What dishes are included in Qu Yuan’s "The Lucky Chain of Soul-Calling Things"?

Dishes in "The Soul Calling" from the Songs of Chu

Our country's food culture has a long history, and the diet of the emperors and nobles was carefully selected and very particular. According to "Zhou Li·Tianguan Zhongzai", as early as in the court of Emperor Zhou, there were more than 20 types of food-related institutions serving the royal family, with a total of more than 2,000 people. In the ancient aristocratic class, the officials and officials were also "eating with bells and cauldrons", and their diet was no less rich than that of princes. In his article "Calling Souls", Qu Yuan listed many delicacies in order to call the distant souls to return as soon as possible.

"The Suizong of the family gave more tangerine food in the banquet. Rice, rice, millet and wheat were more prepared from Huangliang. Big bitter alkaline acid was more pungent and sweet. The tendon of fat cattle was more fragrant. And It's sour and bitter, and the fried turtle and lamb are a little bit more. Use a spoonful of honey to make a cup of it. Mix it up with a cold drink, and drink it cool. If you have some wine, it’s okay to return to your home.”

The general idea is:

Everyone was present at the family gathering, and the food was rich and varied. There is rice, millet and new wheat, mixed with fragrant yellow rice. Both bitter and salty, sour and spicy, and sweet are used. Fatty beef tendons are a delicacy, stewed until crispy and fragrant. The sourness and bitterness are blended well, and the famous Wu Guo soup is served. Braised soft-shell turtle and fire-roasted lamb, dipped in fresh sugar cane syrup. Wild duck cubes are cooked in vinegar-coated swan meat, and wild geese and pigeons are fried in boiling oil.

The braised chicken is paired with the meat soup made from big tortoise, which is rich in flavor but not harmful to the spleen and stomach. Sweet flour cakes and honey rice cakes are used as snacks, and a lot of maltose is also added. The crystal-clear jade wine is mixed with honey, and the wine glasses are filled for people to taste. Sake is squeezed from the lees and then frozen. Drinking it is mellow, delicious and refreshing. A luxurious banquet has been arranged, and the wine is all jade liquid and fine wine. Come back, come back to your former home, it doesn't hurt to pay homage and make sure.

A variety of grains, staple foods, meats, and drinks are mentioned here, and the dishes are very exquisite and rich. It can be seen from this menu that the meals of the nobles in the Pre-Qin Dynasty were already very luxurious, and the cooking methods were also very diversified.

About Chu Ci's "Calling Souls"

Author Controversy

There are different opinions in history about the author of "Calling Souls". Sima Qian believed that it was the work of Qu Yuan. He said in "Historical Records: Biography of Qu Yuan and Jia Sheng": "I read "Li Sao", "Heavenly Questions", "Calling the Soul", and "Ai Ying", and felt sad for his ambition." Wang Yi said in "Chu" "Ci Zhang Ju" is considered to be the work of Song Yu. Based on the customs and habits of the Chu State and the content described in the Ci, most scholars of Chu Ci in the past believed that this piece was written by Qu Yuan.

The custom of summoning spirits

During the Warring States Period, people in the Chu State believed in ghosts and gods and worshiped witchcraft. The practice of worship was prevalent both in the court and among the people. King Ling of Chu once visited the Kingdom of Wu During the attack, King Chu Huai even held a grand sacrificial ceremony to worship the ghosts and gods when the situation was critical, and pinned his hopes on the ghosts and gods, but was eventually defeated by Qin. Witchcraft culture has also influenced the aesthetics of the Chu people. Literature and art are mostly related to worshiping gods, and are full of romantic and strange colors. This "Calling the Soul" reflects the Chu people's sincere call for the souls of their old friends, and the luxurious and magnificent words are described. Houses, gorgeous costumes, beautiful concubines, rich and exquisite food, and grand dances and music can also reflect the life style of the kings and nobles of Chu.

Whose soul can I attract?

There are many different views on this issue in ancient and modern times:

1. Qu Yuan summoned his own soul

2. Summoned the living soul of King Huai of Chu

3. Recruiting the soul of King Huai of Chu

4. Recruiting the souls of soldiers

Some people think that it was done by Song Yu to summon the soul of the deceased King Qingxiang of Chu, or that it was Song Yu summoned the soul of King Qingxiang of Chu who was seriously ill.