The auspicious history of Chinese food culture

Chinese food culture is dazzling and has a long history. It has given birth to countless popular allusions and has become a shining pearl in the treasure house of Chinese food.

Peaches are full and plums are fat

According to legend, Dong Zhongshu, a native of Linyi (now Linyi County, Shandong) during the Eastern Han Dynasty, was frugal by nature, and his food, clothing, housing and transportation were all simple. Once when he went to Beijing, his friends held a banquet for him. The table was full of delicious food, but Dong Zhongshu only took a peach and a plum and said nothing. A friend asked in confusion, and Dong Zhongshu replied: "I have heard that peaches are full of plums and plums are fat, and flat peaches extend life. They are just auspicious." Since then, "peaches are full and plums are fat" has become synonymous with auspiciousness, implying wealth and longevity.

Fish Leaping over Dragon Gate

The story of "Fish Leaping over Dragon Gate" comes from Zhang Hua's "Natural History" of the Jin Dynasty. Legend has it that carps in the Yellow River swim upstream and turn into dragons when they reach Longmen. The carp leaping over the dragon gate symbolizes counterattack and promotion, and expresses people's expectations for a better future.

Mid-Autumn Festival in August and 15th month

Appreciating the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. "Book of Rites" records: "On the fifteenth night after the autumnal equinox, it is called Wang." At this time, the moon is the roundest and brightest, so it is called "Wang Yue". Later generations gradually formed the custom of admiring the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, expressing their longing for their hometown and their desire for reunion.

Mandarin fish fertilizer with peach blossoms and flowing water

"Mandarin fish fertilizer with peach blossoms and flowing water" comes from Zhang Lei's poem "Han Ju" in the Northern Song Dynasty. When the peach blossoms are in full bloom, the mandarin fish is at its most plump. This phrase not only describes the natural landscape, but also expresses admiration for spring food.

When drinking with a close friend, a thousand glasses of wine are too few.

"When drinking with a close friend, a thousand glasses of wine are too few, and if you don't talk about speculation, half a sentence is too much" comes from "A Gift to Wang Lun" by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty. The poem is meant to emphasize that time flies when you get together with close friends, drinking and talking. It is also used to lament the fate and friendship between people.

Red beans give birth to the southern country

"Red beans give birth to the southern country" is a folk song from the Southern and Northern Dynasties. The poem describes the man's deep love for the woman. It is said that when Sima Xiangru, a famous official in the Han Dynasty, was away serving as an official, he missed his wife Wang Zhaojun very much and wrote: "We are of the same mind when we tie our hair." Because "tie hair" is a homophony of "red bean", later generations often call it "red bean". "A metaphor for lovesickness.

Peony Blossoms

Xue Daoheng of the Sui Dynasty wrote in "Xi Xi Salt": "Only when a daughter from Luoyang lives across the street can she have a face that is unparalleled in the world. A pair of red cheeks and peach blossom face, thousands of miles away. "Juanjuan flowing water train." The poem describes the beauty of Luoyang women, as moving as the blooming peonies. Since then, "peony blossoms" have become synonymous with peerless beauty.

Childhood Sweethearts

"Childhood Sweethearts" comes from "Miscellaneous Notes of Xijing". When Mei Cheng was young in the Han Dynasty, he played with the girl next door, Qingmei and Zhuma. Qingmei gave Meicheng Qingmei, and the bamboo horse gave Meicheng a bamboo horse to express his love. Later generations used the term "childhood sweetheart" to describe a man and woman who have been together since childhood and have feelings for each other.

The title on the gold list

The "title on the gold list" comes from Zhang Shuo's "Send to Guo Sheren" in the Tang Dynasty. There is a sentence in the poem: "On the day when I get the title on the gold list, I will arrange a banquet and pay homage to you." The gold list refers to the list of the imperial examination; the title refers to writing the name on the list. Later generations used the "Golden List Title" to wish students success in exams and success.

Nine twists and turns in the intestines

In "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", when Jiang Wei described the difficult road to Shu to Zhuge Liang, he once said: "The mountain road here is rugged and the intestines have nine twists and turns." This expression describes the winding and steep road.