The original name of dumplings is "Jiao Er", which is said to have been first invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a medical sage in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

According to legend, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the "Medical Sage" Zhang Zhongjing served as the prefect of Changsha, but later resigned and returned to his hometown. Just in time for the winter solstice, he saw the people in Nanyang were suffering from hunger and cold, and their ears were frostbitten. Typhoid fever was prevalent at that time, and many people died of the disease. Zhang Zhongjing summarized more than 300 years of clinical practice in the Han Dynasty, then built a medical shed there, set up a large pot, cooked mutton, chili peppers and medicinal materials to dispel cold and improve heat, wrap them in the shape of ears with dough, and cook them with soup. Food is given to the poor. The common people ate it from the winter solstice to New Year's Eve, resisting typhoid fever and curing their frozen ears.

From then on, the people in the village and later generations imitated the production and called it "dumpling ears".

Extended information:

How to cook delicious dumplings:

Step one: Take a medium-sized pot, put an appropriate amount of water in it, and add a little more salt and bring to a boil over high heat.

Step 2: Wait for the water to boil before placing the dumplings. Hold the plate with the dumplings in one hand, pick up the dumplings with the other hand and put them into the pot. Be careful not to let the water splash out and burn your hands. Don't put too many dumplings in the pot at one time, just enough for one plate.

Step 3: After all the dumplings are put into the pot, use a wooden spatula to dig deep into the bottom of the pot and stir gently a few times to prevent some dumplings from sticking to the bottom of the pot. Then cover the pot and cook for about 20 seconds, or until the water boils again.

Step 4: Open the lid of the pot at this time. You can see that the dumplings are floating slightly. Use a wooden spatula to dig into the bottom of the pot again and stir gently to make the dumplings float and not stick to the bottom of the pot. At this time, you can add a little cold water, cover the pot, and continue to boil until the water boils.

Reference material: The origin of dumplings: How did the custom of eating dumplings during the Spring Festival come about? --People's Daily Online