【HaiChuan Food Chat】On his thousand-mile journey to the West, Tang Seng actually ate dishes from just one culinary style
Thread Content
Have you ever noticed that no matter how brilliantly an author writes about it, across such vast geographical differences from the Tang Dynasty in the east to the Western Regions, the foods eaten remain remarkably similar? Ma Siqi, a primary school student from Hangzhou, compiled a list of dish names associated with several well-known scenes from the stories, as follows: The menu for the wedding banquet of the queen of the Western Liang Kingdom in Chapter 54: rice made with jade powder, steamed cakes, sweet pastries, mushrooms, fragrant fungi, wood ear mushrooms, seaweed, daylilies, laver, turnips, taro, radishes, Chinese yam, polygonatum... The vegetarian meal served in Tuoluo Village in Chapter 67: gluten, tofu, taro sprouts, white radishes, spicy mustard, turnips, fragrant rice, soup made with sunflowers cooked in vinegar... In Chapter 69, in the Zhu Zi Kingdom: lion-shaped sweets, bamboo shoot and wood ear mushroom dishes, mushrooms, yellow millet rice, mushroom-rice paste, noodle soup... For the banquet hosted by the king of the Children’s Kingdom in Chapter 79: lion-shaped sweets, vermicelli, mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, polygonatum, fragrant rice... It can be seen from these menus that rice, mushrooms, fragrant fungi, wood ear mushrooms, tofu, gluten, taro, and radishes are featured in almost every meal. The same food travels tens of thousands of miles, reaching various regions, seemingly faster and farther even than Sun Wukong’s cloud leap. The diets of the Tang Dynasty and the small kingdoms in the Western Regions were generally similar; the preferences of the demons and the rulers were also pretty much the same. This inevitably raises questions: how is that possible? It turns out that Wu Cheng’en, the author of \"Journey to the West\", was from Huai’an, and most of these foods are delicacies from the Jianghuai region.
Many classical Chinese novels depict delicious foods, among which the most famous are \"Dream of the Red Chamber\" and \"The Golden Lotus“. The descriptions of various exquisite dishes in these works are truly mouth-watering, and many researchers and enthusiasts have conducted detailed analyses of them. But in fact, there are many books in Chinese classical novels that describe food, far more than just the two works \"Jin\" and \"Hong\". To take just \"Journey to the West\" as an example, it contains numerous descriptions of various dishes. Of course, this delicacy is not the flesh of Tang Seng, nor is it the rare delicacies eaten by the deities in heaven, and certainly not the flesh consumed by demons. It is rather the vegetarian meals that Tang Seng and his disciples ate along the way. In \"Journey to the West\", there are many descriptions of the vegetarian meals eaten by the pilgrims on their quest, which are diverse and enticing. In Chapter 47, Tang Seng and his companions are blocked by the Tongtian River, so they stay at Chen’s household in Yuanhui County of Chechi Country. The old man Chen hosts the monks and disciples, arranging a variety of vegetarian dishes and vegetables, as well as noodles, rice, snacks, and porridge, all laid out neatly. Although the specific dishes weren’t mentioned, just looking at the staple foods alone there are seven or eight kinds, so it must be quite luxurious. Upon seeing so much delicious food, Zhu Bajie immediately started eating frantically. He threw a bowl of plain rice into his mouth in one go… Then another bowl was brought over and given to him. The fool waved his hand around, then put it back in his mouth and finished eating... Whether it was rice, noodles, fruits, or snacks, he just grabbed them all randomly and kept shouting, ‘More food!’ More rice! ’It’s gradually disappearing! ”This is the true strongest food eater. Chapter 67 recounts how Tang Seng and his disciples stopped at Tuoluo Village to spend the night. Old Li treated them generously, serving a meal that included \"...many kinds of gluten, tofu, taro sprouts, radishes, and hot mustard... The disciples had a satisfying meal to their heart’s content.\" ” In Chapter 69, to thank Sun Wukong for curing his serious illness, the king of Zhu Zi Country held a grand banquet to entertain the four disciples. Among the vegetarian dishes were several kinds of fragrant soup cakes and several types of crispy sweets. Smooth yellow millet rice, fresh mushroom-rice paste. The spicy powder soup is fragrant and hot; with slight adjustments, it becomes more delicious and sweet. These vegetarian dishes come in various flavors: fragrant, crispy, sweet, spicy, soft, and smooth; just looking at them makes one feel hungry and eager to taste them. Those who start a vegetarian restaurant today can certainly open one with a theme based on Journey to the West, and they can offer a special “Kingdom of Zhu Zi” menu item. In Chapter 77, the Great Peng Monster intends to take Master Tang and his three disciples to the Lion Camel Kingdom; he even prepares thirty people who know how to cook. Along the way, they set up shelters every twenty or thirty li, prepare food and