History of ancient meat in China: Why did the rich eat sheep and the poor eat pigs?

During the Ming Dynasty, pork gradually became popular, at least in royal recipes. According to the History of the Forbidden City in Ming Dynasty, there are roast pork, pork sausage, pork arm meat and pork buns in the royal Chinese New Year recipes. It shows that the pork at this time can already be put on the stage of elegance.

But among the people, the popularity of pork is still not as good as that of beef and mutton. The price of beef 1.0 13 and pork 0.0 18 in the five years of Wanli in Beijing. In the twenty years of Wanli, pork rose to 0.02 taels, and beef and mutton 1 kg only needed 0.0 15 taels. It also shows that beef and mutton are still more popular meat than pork at this time.

In the Qing dynasty, pork finally reversed and became the main meat of the Han nationality. In the Gourmet Yuan Mei's Menu with the Garden, the pig was listed as a special sacrifice list, saying: "Pigs are used the most, and they can be called' religious leaders'. The ancients should have special dolphin feeding. " In his introduction, there are 43 dishes related to pork, including braised pork, boiled pork and fried pork.

Beef and mutton are classified as "miscellaneous animals". "Cattle, sheep and deer are not common in southern families." However, the formula must be known. Make a list of miscellaneous sacrifices. "

Although the eating habits are gradually reversed, the status of beef and mutton cannot be shaken. 1840, when the green-eyed British put the cannon under the nose of the Qing Dynasty, Qishan was appointed as an imperial envoy to negotiate with foreigners. On the day before the talks, he sent food to the British fleet according to the old rule of the imperial court to entertain envoys, including 20 steer cows, 200 sheep, many ducks and chickens, one or two thousand eggs, but not a pig.