The reason why Hangzhou braised pork is called Dongpo meat is because this kind of braised pork by Su Shi was famous all over the country when it was in Hangzhou.

I. First creation.

Dongpo meat is rumored to be the Northern Song Dynasty lyricist Su Dongpo (Meishan, Sichuan Province) created (said to have been created for his concubine Wang Wang Yun (Su was relegated to Huangzhou on the occasion of the Wang to improve its diet)), the earliest origin is Meishan, Sichuan Province. The prototype was Xuzhou's "gift meat", one of Xuzhou's "four treasures of Dongpo".

The story goes that in April 1077, Su Shi was appointed governor of Xuzhou by Emperor Shenzong of the Song Dynasty. On July 7, the Yellow River broke in the area of Cao village no, to August 21, the flood besieged Xuzhou, the water level was as high as two feet eight feet. Su Shi took the role of a soldier, personally loaded a dustpan, led the forbidden army Wuwei Battalion, and the people of the whole city to fight against the flood and build a dike to protect the city. After more than seventy days and nights of hard fighting, finally saved Xuzhou city. The people of the city are all rejoicing, they are grateful for this leadership, and the people of Xuzhou with breathing, **** survival of the good governor, have to kill pigs and sheep, carrying wine and food on the House of condolences. Su shi can not refuse, after receiving personally instructed family members made of braised meat, and back to the people to participate in the flood. After the people eat, they all feel that this meat is fat and not greasy, crispy flavor, unanimously called him "back to the meat". Since then, the "gift of meat" in Xuzhou around the circulation, and into the traditional dishes in Xuzhou. This in the "Xuzhou literary and historical materials", "Xuzhou," "Xuzhou," "Xuzhou ancient and modern famous dishes" are described.

Two, development.

Yuanfeng three years (A.D. 1080) on February 1, Su Shi was relegated to Huangzhou as a regiment deputy envoy. He opened his own land, he called this place "Dongpo Jushi". This is the origin of "Dongpo meat". During his stay in Huangzhou, he cooked braised pork himself and wrote about his experience in his "Poem on Eating Pork". The braised pork cooked by Su Shi in Xuzhou and Huangzhou was only influential locally, but not very famous in the country.

Third, fame.

The braised pork is really well known and famous all over the country, is Su Shi's second in Hangzhou, "Dongpo meat".

Song Zhezong Yuanyou four years (1089) on January 3, Su Shi came to Hangzhou after a 15-year absence as governor.

In May and June of the fifth year of the reign of Emperor Yuanyou, it rained heavily in the western part of Zhejiang Province, and the Taihu Lake flooded, flooding large areas of crops. Due to Su Shi's early and effective measures, the people in the western part of Zhejiang passed through the most difficult period. He organized the people to dredge the West Lake, built embankments and bridges, which changed the old look of the West Lake into a new one. The people of Hangzhou were very grateful to Su Shi for this good deed, and everyone praised him for being a wise parental official. I heard that when he was in Xuzhou and Huangzhou, his favorite food was pork, so when it was New Year's Eve, everyone carried pigs and wine to pay him a visit. Su Shi received, then instructed his family to cut the meat into squares, burned red crispy, and then sent to participate in the dredging of the West Lake workers to eat, everyone ate all the wonder, he sent the meat are affectionately known as "Dongpo meat.

"Dongpo meat" was first created in Xuzhou, developed in Huangzhou, Hangzhou is known throughout the country. That's why Hangzhou braised pork is called "Dongpo Pork."