The word moon cake was first seen in Wu Zimu's Dream of Liang Lu in the Southern Song Dynasty. At that time, the moon cake was rhombic, coexisting with chrysanthemum cake, plum cake and five-kernel cake, and it was "available at all times, so you can call it whenever you want, and don't miss your customers". It can be seen that the moon cakes at this time are not only eaten in the Mid-Autumn Festival. As for the origin of the term moon cake, there is no way to verify it. However, Su Dongpo, a famous scholar in the Northern Song Dynasty, left a poem that "a small cake is like chewing the moon, with crispness and satiety in it", which may be the origin of the name of moon cake and the basis of its practice. Extended information

Mooncakes are one of the traditional Chinese cakes with a long reputation, and they are eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Moon cakes are round and round, and they are shared by the whole family, symbolizing reunion and harmony. Ancient moon cakes were eaten as sacrifices in the Mid-Autumn Festival.

It is said that the custom of eating moon cakes in Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Tang Dynasty. It was popular in the court in the Northern Song Dynasty and later spread to the people. At that time, it was commonly known as "small cake" and "moon group". In the Ming Dynasty, it became a common dietary custom of the whole people. Mooncakes are integrated with local food customs, and they are developed into Cantonese, Beijing, Suzhou, Chaozhou and Yunnan mooncakes, which are loved by people all over China.

Resources: Baidu Encyclopedia-Baidu.