Why eat dumplings at the winter solstice? People have made "jiao'er" on the winter solstice, not only to dispel the cold, but also to commemorate Zhang Zhongjing. The custom of eating dumplings at the winter solstice began to spread. Let's see why we eat dumplings at the winter solstice. Welcome to check it out!
Origin of dumplings
There are many names of "dumpling", "glutinous dumpling", "glutinous dumpling", "glutinous dumpling", "glutinous dumpling", "glutinous dumpling" and so on. It was called "crescent wonton" in the Three Kingdoms period, "wonton" in the northern and Southern Dynasties, dumplings "Yanyue shaped wonton" in the Tang Dynasty, "Jiaozi" in the Song Dynasty and "flat food" in the Yuan Dynasty; In the Qing Dynasty, it was called "Jiaozi". Dumplings originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty and was first created by Zhang Zhongjing, the medical saint of Nanyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty. At that time, dumplings were used for medicine. Zhang Zhongjing wrapped some cold dispelling herbs in his noodle skin to treat diseases (mutton, pepper, etc.) and avoid frostbite on the patient's ears. In addition, dumplings in the spring and Autumn period were found in the tombs of Xue state (now Tengzhou, Shandong Province) in Dongyi area, indicating that this kind of unique food in Chinese food culture probably originated from Dongyi area in ancient China.
Why eat dumplings at the winter solstice?
Jiaozi, formerly known as "jiao'er", was first invented by Chinese medical Saint Zhang Zhongjing.
At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, disasters were serious everywhere, and many people were suffering from diseases. There is a famous doctor in Nanyang named Zhang Ji, whose name is Zhongjing. He has studied medical books hard since childhood and learned from others' strengths. He has become the founder of traditional Chinese medicine. Zhang Zhongjing not only has excellent medical skills and can get rid of any difficult and miscellaneous diseases, but also has noble medical ethics. He has treated the poor and the rich seriously and saved countless lives.
When Zhang Zhongjing was an official in Changsha, he often treated diseases for the people. One year, the local plague prevailed. He built a big pot at the mouth of the Yamen and gave medicine to save people, which was deeply loved by the people of Changsha. After returning home from Changsha, Zhang Zhongjing went to his hometown Baihe. On the shore, seeing many poor people suffering from hunger and cold, their ears were frozen. He was so upset that he was determined to treat them. When Zhang Zhongjing came home, there were a lot of people seeking medical treatment. He was busy, but he always kept those frozen and rotten in mind. Poor people with ears. Following the way in Changsha, he asked his disciples to set up a medical shed and a big pot on an open space in Dongguan, Nanyang, and open on the winter solstice to give medicine to the poor to heal their wounds.
Zhang Zhongjing's medicine is called "Quhan Jiaoer soup". Its practice is to boil mutton, pepper and some cold dispelling herbs in a pot. After cooking, take out these things and chop them up. Wrap the dough into ear shaped "Jiaoer" and cook them in a pot. To patients begging for medicine. Each person has two jiao ears and a bowl of soup. After eating Quhan decoction, people have fever, unobstructed blood and warming ears. After eating for some time, the patient's rotten ears healed.
Zhang Zhongjing gave up medicine until the new year's Eve. On the first day of the lunar new year, people celebrate the new year and the recovery of rotten ears. They make new year's food like jiao'er and eat it on the morning of the first day of the lunar new year. People call this kind of food "Jiaoer", "Jiaozi" or partial food, which is eaten on the winter solstice and the first day of the new year to commemorate the days when Zhang Zhongjing opened shed medicine and cured patients.
Zhang Zhongjing is nearly 1800 years old, but his story of "dispelling cold and charming ear soup" has been widely spread among the people. Every winter solstice and new year's day, people eat dumplings and still remember Zhang Zhongjing's kindness. Today, we don't need to use delicate ears to treat frozen and rotten ears, but dumplings have become the most common and favorite food.
Auspicious implication of various dumpling fillings
Celery stuffing - it means qincai, so it is called qincai dumpling
Diligence: diligence and diligence; Frequently, frequently (frequently) and continuously, it is called diligence and wealth. It is a blessing for a steady stream of material wealth; It is also a blessing for diligence and pragmatism.
Leek stuffing means Jiucai, so it is called Jiucai dumpling
Long: that is, long time and long distance, which is called long wealth. It is the material wealth to pray for a long time; It is also a blessing for eternity. I hope people will be healthy, harmonious, happy and happy for a long time.
Cabbage stuffing - meaning Baicai, so it is called Baicai dumpling
100: quantifier, which means 100 kinds and 100 kinds, is called 100 wealth. Praying for all kinds of wealth; Or to wish the newly married couple a long life together.
Mushroom stuffing - that is, the meaning of gucai, so it is gucai dumpling
Drum: that is, it rises high and protrudes. The shape of mushroom is like an upward arrow, or it is the trend of the stock market. It means to go up and fill the drum, which is called drum wealth; Or to express the best wishes for the younger generation to excel.
Sauerkraut stuffing - that is, the meaning of wealth, so it is called wealth dumpling
Calculation: namely verification and liquidation. If the money is enough to count for one night, how much is it? It is called wealth; Or for the blessing of choice, choice is greater than effort. May relatives and friends have a good choice and make a good choice.
Rape stuffing - meaning wealth, so it is called Youcai dumpling
Yes: it exists. Anyone who has seen Zhao Benshan's sketches will forget "talented, too talented!" What about this famous saying?. It is called wealth; I wish you wealth and talent.
Fish meat stuffing - meaning Yucai, so it's Yucai dumpling
Yu: that is, surplus. If you have more, I wish you more every year. It is called surplus wealth. What you pay is hard work, what you get is wealth, and what remains is health.
Beef stuffing means Niu Cai, so it is called Niu Cai dumpling
Bull: that is, the meaning of bull spirit. It is the favorite of friends who speculate in stocks. Every day when there is a bull market, cattle are called cattle wealth; I wish my friends good health and full of bull spirit.
Mutton stuffing - that is, the meaning of foreign wealth, so it is called foreign wealth dumplings
Ocean: vast and numerous; It is broader than the sea. I wish you foreign wealth, which is called foreign wealth.
Jujube stuffing - that is, the meaning of fortune, so it is called fortune dumpling
Move: that is to call, like the God of wealth. The wealth in the world is dispatched by you, which is called calling for wealth. Traditionally, I like to wrap coins in dumplings. What I eat is the best luck, but it's not very safe and hygienic, so I wrap red dates. I wish what I eat will be prosperous and full of Qi in the new year.
Wild vegetable stuffing means wild wealth, so it is called wild wealth dumpling
Wild: that is, wild, or accidental. Who doesn't like the green and healthy windfall? It is called wild wealth.
Vegetable stuffing - meaning wealth, so it is called wealth to dumplings
Wealth: that is, when wealth comes and the God of wealth comes, it means to receive wealth and accept wealth. Vegetable stuffing, that is, vegetable stuffing and vegetable stuffing, is called wealth.
Sweet stuffing means adding wealth, so it is called Tiancai dumpling
Add Wealth: that is, the meaning of increasing and adding. That is, sweets or dumplings, moon cakes, etc; It is homonymous with genius, which is called adding wealth.