Apples originated in China, and Japan has adopted the most beautiful name
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Apples are a very common fruit, available almost all year round** and quite affordable. Historically, the types and names of apples have been constantly evolving, with each era having its own unique appellation and type.
In ancient times, apples were eaten in a very different way than they are today, and even the name for them was very beautiful. Today, however, we no longer use the names of the ancients in favor of more understandable names.
However, our neighbor Japan has retained the ancient name for apples, which is still used today. So, what is Apple's history in China? How beautiful was it called by the ancients?
Why does Japan continue to use the names used by the ancients, while China does not?
1.Whether in the East or in the West, the origin of apples is a topic of mystery. Although there is a time difference in the description of apples in Chinese and Western texts, this does not mean that apples appeared later in China, or that Chinese apples originated in the West.
Because in primitive societies, many important crops, such as apples, were often overlooked due to low productivity, so they were recorded relatively late in China. 2.Whether Apple originated in China or the West has always been a topic of debate.
Whether in Western myths and legends, or in Chinese historical records, apples have been given important symbolic meanings. Apple, both a symbol of power and a representative of wealth.
However, the origin of apples remains an unknown mystery, and neither the East nor the West can determine the true origin of apples.
After a long period of research by scientists, it has been determined that the most common apple on the market is the product of evolution and domestication of wild apples, and its origin can be traced back to Xinjiang, China.
The history of apple cultivation in China is at least 2,000 years old, and apples have entered the homes of ordinary people as early as the Wei and Jin dynasties. During the Qin, Han, Wei and Jin dynasties, the varieties and names of apples are well documented in many Chinese classics.
The earliest detailed record of apples is the history books of the Qin State during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, when apples were not called apples, but were called 柰. Apples first appeared in the history books of the Qin State because during the Spring and Autumn Period, the monarch of the Qin State, Qin Mugong, was one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, and in order to expand his territory, he led a large army to the west, and has been expanding his territory to the vicinity of the Hexi Corridor.
This annexation brought about the exchange of Chinese and Western civilizations, and also led to the introduction of apples to the Qin state. The state of Qin began experimenting with the cultivation of apples and brought apples to other regions in exchanges with the other six countries.
However, apples at that time do not seem to have been eaten but used as sacrifices to ancestors. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, apples were still a rare thing, probably only circulating among princes and nobles, and it was difficult for ordinary people to see apples.
At the same time, cherries and chestnuts were used for sacrifices, and in general, fruits were not eaten very often.
After the Qin Dynasty unified the country, apples gradually spread to the lower strata of society. But the Qin Dynasty was a short-lived dynasty, and after being overthrown by a peasant uprising, Liu Bang established the Western Han Dynasty.
In the early days of the Western Han Dynasty, the rulers pursued the Taoist concept of rule by inaction, had little foreign exchanges, and usually maintained peace with minority regimes. However, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, he no longer advocated the rule of inaction, but chose to depose the hundred schools of thought and establish a powerful Western Han Empire.
At the same time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent generals such as Wei Qing and Huo Qubing to conquer the Xiongnu, and sent Zhang Qian, Su Wu and others to establish diplomatic contacts with the countries of the Western Regions.
Since then, apples from the West have been pouring into China through the Silk Road, and they have been cross-bred with Chinese apples to produce better varieties. In order to allow local crops to absorb more of the excellent genes of Western crops and demonstrate the great national power of the Han Empire, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also ordered the construction of a Shanglin Garden, which covers an area of about 2,500 square kilometers.
This royal garden is home to all the plants that could be seen at the time, and all the animals that could be raised. These flora and fauna continued to thrive and spread around the world through merchants.
During the Western Han Dynasty, the name of the apple was used in the Qin Dynasty and was called "柰". According to historical records, the word "柰" can be seen in many classics at that time, which shows that apples are no longer rare in the intellectual class.
At that time, there were already a wide variety of apples, including red flowers, white flowers, green flowers, purple flowers, etc., and these apple trees all grew in Shanglin Yuan, reflecting the diversity of apple varieties and the prosperity of Shanglin Yuan at that time.
During the period of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Ban Chao envoy to the Western Regions once again opened up the Silk Road, which had been closed for many years. Ban Yong inherited his father's business and continued to serve as the protector of the Western Regions in the Western Regions to maintain the smooth flow of the Silk Road.
