In fact, in ancient times without mechanical automation, especially in China, which has been an agricultural country since ancient times, cattle were an indispensable factor of production. In ancient times, official website clearly stipulated that cattle could not be slaughtered without authorization, because killing a cow was equivalent to reducing labor force 10.
As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was recorded in the Book of Rites that it was not allowed to slaughter cattle in the vassal States at that time, let alone ordinary people, because there was basically no beef and mutton in the food at that time. Although the "six animals" are horses, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs and pigs, only chickens and pigs are really used as ingredients.
It was not until the Tang Dynasty that the punishment for slaughtering cattle was gradually reduced, and the person who slaughtered cattle was sentenced to one year. In the Song Dynasty, those who killed cattle were sentenced to three years of hard labor. In the Qing dynasty, people who slaughtered cattle were beaten with a hundred sticks. It can be seen that with the change of time, the punishment for slaughtering cattle is getting lighter and lighter.
However, in ancient times, the supervision of cattle was so strict. Why did mutton appear as an appetizer in film and television dramas? So these people who eat mutton are basically untouchables or Jianghu people. They don't take the restrictions announced by North Korea seriously. Eating mutton will highlight the rebellious spirit of students.
For example, Song Wu in "The Water Margin" drank three bowls of wine with cooked beef before shooting tigers. Song Wu-casually said, "Better, cut two or three pounds to drink." For example, Qiao Feng in "Eight Branches of Longteng" called the shop assistant "ten catties of white wine and two catties of beef".
It looks very handsome and Jianghu, but in reality, historically, they dare to eat, and other businesses may not dare to sell. As mentioned above, those who kill cattle will be punished. People in this Jianghu dare to buy beef to eat, but others who do business may not be able to sell beef. In addition, beef and mutton were very rare in ancient times and were generally available on the "black market".
Now look at these film and television works, and you will find that there are often exaggerated parts. Even if there is a TV series about history, it is really unreliable that even these bureaucratic children eat mutton. However, speaking of it, "two Jin of beef" is really much cooler and more handsome than "two Jin of raw pork".
Then why are we not proud of eating mutton today, and more people choose to eat pork? This is because we China people always like to eat pork, especially in the Song Dynasty, which happened to be popular in folk restaurants and restaurants. In addition, spices have just arrived from 36 countries in the western regions, and chefs are working hard to study dishes.
At this time, raw pork, as a kind of meat food, means outstanding. In view of the practice of pork, there are many literary works that show the recipes of that year, such as Su Shi's invention of Dongpo meat and Song Dynasty's invention of sausage by anti-Jin heroes, all of which show that everyone loved pork dishes in that year.
In the Qing Dynasty, Manchu people who loved pork promoted the marketing of northeast cuisine. The Manchu emperor liked to eat pork. Gan Long, 7 1 year-old, used 65 Jin of raw pork, 3 pork elbows, 25 Jin of wild boar and 3 pork intestines at the royal banquet on New Year's Eve, so he only used 20 Jin of beef.
The emperor sacrificed raw pork to heaven, and there must be a step of "cooking pigs" in the ceremony. Choosing a big fat pig with gray and black body and fat meat, and putting it in the cauldron of Kunning Palace after solving it, was also the etiquette knowledge that the Qing royal family adhered to at that time.
Then why didn't the ancients eat raw pork as well as they do now? Mainly because the aquaculture industry is not as developed as it is today, only people with a doctorate or above can eat raw pork, which is actually a "royal privilege". It was not until the Tang Dynasty that raw pork gradually became popular. At present, black pigs in other countries occupy the sales market, so the fresh pork we eat can be sold so cheaply.