Yi Yin, Yi Ya and Peng Zu are all ancient kitchen gods, and they all made great contributions to ancient cooking.

1. Peng Zu

According to legend, during the period of Yao Emperor among the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, the Central Plains was flooded. As the leader of the tribe at that time, Emperor Yao directed the water conservancy. Because of his long-term concern for the safety of the tribe and all the people, Emperor Yao became ill from overwork and was ill in bed. Life is dying without water for days.

At this critical juncture, Peng Zu immediately cooked a wild chicken soup according to his own regimen. Before the soup arrived, Emperor Yao smelled the fragrance from a distance, and even turned over and jumped, his forefinger moved greatly, and then he drank it off, and the next day he was radiant. Since then, Emperor Yao must eat this chicken soup every day. Although he is busy every day, he is not sick. For a while, it was a beautiful talk and passed down.

Later, Yao sealed Peng Cheng to him, so later generations called him Peng Zu. Peng Zu's "the way of pheasant soup" has gradually developed into "the way of cooking", and pheasant soup is the earliest recorded name in Chinese classics and is known as "the best soup in the world".

China cooking history 9 says that Peng Zu is "the first famous professional chef in China" and "the longest-lived chef", and has been honored as the ancestor of the kitchen industry.

2. Yi Yin

There are not many records about Yi Yin's cooking practice, except that he cooked a mandarin duck soup (swan soup) when he went to see Shang Tang, which was very popular. However, judging from what Yi Yin said about soup and even taste in Lu Chunqiu Benwei, his cooking theory level is absolutely first-class.

Yi Yin is unique in cooking technology and its cooking theory. Cooking is just one of Yi Yin's many skills. Yi Yin is the holy place of cooking in China. Nowadays, colleagues who cook in China in China, Hongkong, China, Taiwan Province and Singapore all regard Yi Yin as China's "kitchen saint" and "cooking saint".

3. Yi Ya

Yi Ya was the first chef who used harmony to cook. He was good at seasoning and cooking. Because he was a chef, his cooking skills were high, and he was the first person to open a private restaurant, so he was called the founder by the chefs.

Duke Huan once said to Yi Ya, "It's a pity that I have tasted delicious food all over the world, but I didn't eat human flesh." Huan Gong's remark was an unintentional joke, but Yi Ya kept it in mind, intent on showing off his skills to win Huan Gong's favor. How noble the monarch is, he must never eat the meat of death row prisoners and civilians. Later, when he saw his 4-year-old son, he chose to use his son's meat.

at a lunch, Huan Gong drank a small golden tripod of fresh and tender broth that he had never tasted before, and asked Yi Ya, "What kind of meat is this?" Yi Ya cried and said that it was his son's meat. In order to pray for the monarch's health, he killed his son to offer his master. When Huan Gong learned that it was Yi Ya's son's meat, his heart was very uncomfortable, but he was moved by Yi Ya's behavior of killing his son for his own food. He thought that Yi Ya loved him more than his own flesh and blood, and from then on Huan Gong prized Yi Ya.

Extended information

In addition to these three people, there are two people who are honored as kitchen gods. One is Emperor Xuandi of Han Dynasty, who is called "the god of bakers", and the pastry industry must respect him. Liu Xun, Emperor Xuandi of the Han Dynasty, reigned in 74-49 BC, and was the great-grandson of Liu Che, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. During the "Witchcraft Rebellion", Liu Xun fled incognito among the people.

The History of Emperor Xuandi in Han Dynasty records that the emperor suffered from witchcraft when he was young. "When he is old, he likes to wander around Guanzhong." At that time, Liu Xun didn't know how to make cakes. He just liked to eat cakes when he was in trouble. He often went to the cake shop to buy cakes. The business of this cake shop was particularly prosperous, and even he was surprised. When Emperor Zhao died, he was established by General Huo Guang. When he became emperor, the kitchen industry in Guanzhong actually regarded him as the founder. After the "Painting Tactics", the founder of Shenma was famous, and the cake shop used his Shenma.

Song Cai Tae's Talks on Tiewei Mountain, Volume 6: "The Emperor Xuandi of Han Dynasty was humble, and there was a difference in selling cakes, which can be found in Han Shu Xuandi Ji. Up to now, everyone is thousands of years old, and the Guanzhong baker, every picture of Xuan Di is like a boss, and now it is almost common. "

the other one is the legendary Zhan Wang, who is said to be the royal chef of Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty. Once, Emperor Wendi of Sui asked Zhan Wang what was the best, and he replied that it was salt. Emperor Wendi of Sui killed him for playing the king. After that, the chefs were too scared to put salt in their cooking. Emperor Wendi of Sui had no taste in eating food, and then he woke up, so he named Chef Zhan King.

from this, the kitchen industry regards Zhan Wang as the founder and is honored as "Zhan Wang the Great". Another said that this Zhan Wang is a tramp named Zhan Mouse, not a chef at all. Emperor Wendi killed many chefs because the food was not delicious, so no one dared to cook, so he had to post a list of talents, and Zhan Mouse was called into the palace by mistake.

Emperor Wendi of Sui asked him, "What's the best?" He said, "Hungry" is the best. Later, he led Emperor Wendi out of the city to look for "hunger". When Emperor Wendi was really hungry, he took out chopped green onion cakes for Emperor Wendi to eat. Emperor Wendi realized that only when he was hungry was food delicious, so he named Zhan Mouse King. Later, there was a custom of offering sacrifices to King Zhan. Guo Rongzhou's "Allusions to Cuisine" says: Sichuan chefs worship the "Chef Bodhisattva"-Zhan Wang, and there is Zhan Wang Temple Fair on August 17th of the lunar calendar.

according to the record of collecting wind, the annual "Zhan Wang Hui" is held on August 13th of the lunar calendar, which lasts for 48 days. During this period, food is sold, and it is also a day for chefs to accept apprentices and start to thank their teachers.

different times and different regions have different ancestors in the kitchen industry. And Leizu the Great, Guan Gong, Zhuge Liang and Mei Weng were all the founders of the kitchen industry.

References: Baidu Encyclopedia-Peng Zu

Baidu Encyclopedia-Yi Yin

Baidu Encyclopedia-Yi Ya.