The stability of the Silk Road provided protection for the integration of Chinese and Western apple varieties. Although the Eastern Han Dynasty texts do not record this in detail, we can see from the smooth passage of the Silk Road that the improvement of apples continued and was already circulating to other social classes.
In the Wei and Jin dynasties, the name of the apple changed again, no longer "柰", but changed to "Lin Yi". In fact, Ringo started out as a new variety of apple, but because its fragrance is stronger than other apples, it has gradually become known as apple.
Ringo has won people's love for its unique appearance and taste, and this dual advantage has caused the name "柰" to gradually be forgotten. In addition to the name change, people during the Wei and Jin dynasties also studied and documented how apples were eaten.
According to historical records, they did not eat apples raw, but dried them to make preserved fruits and other foods. This was because the ripening period of apples was difficult to master, the best before eating was short, and storage technology was not well developed, so this method became the main choice at that time.
If they are not dried, a lot of apples will be wasted. During the Tang Dynasty, the name of the apple had a new change, and it was called "Pinpo Fruit". Interestingly, this name did not originally appear in the history books of the Tang Dynasty, but in Buddhist scriptures.
The lips and mouth are clean, such as the fruit of Pinpo. "The Tang Dynasty was one of the most open and tolerant feudal dynasties in Chinese history.
During this period, Japan sent many students and monks to the Tang Dynasty, who brought not only Japanese specialties but also technology and crops from the Central Plains, including apples.
Apples have a long history in China, and during the Tang and Song dynasties, the literati invented many new varieties, such as Wenlin fruit and Lianzhu fruit. However, even in the Tang Dynasty, apples were still a rare fruit, mainly because of the restrictions imposed by the sea ban policy and the policy of closing the country to the outside world.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the cultivation of apples expanded, and they became a common fruit for ordinary people. However, only a new variety called "Ice Apple" appeared during this period, which was produced in Xinjiang.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, apples were called "apples", which were later simplified to the current "apples". Ancient Chinese apples had a soft taste, and later generations collectively called them "cotton apples".
In modern times, Western apples were introduced to China, and compared with the traditional Chinese cotton apples, Western apples had many advantages, so they occupied the Chinese market at the beginning and were called "sunset apples".
This was brought by a missionary named Nevis. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, Nevis came to China with the purpose of proselytizing and spreading Western apples.
Nevis and John Chapman behind him: Western apple preachers and apple growers in China.
China is the world's largest apple producer, ranking first in the world in terms of apple planting area and output. Why are apples so popular, and what are the advantages of entering people's lives?
First of all, apples are extremely nutritious and rich in vitamins and trace elements. After years of improvement and development, the taste of apples has been greatly improved, sweet and sour, and is deeply loved by people.
Secondly, apples also have an advantage in appearance, making apples more attractive than other fruits. When it comes to choosing fruits, people tend to prefer apples that look good.
In addition, apples can also be processed into various products, such as apple juice, preserved fruits, etc., and there is a lot of choice. Finally, apples also have certain medicinal properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, apples have many medicinal records.
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the "homology of medicine and food", so apples also have medicinal value to a certain extent. According to medical records, apples have the effects of antidiarrheal laxative, prevention and treatment of high blood pressure, ** and so on.
So why do Chinese apples change their names so often?
Since the introduction of apples in Japan, the elegant name Ringo has remained in use today. On the contrary, there have been frequent changes of dynasties in China, and the custom of the Venerable Ones has led to many things changing names.
Although Apple is also known as Apple in China, the name Ringo is indeed more beautiful.
Whether it's a person or an event, a name is just a code name. Whether a name sounds good or not does not determine the value of a person or thing, it is just an external label.
Being too attached to names can cause us to lose ourselves and forget our true selves. Therefore, we should pay attention to the inner cultivation and the improvement of skills, so that we can truly realize our own value, live up to a good name, and will not feel inferior because of a bad name.
To look at the problem, we need to see the essence through the surface, and it is not enough to look at the outside. Drawing on the wisdom of the ancient masterpieces "Historical Records", "Book of Han", "History of the Song Dynasty" and "History of the Ming Dynasty", we should pay more attention to internal development and growth.