11 replies to this topic

[Shaolin]

Hi All,

I am looking for any biography or records of any historical cooks in Chinese History....

It seems that Historical Culinary figures in Chinese history were unrecorded by historians....but their recipes were....

I will be grateful to anyone if he can point out anyone from any dynasty period...

[General_Zhaoyun]

Here are the 10 famous chinese historical cooks from the source http://www.esgweb.ne...200508/1829.htm

1. Yi Yin 伊尹
One of the the prime ministers of the Shang dynasty. During the reign of Shang Tang, he was known as "Sage of Cooks".

2. Yi Ya 易牙
Also known as "Di Ya 狄牙 ", a famous 'witch' and cook during Spring/Autumn period. Specialised in frying, brewing, roasting, broiling and flavoring. Well-liked by Duke Huan of Qi (齐桓公）

3. Lord Taihe 太和公
He was a famous cook in the state of Wu during late Spring/Autumn period. Had great expertise on seafood and was famous for his broiled fish.

4. Shan Zu 膳祖
A famous female cook during the Tang dynasty. She had once written a book on chinese food known as "You Yang Za Zu 《酉阳杂俎》".

5. Fan Zheng 梵正
A nun during the 5 Dynasties period, a famous female cook. She was known for inventing a dish known as "Wang Chuan Xiao Xiang 辋川小祥" and became famous. She combined culinary and presentation art as one and even tried to blend 'mountain and water art" into the dish. She also attempted to blend poetry metaphor into a dish.

6. Liu Niangzi 刘娘子
A female Imperial cook during Southern Song dynasty (reign of Gaozong). She was the 1st female imperial cook in Chinese history.

7. Song Wusao 宋五嫂
A famous female cook among the common people during the Southern Song period. Emperor Gaozong once travelled on the Western Lake and tried her fish soup. Upon much praise, she became famous. She was regarded as the founder of "thin sliced fish".

8. Dong Xiaowan 董小宛
A prostitute during the late Ming and early Qing period. Specialised in vegetarian dishes and pastries, in particular peach cream, melon cream, pickled vegetable. She invented a number of food that are still famous in Yangzhou such as "Stuffed Flavoured Sweet （灌香董糖）" and "rolled crispy sweet (卷酥董糖）".

9. Xiao Meiren 萧美人
A famous female cook and chef on desserts and pastries during Qing period. She specialised in Mantou, Cakes, Dumplings.

10. Wang Xiaoyu 王小余
A famous cook during Qing period (reign of Qianlong). Have great culinary skills and theoretical experience. Yuan Mei's culinary book "Sui Yuan Shi Dan 《随园食单》" relied alot on Wang Xiaoyu's explanation for theory on chinese cooking and food.

[Yun]

Shan Zu 膳祖
A famous female cook during the Tang dynasty. She had once written a book on chinese food known as "You Yang Za Zu 《酉阳杂俎》".

Actually, Youyang Zazu was a collection of interesting stories written by Duan Chengshi 段成式, the son of Prime Minister Duan Wenchang 段文昌. But because 'Shanzu' was the chief cook for the Duan household and was so good at cooking, Duan Chengshi mentioned many of her culinary masterpieces in his book. 'Shanzu' was not her real name - it was a flattering nickname given to her that meant 'Ancestor of all Cooks'. Her real name is no longer known.

[Yun]

Yi Ya 易牙
Also known as "Di Ya 狄牙 ", a famous 'witch' and cook during Spring/Autumn period. Specialised in frying, brewing, roasting, broiling and flavoring. Well-liked by Duke Huan of Qi (齐桓公）

There is a notorious story about Yi Ya steaming his own eldest son for Lord Huan to eat. The earliest appearance of this story is in Han Feizi.

《韩非子·二柄》：桓公好味，易牙蒸其首子而进之。('Lord Huan liked good food, and so Yi Ya steamed his own eldest son and presented it as food to him.')

《韩非子·十过》：君之所未尝食，唯人肉耳，易牙蒸其首子而进之。(Guan Zhong says to Lord Huan: "My lord had eaten all kinds of food except for human flesh, and Yi Ya then steamed his eldest son and presented it as food.")

Strangely, this story caused later scholars to use Yi Ya as an example of a great cook, even though there is no evidence that he was good at cooking. They also wrote his name as Di Ya 狄牙 instead of Yi Ya. For example, Wang Chong of Eastern Han wrote 调和葵韭，不俟狄牙 ('to blend mallow and chives, one does not need to be a Di Ya'), while Pan Ni of Western Jin wrote 狄牙典膳，百品既陈 ('with Di Ya in charge of the kitchen, a hundred great dishes would soon be ready').

[Yun]

1. Yi Yin 伊尹
One of the the prime ministers of the Shang dynasty. During the reign of Shang Tang, he was known as "Sage of Cooks".

The whole idea that Yi Yin was a good cook comes from a single line in Shiji:

负鼎俎，以滋味说汤，致于王道

This says that at Yi Yin's first meeting with Cheng Tang (Shang Tang), he carried a cooking cauldron and a chopping board and used cooking good food as a metaphor to explain to Tang the principles of good kingship. But it doesn't necessarily mean that Yi Yin was good at cooking, only that he was good enough at talking about it for Cheng Tang to be convinced by the similarity between good cooking and good government.

[snowybeagle]

I thought there was also a legend of Yi Yin infiltrating the Xia court/palace as a chef?

[Yun]

I thought there was also a legend of Yi Yin infiltrating the Xia court/palace as a chef?

I wouldn't be surprised if there now is such a legend, but I would be surprised if it goes back earlier than the Ming period.

[learner980]

Learned here is really full of knowledge, extensive and profound Chinese civilization is indeed

[acdu]

salute to the profound Chinese culture!

[acdu]

I love Chinese food very much

[RayhanHossen]

Really so greatful ! The chinese food is so popular all of the world. The main reason for this, i think, the delicious taste of chinese food and it's presentation. Learning 10 femous cooks of chinese history, i feel much pleasure. outsourcing

[carolgreen616]

Chinese is famous for its dumplings ,very nice in all