The Plant Resources And Its Utilization Of Lingnan During The Han And Tang Dynasties

During the Han and Tang dynasties, Lingna had superior natural condition. It’s abundant plant resources occupied a very important postion in the Lingnan people’s diet culture life.The rich plant resources provided people with ample source of food. During the long period of diet, people living in Lingnan adapted its environment created a variety of plant processing way. Lingnan as the the window of the economic and cultural exchange between China and foreign coutries, the political, economic and cultural exchanges and the population migration to Lingnan enriched the plant resources of Lingnan and other areas and influenced the utilization of plant resources and the development of food culture. The collision and fusion of exotic plant culture and Lingnan native plant culture bursted out of the more splendid culture.People of Lingnan where had excellent geographical location developed rice operation and horticulture based on natural environment and ecological environment. Driven by the economic and cultural exchanges as well as the migration which people in the Central Plains migrated to Lingnan, the rice operation and horticulture got more progress. With the increase in plant varieties, the plants provided an ample and reliable food source for people. According to the natural quality of plants, the utilization of those plants by Lingnan people included several aspects below:grain, vegetables, fruits, flowers, dietary therapeutic.The Lingnan people created unique plant processing methods. People who lived in Lingnan achieved comprehensive utilization of plants. They not only allayed they hunger with plants, but also achieved the plant’s effectiveness of health care.Under the influence of topography, hydrology, conditions and other factors, the food production of various regions of Lingnan lost balance with the formation of grain structure which rice and coarse cereals coexisted and the formation of a variety of unique food processing methods.During the Han and Tang dynasties, the government adopted policy that gave aid to the horticultural industry of Lingnan. Those delicious fruits of Lingnan transported to the Central Plains in the form of paying taxes, tribute, trade and other forms. Those factors above had prompted and improved the cultivation and processing technology of Lingnan fruit.People of Lingnan had tradition of wine treatment. Rich fruit trees and other plant resources in Lingnan provided a superior natural conditions for the development of wine industry during the Han and Tang Dynasties.The improvement of agricultural production promoted the expansion of scale and the improvement of technology of the wine industry.The superior geographical environment and natural climate condition of Lingnan provided the plant with good ecological environment and provided diet of therapy with abundant plant resources. Under the influence of economic and cultural exchanges, especially for the influence of religion which came from the Central Plains, people in Lingnan gradually found, summaried and use the medicinal value of plant. Through their diet, they can not only satisfy the physiological and dietary needs, but also realize the health care and disease treatment function.The research of the plant utilization in diet has realistic significance for the development of ecological agriculture, health care, and the comprehensive utilization of plants.