tea, and take care of Master Tang. In Chapter 86, Tang Seng is captured by the leopard demon with leaf-like skin and taken to the \"Hidden Mist Mountain’s Linked Caves,\" where he is tied to a tree in the back garden; a woodcutter from the mountains is tied there as well. Later, Sun Wukong saved Tang Seng and, incidentally, rescued the woodcutter as well. The woodcutter was a grateful man, and he treated them to a generous meal. Although the woodcutter said, “This mountainous area is truly poor; there are no precious mushrooms, truffles, Sichuan peppercorns, or spices. I can only offer a few kinds of wild vegetables as a token of my sincerity.” ”But soon, the vegetarian meal that was served was truly abundant: the tables and chairs were set out, and indeed there were several plates of wild vegetables. There one sees: blanched daylilies, and pickled white clams. Floating rosemary purslane, river shepherd’s purse and goose-intestine herb. Swallows don’t come when the flowers are fragrant and tender; the buds are small, crisp, and still green. Overcooked blueweed, boiled dog’s footprints. Cat ears, wild Solanum plants; the gray-striped ones that are ripe can be eaten ； Scissors Stock, Ox Pond Benefit, Backflow Nest Snail, Broom Shepherd’s Purse. Shepherd’s purse, lettuce shepherd’s purse – delicately fragrant and smooth in texture. Fried Eriogonum flowers, truly remarkable among the water chestnut family ； Water caltrop and water bamboo – all four thrive near water and remain pure and elegant. Look at the wheatgrass – delicate and beautiful ； Po Po Na, don’t wear him; it’s like a fence under the bitter wormwood plants. Simple sparrow meat, monkey-like footprints; fried in oil until glistening – simply delicious. Artemisia obliqua, Artemisia annua, and Artemisia abrotanum; fireflies fly up to the boardy plants. Sheep-ear baldness, goji berry heads, plus black blue – no oil needed. A meal of various wild vegetables – the woodcutter offers his sincere thanks in return. Daylilies, Indian balsam, goji berries, and others are well-known garden vegetables that are not only inexpensive and of good quality but also possess high nutritional and therapeutic values. The leaves of purslane resemble horsehoof shapes as well as soybean pods, which is why it is commonly known as soybean-pod purslane; it can be used as food as well as in medicine. Additionally, Baiguding, Goujiexi, and Yangertu are all names of wild vegetables. In Chapter 82, the golden-nosed, white-furred rat spirit kidnaps Tang Seng in order to marry him, and the \"wedding feast\" she prepares is by far the most sumptuous vegetarian meal in the entire book: on the tables adorned with precious decorations, there are various rare and exquisite delicacies ； In the bamboo wire tray, rare and simple items are placed. Apples, olives, lotus seeds, grapes, ginkgo nuts, pears, hazelnuts, pine nuts, lychees, longans, chestnuts, water caltrops, jujubes, persimmons, walnuts, ginkgo trees, kumquats, oranges – fruits can be found wherever there are mountains ； Fresher vegetables: tofu, gluten, wood ear mushrooms, fresh bamboo shoots, mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, Chinese yam, and polygonatum. Kelp, daylily flowers, stir-fried in green oil ； Green hyacinth beans and cowpeas, seasoned with cooked sauce. Gourd, bottle gourd, ginkgo, turnip. Eggplant and quail prepared with peeled skin; wax gourd with removed seeds is called Fangdan. Stewed taro mixed with sugar, served with pickled white radish in vinegar. Pepper and ginger offer a spicy yet delightful flavor; salt and sweetness blend together for a balanced taste. Not only are the ingredients abundant and precious, but they are also prepared with great care through complex processes. Moreover, the ingredients used show that this array of dishes is not only delicious but also contains valuable traditional Chinese medicines; thus, their nutritional value must be quite high as well. Although I haven’t tasted them, just looking at them is enough to fill one with longing. The Spring Festival is approaching soon, and the abundance of various complex dishes can actually dampen one’s appetite; people often find meat dishes too oily and greasy, making it difficult to eat them. Why not study \"Journey to the West\" and have a meal of vegetarian dishes together? It helps to change one’s taste preferences and also has cultural significance.
This is what nostalgia is all about – childhood memories are the most vivid. Wu Chengen isn’t far off in this regard: lol
Did you also grow up eating Huaiyang cuisine? ? ? ?
【HaiChuan Ox Year Random Photos】Many rewards available https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3174158-1-1.html (Source: HaiChuan Chemical Forum – HuaHaiChuanLiu) You can post replies in this thread or start your own series of posts; 5 wealth points are awarded for each original photo. 【HaiChuan Wealth Distribution】Activities to distribute wealth take place every day on the 29th day of the 12th lunar month https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3174151-1-1.html (Source: HaiChuan Chemical Forum – HuaHaiChuanLiu) Everyone is welcome to participate. Wishing you good luck in the Ox Year!