Research On Food Culture In Lingnan Area During The Qin And Han Dynasties

Food is basic demand of human survival and development,also the foundation and precondition for human to engage other social activities.It not only meets human's basic physical demands,but also demands at spirit level to some extent.As human civilization develops continuously,Diet Culture unique to human society appeared.Diet Culture is the sum of material and spiritual products produced by human through constant exploration and innovation based on meeting survival and development of themselves.The key to food is development and utilization of food material,and natural environment played important role in it.Located in south coastal region of our country,with warm and moist climate,rich rainfall and fertile land,Lingnan region provides favorable conditions for agriculture.Meanwhile,due to long coastline,development and utilization of food material in Lingnan region are full of sea factors.Due to favorable natural conditions including geographic location,environment and climate,Lingnan has very rich resources and produces.After Qin pacified Lingnan and South Yue was established,social productivity in Lingnan developed dramatically,and agriculture developed rapidly,so food resources were developed to maximum extent compared to before Qin-Han,which paid material foundation for booming of Lingnan Diet Culture.Lingnan Diet Culture in Qin-Han period was mainly reflected in such aspects as development of food structure,philosophy of Diet Culture,and eating utensil,diet custom and Diet Culture exchange,etc.As an important branch of Lingnan culture,Diet Culture of Lingnan features openness,compatibility,practicability and creativity,etc.There are mainly 4 chapters in this paper,as outlined below:Chapter I.Review of Diet Culture academic history.Introduces relevant records on Diet Culture in old literature and results of research on Diet Culture over a century at home and abroad.Chapter II.Situation of natural environment and social economic development of Lingnan region in Qin-Han period.Unique natural environment,social economic development and overseas trade promotes development of food resource in Lingnan region,produces exchange and diet custom integration between regions.Part III.Dietary structure and diet style in Lingnan region.The philosophy of Diet Culture in Lingnan in Qin-Han period mainly expressed as “harmony if five flavors”,making the best possible use of things,everything inclusive,food grading and emphasis on food cure and health preservation.Diet structure includes main food,subsidiary food and drinks.Majority of main food is rice,supplemented with north food such as sweet potato,millet and wheat;majority of subsidiary food are vegetables,meat birds and fruits;drinks include drinking water,tea,wine and juice.Eating utensil was improved and enriched with social econimic development,mainly including materials such as earthenware,talcose artifact,bronze ware,jadeware and glass.Part IV.Diet custom and fashion of Lingnan region.Cooking methods of Lingnan region in Qin-Han period had had steaming,boiling,frying,roasting,etc..Due to existence of food grading,there were great difference in both food material enjoyment,eating utensil selection and dietary custom between upper classes such as royal court and lower-class ordinary public.Overseas trade and Lingnan Diet Culture.During overseas trading,overseas food material,eating utensil and dietary custom also were introduced into Lingnan region,widening food material source and optimizing eating utensil of Lingnan region.Dietary custom mainly has four features,first,widely use material,nothing can't be eaten;second,exquisitely made,multiple cooking means;third,mild taste,prefer fresh food;forth,integration of food and cure,preserve health through moisture.Diet Culture in Lingnan region has long history.unique natural environment,humanity environment and social economic development of Lingnan region in Qin=Han period laid foundation for formation and development of Lingnan characteristic Diet Culture.Booming of “Yue Food” and the reputation of “best food in Guangzhou” today are the achievement of reform and innovation on the basis of inheriting and developing unique Diet Culture of Lingnan region in Qin-Han period.So,research on Diet Culture of Lingnan in Qin-Han period will help us understand dietary custom and life style of people of Lingnan region in Qin-Han period,look into transformation of social feature in Lingnan,and help us better dig connotation and feature of historical Lingnan Diet Culture,so as to enrich and perfect today's Diet Culture,create more healthy,better life style.