|
There is also a yuanxiao without fillings of any kind. It is boiled in water mixed with rice wine. Sometimes it is fried or steamed. When cooked this way, it has a different taste. wish.1155815.com
Food is embedded with culture. When we eat something we think of the story or legend behind it, in some cases. We already know the story how the palace maid Yuanxiao presented tangyuan to Fire God. Now let us see how it came about? 1155815.cn
This is the story about it. The story begins with Emperor Zhao of the Chu State. Toward the end of the Spring and Autumn period (722 -- 481 B.C.), he was on his way back to his own state on 15th of the first lunar month. While he was crossing a river, he picked from the water a strange-looking nut no one had ever seen before. It had white peel and red content and tasted extra sweet. He sent it to Confucius to find out about it. Confucius said the nut the Emperor had picked up from the river was a very rare thing in the world called “fu pingguo”——“floating apple" and he went on to say that possessing such a rare thing was a harbinger of a strong and prosperous Chu.
1155815.com
Emperor Zhao was extremely happy. He issued a decree that on15th of the first lunar month every year a food made of glutinous rice flour filled with hawthorn in the shape of "fu pingguo" was served as a national food by which it was hoped that the State of Chu would enjoy everlasting peace. As the nut was from water, the food was boiled in water. That was the thing that evolved into tangyuan later. Chinese Folklores & Festivals Website
But among the folks there is a more popular story about the birth of tangyuan. Once upon a time on the east bank of Taihu Lake there lived a young man named Zhang Cheng. He was a very honest and hard-working person. He made a living by keeping silkworms. He took care of his silkworms the way mothers take care of their children. When Goddess of Silkworms learned about him, she came to see Zhang Cheng, turning herself into a beautiful young girl. She taught Zhang how to raise silkworms better and Zhang fell in love with her. When he plucked up courage to ask for her hand, she had to tell him the truth. Zhang was sad and disappointed and Goddess of Silkworms tried to comfort him, saying that she would bless and protect him and his silkworms. With that the Goddess disappeared. That happened on 15th of the first lunar month the first full moon night.
民俗节庆门户网站
|
