In ancient China, natural salt was called "bitten", and only salt that has been processed by humans was called "salt". The earliest discovery and utilization of natural salt in ancient China was in the prehistoric era. Just like the licking and drinking of rock salt and salt water by animals, it was based on physiological instinct. The records of "white deer drinking from the spring", "cows licking the ground to produce salt", "monkeys licking the ground" and "sheep licking the soil" handed down from ancient China, as well as the Connaught Salt Land in Virginia in North America, all illustrate that Got this.
The earliest natural salt discovered and utilized in China was pond salt. It is produced in the vast northwest regions such as Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu. The most famous one is the salt pond in Yuncheng, Shanxi (i.e. Jiechi and Hedong Salt Pond) with a long history. It is recorded in "Historical Records" that the Yellow Emperor once defeated Emperor Yan at Banquan and defeated Chi. Especially in Zhuolu, and later "the city is in Zhuolu". According to expert research: "Banquan is located at the source of Yanchi in Jie County, Shanxi Province. It is nearby Chiyou City, Chiyou Village and Zhuoze, and is also known as Zhuolu." And "the bloody war between Yan and Huang actually started over salt."
When humans first began to eat salt, there is no historical record or archaeological data that can clearly explain it. However, it is conceivable that, like the use of fire, the discovery and consumption of salt also experienced an extremely long time. When the ancient ancestors were in the ignorant era of "eating grass and trees, the meat of birds and beasts, drinking their blood, and chewing their hair", they did not yet know what salty taste was or what salt was. In later generations, people did not add salt to the broth used for sacrificial rituals, which is called "big soup is not enough" to show their compliance with ancient rituals. Sima Qian also recorded this ancient ritual in "Historical Records? Music Book": "The ritual of eating a big meal is to serve Xuan wine and eat fishy fish. If the big soup is not harmonious, there will be some leftovers." These records in ancient books can all be found. It is regarded as evidence that the ancient ancestors did not know or understand salt. Therefore, it can be inferred that ancient ancestors did go through a long historical period when they did not know how to eat salt.