Since ancient times, China has had a wise saying that "the king takes the people as the sky, and the people take food as the sky". For thousands of years, food has always occupied a pivotal position in Chinese culture, forming a rich food culture of eight major cuisines and various special snacks. Although barbecue, hot pot, barbecue, etc. have become fashionable choices for young people, and staple foods have met basic needs, they also reflect that we are moving in the direction of spiritual needs in Maslow's needs structure theory.
Ancient Cuisine Revealed: The Survival Code of the Poor People.
In ancient times, especially in turbulent times, the lives of the poor were particularly difficult. Although we often see the feast of the Manchu and Han people in costume dramas, this only exists in the rich and noble. The average poor person struggles to feed every day. "Zhumen wine and meat stink, and there are frozen bones on the road" depicts the deep gap between the rich and the poor in the late Tang Dynasty, and even in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, social problems could not be avoided.
Whole grains: the dawn of the poor.
In ancient times, the common people cultivated grains with wisdom, such as rice, millet, millet, wheat, and soybean. However, due to the low level of production technology and frequent disasters such as droughts and floods, the cereal harvest is unstable. Even if there was a harvest, the people were faced with renting land to landlords and high taxes, leaving only a little food for their own consumption. Many families choose to have more children in order to increase their labor force, but it is difficult to maintain the food and clothing of the whole family.
The way of survival of the poor: wild vegetables and Guanyin soil.
In addition to grains, there are only two main sources of food for the poor: wild vegetables and Guanyin soil. Wild vegetables are bitter and astringent, difficult to swallow, and sometimes even become a scramble for food. Guanyin soil is a kind of soil used for firing kilns, although it can fill the stomach, but it is not conducive to human digestion. When the poor people were hungry, they had to rely on these simple foods to survive.
Time to the Ming Dynasty: Relief of potatoes and cassava.
In the Ming Dynasty and the 20s of the 19th century, potatoes and cassava were introduced, which had a strong growth capacity and became a viable staple food. This somewhat alleviated the situation during the famine years. Yet, despite these changes to the food available to poor families, the poor are still struggling on the brink of poverty.
The Hardships of Ancient Seasoning: The Days Without Salt and No Taste.
The scarcity of condiments in ancient times is also a portrayal of the lives of poor people. At that time, oyster sauce, monosodium glutamate and other seasonings had not yet been introduced, and salt was the livelihood of the official family, and the crime of illegal salt was even punishable by death. The scarcity of salt meant that the poor in ancient times could only taste the taste of the food itself. Spice-enhancing condiments such as peppercorns and peppercorns were reserved for the aristocracy, and were barely accessible to the average poor, let alone enjoyed.
Hunger and Cold: The Struggle of the Ancient People.
In ancient times, the poor lived in times of famine or war. Even if food is available, poor families cannot afford to buy condiments, let alone enjoy enough meat nourishment. Some lucky farmers were able to eat a bite of meat on Chinese New Year or festive occasions, and eggs, which we see everywhere today, were also a luxury ingredient in those days.
The Taste of the Poor: The Happiness of Not Having Enough.
Although many poor people experience moments in their lives without food, it is also a kind of happiness for them when food is available, even if it tastes tasteless. Lacking a variety of condiments, they can only add flavor to food through a variety of simple cooking methods, and the hardships of life have made them feel for simple taste.
The miracle of modern gastronomy: from hungry to full.
Nowadays, we enjoy a sumptuous meal in modern society, and rice, pasta, and all kinds of seasoned dishes have become a part of our daily life. Compared to ancient times, our diet has made a qualitative leap. However, it is also because we live in a powerful country, and in some places, there are still people struggling to feed on the dirt. Therefore, we should cherish the existing life, do not waste food, and always remember the hardships of the past.
Conclusion: The diet of the people, the imprint of history.
The Manchu and Han Dynasty banquets may only exist in the glorious chapters of history, but every bite of coarse tea and light rice carries the tenacity and survival wisdom of the people. From ancient times to the present, the belief that food is the sky has been passed down to the present, and the food culture has witnessed the suffering and joy of the people, and has become a mark of history.
This article profoundly reveals the difficult survival of the poor in ancient times, and brings readers into a picture rich in historical and realistic resonance. In the text, the author depicts the diet of the ancient people, showing their real life of struggling to survive under material scarcity and livelihood pressure. Here's a review of the article:
First of all, through the vivid description of the living conditions of the ancient people, the article enables readers to truly feel the severe challenges faced by the poor people in that era. The article depicts the plight of grains and grains, the suffering of the people during the famine years, and the resulting livelihood pressure. All this allows the reader to better understand the severity of the gap between the rich and the poor in ancient societies and feel the hardships of the poor.
Secondly, through the description of the scarcity of condiments in ancient times, the author shows readers the scarcity and helplessness of the ancients at the level of taste. In modern society, we enjoy a variety of cuisines and condiments, but the portrayal of the ancient people who could not taste the rich flavors in the article makes people feel a deep sense of happiness and gratitude for contemporary life. This contrast also makes the reader reflect on the importance of valuing and preserving food in modern society.
In addition, the article mentions the introduction of potatoes and cassava to show the profound impact of technological changes on human lifestyles. This has also led to reflections on technological progress and the improvement of living standards. Of course, this also reminds us that in modern society, although we have all kinds of advanced technology and food resources, in some poor areas, there are still famines and predicaments similar to those in ancient times.
Finally, at the end of the article, he called for cherishing the existing life and not wasting food, and lamented the leap of modern food. This point is also an inspiration for the reader's thinking and reflection. In a prosperous modern society, we still need to pay enough attention to the problem of food waste to avoid a recurrence of the hunger plight experienced by the poor in ancient times.
Overall, this article gives readers a deeper understanding of history through an in-depth analysis of the current situation of the diet of the poor in ancient times. At the same time, by comparing the past and the present, it triggers people's reflection on contemporary life, arousing the attention of cherishing the existing happy life and reducing waste.
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