Food culture in the Three Kingdoms period

"The Three Kingdoms" is a historical stage with a connecting link. Because it was the Eastern Han Dynasty before the Three Kingdoms, and it was replaced by the Jin Dynasty after its demise. Many historians like to combine the "Three Kingdoms" with the Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. This is mainly because the "Three Kingdoms" did not form a system, but only three relatively independent small imperial courts.

The dietary customs or characteristics in the Three Kingdoms period were mainly the continuation and perfection of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Because the Three Kingdoms were three regimes split from the Eastern Han Dynasty, and they all belonged to authentic Han people before the split. Therefore, no matter the eating style, habits or food types, there has not been much change.

Perhaps in the impression of many people, everyone who lived in the Three Kingdoms period lived an impassioned life. "Du Kang is the only one who can solve their worries" is the true portrayal of their lives. However, the author thinks that even Cao Cao, who is "generous and generous", can't help but return to reality when he is passionate, because life is the main theme of life.

characteristics of food culture in the three kingdoms period

during the three kingdoms period, people could have more abundant food in their daily life because of the development of productive forces. In addition to rice noodles, grain, oil, meat, eggs and fish, you can occasionally eat some delicacies. The author thinks that from this perspective, the core idea of food culture at that time should be "not tired of eating fine, not tired of eating fine."

Especially some aristocrats who lived in the upper class of society were advocates of food culture in the Three Kingdoms period. In addition to the well-known big fish and big meat, they will also eat some delicious special dishes when eating. "Cooked food" has become a well-known food at that time, but ordinary people can only eat it occasionally.

If we want to explore the characteristics of food culture in the Three Kingdoms period, we can actually sum it up with several key words: raw and cooked, luxury and simplicity, fine ingredients and proper cooking. This is mainly because there was a chef who was famous for making exquisite food. Although social wars were frequent at that time, ordinary people also had moments of leisure.

Second, the dining system of the people in the Three Kingdoms period

As we all know, due to the ancient society, the productivity was relatively low for a long time. Therefore, since the pre-Qin period, the system of two meals a day has been implemented. In short, it is only breakfast and lunch. In most cases, many ordinary people choose not to eat because they don't have much surplus grain, and over time, they have formed a dining custom.

this system remained until the end of the eastern Han dynasty. during the three kingdoms period, agricultural production reached a new climax because of the substantial increase in productivity. Both the country and the people have more food than the previous dynasties. Therefore, at this stage, except for a small number of people who are still insisting on the system of two meals a day, many people have entered the ranks of three meals a day.

People living in the Three Kingdoms period have made great changes in their food culture, although they have strictly abided by the old adage "Work at sunrise and rest at sunset". Breakfast usually begins when the sun rises, and "daytime eating" is also lunch, when the morning and afternoon alternate; Dinner is called "eating" after about three o'clock in the afternoon.

The system of "three meals a day" is not only a prominent manifestation of social progress, but also a major feature in the change of food culture. It is no exaggeration to say that from "two meals a day" to "three meals a day" is not only a leap in time, but also a leap in the food culture of ancient society.

"Separate meals" is also a major feature of the food culture in the Three Kingdoms period. Simply put, even if a family sits together to eat, everyone will use a plate, and rice, vegetables, soup and so on are all available. This dining system is actually a great progress of catering culture, but it has long been submerged in the historical torrent with the changes of the times.

The food on the table of ordinary people

Although the Three Kingdoms period was in an era of great social turmoil, both the North and the South paid special attention to agricultural development, so it effectively suppressed the rapid economic recession to some extent. Under the influence of this premise, many people with relatively stable lives can not only eat and wear warm clothes in their daily lives, but also make some contributions to the development of food culture.

1. Rich and colorful staple foods

Due to the improvement of social productivity at that time, the staple foods on the table of ordinary people included buckwheat and highland barley in addition to "five grains". Moreover, legumes are also popular at this time. Various types of legumes, such as adzuki beans, black beans, mung beans, green beans, peas and lentils, have been made into various delicacies.

cooking, steamed rice, dry rice, soup, porridge, thin soup, etc. were all staple foods for the people in the Three Kingdoms period. Except beans, all the "five grains" can be cooked into dry rice to eat. Corn rice and wheat rice were very common in the society at that time, and porridge or thin soup became the main breakfast in the society at that time.

Especially porridge or porridge boiled with millet and millet was very popular in northern China at that time. Meat soup and vegetable soup are common foods on the table of wealthy families. Pork and various vegetables are chopped and then boiled in a pot to make meat soup or vegetable soup. Not only is it particularly delicious, but it is also very nutritious.

2. Various kinds of "cakes"

In fact, there was a staple food "cake" that was often eaten in modern society at that time. However, the "cake" in the Three Kingdoms period is different from the present "cake" in terms of shape, taste and materials. Pasta, cakes, cakes, etc. can all be called "cakes", but the production method and taste are different.

cakes cooked with boiled water can be called "soup cakes", such as noodles, dough pieces or pimples, and dolphin skin cakes, thin ring cakes, cut cakes and boiled cakes can also be called "soup cakes"; The cakes steamed in a steamer are "steamed cakes", and white cakes and scorpion cakes are all special foods in steamed cakes; The cakes directly baked in the oven are called "luobing", including sesame cakes, Hu cakes and pulp cakes.

3. Feeding "Six Livestock" is rich in meat

Since the pre-Qin period, "Six Livestock" has entered people's daily life and been served on the table. During the Three Kingdoms period, "Six Livestock" has become very common, and pigs, cows, sheep, horses, chickens and dogs have become essential things in the families of ordinary people in the north. The author thinks that from this point of view, people in the Three Kingdoms period can also eat meat.

Besides, people living in southern China can salvage a lot of seafood, such as fish, crab, turtle and shrimp, because they are close to the sea. However, we should also understand the phenomenon that it is very common for ordinary people to eat pork, or chicken, duck, fish and dog meat, but it is almost more difficult than going to heaven to eat sheep, horses and cattle.

This is mainly because sheep, horses and cows are big livestock, which are generally used for milk production or as labor, so few people will kill these three kinds of livestock easily. Moreover, according to the laws in ancient society, horses and cattle did not allow ordinary people to kill and eat meat, otherwise they would be easily punished by law.

4. Table drinks "wine"

"Warm wine to kill Hua Xiong" and "Boiling wine to talk about heroes" are all classic bridges in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the Three Kingdoms period, however, every hero was inextricably linked with wine. Cao Cao wrote in "Short Songs": "Be a song to wine, life is geometric! Morning dew, for example, is much harder to go to Japan. Be generous, and worry is unforgettable. How to solve your worries? Only Du Kang ".

"wine" is a kind of liquid fermented from grain, and many people call it "grain essence". Small drinking can make people happy, but heavy drinking is easy to hurt their health. The wine culture in the Three Kingdoms period can be said to be full of charm, and both military commanders and literati are addicted to alcohol. It is no exaggeration to say that the drinking style in the society at that time was absolutely no less than that of any dynasty.

from princes to ordinary people, almost no one can resist the charm of wine. However, because the brewing technology of the society at that time was not high, the technology of brewing liquor had not been invented yet. The wine that people drink in daily life is the common rice wine in modern society. Although the degree is not high, it is very sweet after drinking.