According to legend, in 2283 BC, when Emperor Yao appointed Dayu to control floods, an official named Ba Jie was responsible for water control in the Yangcheng Lake area. He followed Dayu's advice, dredged the rivers, dug canals for drainage, and relied on The people worked hard for more than ten years and led the flood into the Eastern Sea. As a result, large areas of cultivated land were exposed, and farmers planted crops.

As the waters shrink and the land expands, a large number of "eight-legged insects" that originally lived in the water have climbed onto the land to hunt. Especially in September and October when the crops mature, these "big insects" Like locusts, they run rampant in farmland, destroying crops and causing harm to the fields.

Farmers tried to catch them or drive them away, but were injured by these strong insects instead. Their toes pierced people's skin, and their two large claws bit them tightly and refused to let go. People are afraid of these unscrupulous guys, but there is nothing they can do.

At this time, Ba Jie was worried when he saw that people had just experienced floods and were attacked by insects. In order to save the people who were in dire straits, he thought day and night, and finally came up with a way to "prey big insects to help the victims". He dared to be the first in the world to catch and taste the insect with his own hands, and unexpectedly discovered that the insect was "not only rich in meat, but also delicious in taste."

The local people saw that the official's first prey was delicious, so they followed suit. Sure enough, the big bug is not only delicious, but also satisfies hunger. Within a few years, those "eight-legged" pests have all become "eight-legged" delicacies.

In 2261 BC, Dayu visited the twelve states and came to the Yangcheng Lake area in the south of the Yangtze River. He saw that Ba Jie had transformed the vast white lakes and water towns into oases, and turned "eight-legged insects" into Turn harm into treasure and make it a delicacy that everyone loves and appreciates greatly. Therefore, Dayu made Bajie king, settled here, and continued to govern the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River.

In order to commemorate this hero who had great achievements in flood control and dared to eat big insects, later generations built a city in the northeast corner of Yangcheng Lake where Ba Jie first ate crabs and named it Bacheng, also using his name "Jie". The word "worm" of the original nameless "eight-legged insect" was suppressed below, and it was named crab.

Extended information

Yangcheng Lake hairy crab, also known as golden claw crab, is produced in Yangcheng Lake, Suzhou. The body of the crab does not stick to mud, and is commonly known as clear water hairy crab. It has a large and fat body, a green shell and a white belly, golden claws and yellow hair, and greasy meat. Female crabs in September of the lunar calendar and male crabs in October have the best gonad development. When cooked and condensed, the female ones become golden yellow and the male ones are like white jade, and taste delicious.

The Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs have four unique characteristics: first, the green back, the shell of the Yangcheng Lake crab is blue-gray, smooth and shiny; second, the white belly, the umbilicus is covered with mud, crystal white; The third is yellow hair, the hair on the feet is long and straight; the fourth is golden claws, the claws of Yangcheng Lake crab are golden, strong and powerful. When placed on the glass, they can stand upright with eight legs and two pincers soaring in the air.

Origin of the name

Bao Xiaotian once wrote an article "History of Hairy Crab" about this name, saying that the word "hairy crab" came from the mouth of a crab seller in Suzhou. People always like to eat crab before dinner, or as an impromptu initiative. So these crab sellers always pick up their burdens in the afternoon and shout along the street: "Come hairy crabs, come hairy crabs." "The word "Zha" sounds the same as "fried". Crabs are boiled in water and eaten, which is called "fried crabs". This explanation is not satisfactory.

One day, he was in Wu Nashi There was a crab feast at home (Wu Na Shi Nai Hu Fan's Wen), and Mr. Zhang Weiyi was sitting there. His home was near Yangcheng Lake. Only then did he learn about the whole story. Zhang Weiyi was Fang Huan. He and Wang Songwen were both friends of Wu Na Shi and a member of the Wu family. Frequent visitor. Gu Yanwu's manuscript of "The Prefectures and Countries of the World benefit from disease" was lost for more than 200 years. It was purchased by Wu Shina, and was discovered by Fang Huan and Wang Songwen at Wu's house. They graciously accepted the gift and returned to Kunshan, becoming a scholar.

It happened that the Wu family held a crab banquet, and Fang was also present. Bao Xiaotian explained the name of "hairy crabs": "The word "gate" is good. All crab fishermen, they are in the harbor. There must be a gate made of bamboo. At night, set up a light across the gate. When the crabs see the light, they will climb up the bamboo gate and catch them one by one on the gate. It is very convenient. This is where the name hairy crab comes from.

”

Bamboo gate is a bamboo bamboo fence. The crabs caught on the bamboo fence are called hairy crabs, and the big ones are called hairy crabs. Because they are produced in Yangcheng Lake, they are named Yangcheng Lake hairy crabs.

Baidu Encyclopedia--Yangcheng Lake Hairy Crabs