will grow." Li He's poem "A Trip to the Pond" vividly expresses it with the sentence "The lotus flowers are wet with cold dew, and the flowers lack the lotus roots and are astringent." It eliminates the bitterness of eating lotus root.

Why can lotus root appear in the works of many literary masters? This is determined by the noble quality represented by the lotus root. In order to express their high moral integrity and unwillingness to join the world, literati praised the pure and exquisite qualities of the lotus root to convey their affection. Therefore, the lotus root became It became the object for literati to express their ambitions.

Lotus root ink painting

Not only that, the spiritual culture of lotus root is also reflected in folk customs. On a scorching summer day, when people enjoy the cool air and play in the lotus pond, they can also see lotus roots. In the ancient calendar, the sixth month of the month is called the Lotus Moon. Summer begins when the little lotuses show their sharp corners, and flourishes when the lotus leaves are connected to the sky with endless green leaves.

When the lotus flowers are in full bloom, it is the time when the lotus roots are born. The lotus roots bloom along with the lotus flowers in the lotus pond, inadvertently occupying the entire summer of the people.

During the Slight Heat every year, there is still a traditional folk custom of "eating lotus roots to dispel the heat"; on July 7th of the lunar calendar every year, girls will also show their ingenuity by "threading needles through lotus roots" at the Qiqiao Festival.

Lotus Root Lamp

In addition to the above customs, the folk customs related to "Lotus Root" also vary from place to place. For example, Gantang Village in Guangzhou still retains the custom of making and hanging lotus root lanterns. The production of the entire lotus root lamp is also very particular. Four connected lotus roots must be used to form the lamp. There must be lotus leaves on both sides of the lotus root. In order to enhance the beauty of the lotus root, a white lotus is placed above the lotus root lamp.

Because there is a fixed time period for hanging lotus root lanterns, during this time period, the lotus root lanterns start to light up and cannot be extinguished until the day they are completed. Once the lotus root lanterns are extinguished, it means something bad will happen. Omen. Therefore, lotus root lanterns have always carried people’s good wishes for life.

Farmer White Lotus Root

In daily life, it is generally difficult for people to understand that edible lotus root has so many cultural connotations. In recent years, in order to promote the "lotus root culture", "lotus root cultural festivals" have begun to emerge in various places, allowing people to pick and eat lotus roots, and at the same time, the lotus root culture has been given new connotations by the times.