introduction
In a tranquil piece of land in the countryside of Jinnan, I was fortunate enough to see an eye-catching ancient object - the deep well earth refrigerator.
This earthen refrigerator has existed for 100 years, and has gone through four generations now, witnessing the joys, sorrows and sorrows of families on this land.
Although under the impact of modern technology, the use of deep well earth refrigerators has gradually declined, but it has gone through wind and rain in the countryside in its own thousand-year-old way, quietly carrying the life memories of generations of people.
This ancient earthen refrigerator is not a refrigerator in the ordinary sense of the word, it consists of a deep well and special storage containers, and may have appeared in rural life at first as a purely food storage tool.
However, as the years passed, it became more than just a practical tool, but a symbol of culture and memory.
In this era of changing times and rapid technological updates, it continues the charm of rural life in a low-key way.
01
During the interview, I met Grandma Wang, an elder in the village. She is one of the oldest residents in the area, and her eyes are full of excitement and pride when she talks about the Sham Tseng earthen refrigerator.
She told me that the deep well was left by her great-grandfather and was dug to solve the problem of food preservation.
Since my great-grandfather's generation, the Fukatsui earthen refrigerator has become a family heirloom and has been used for generations.
Uncle Li also shared his personal experience, "This earthen refrigerator was left by my grandfather's generation, and it is said that this deep well has existed since my great-grandfather's time and has been used to store food. Our family has been passed down from generation to generation, and the younger generations will receive the traditional teachings of the elders and learn how to use this earthen refrigerator. ”
I was curious and asked, "What is the structure of this earthen refrigerator, and what is so special about using it?"
Uncle Li explained slowly, "This is a deep well, more than 20 meters deep, and a small hole has been opened in the stone slab above the wellhead, which is our earthen refrigerator." In the summer, we put the food we want to preserve in bags, tie it to the rope wheel with fine hemp rope, and slowly lower it to the bottom of the well, because the temperature at the bottom of the well is lower than the ground, and the food can be quickly cooled and preserved. This homethen refrigerator is rudimentary, but it is very effective, and every household uses it to preserve food. ”
Hearing this, I was even more curious about this ancient earthen refrigerator, and Uncle Li immediately led me to the deep well.
I leaned over and looked into the deep well, because it was too deep to see what the bottom of the well looked like, so I could only feel the cool air from the mouth of the well. The deep well seems to be the source of life for this small village.
Uncle Li saw that I couldn't see anything, so he simply turned the rope wheel next to him and took out the things at the bottom of the well.
Good guys, that's a lot of stuff. The big bags are full of fresh seasonal vegetables, and it is really surprising to put them in the refrigerator in the city and in the deep pit here.
I took the plastic bag in Uncle Li's hand and touched it, it was cold, the plastic bag was filled with water vapor, and it was not inferior to the refrigerator in terms of temperature. Uncle Li pointed to the dishes in the bag and told me that these dishes had been sitting for two or three days.
"I learned this from my grandmother, and the beans, rice and noodles we keep in this way will not go bad for half a year or even longer. Uncle Li smiled proudly as he spoke.
"The most important thing is that it doesn't cost electricity, so it's easy to use"
This seemingly simple earthen refrigerator has a preservation effect that should not be underestimated, and I deeply feel the preciousness of the traditional wisdom of the countryside.
This ancient method of preservation, inherited from their grandmothers by the village dwellers, kept the food fresh by burying it in deep wells, using the natural temperature and humidity underground.
Uncle Li's smile reveals pride and trust in this traditional method.
02
I was even more curious to ask Uncle Li about the specific principle of this method. Uncle Li patiently explained that the working principle of the deep well earth refrigerator is to use the stable temperature and humidity underground to provide an ideal storage environment.
In deep wells, the temperature of groundwater is relatively low and relatively stable. This allows the temperature inside the Fukai-clay refrigerator to be kept at a lower level, which is cooler than the surrounding environment.
Although there is no electricity supply and thermostat of modern refrigerators, the stable temperature of groundwater can effectively slow down the rate of food spoilage.
That's why, with this traditional method of preservation, food can be preserved for half a year or even longer without the need for other preservation methods.
In addition, the deep well earth refrigerator also has a certain humidity adjustment function. Since the evaporation of water is balanced with the humidity of groundwater, the interior of the deep well earth refrigerator is able to maintain a certain humidity.
Compared to a dry environment, moderate humidity can prevent food from drying out and spoiling, thereby prolonging the shelf life of food. This humidity regulation further increases the preservation effect of the deep well soil refrigerator.
This traditional method of preservation, while seemingly rudimentary, demonstrates wisdom and creativity.
Rural residents apply their observations of nature and the environment to their daily lives, and in this way, they succeed in maintaining the freshness and quality of their food.
The advantage of this traditional method of preservation is not only that it is economical, but also that it respects and cherishes the food.
In this way, the food is not processed into an unrecognizable, plastic-encased form, but retains its original texture and taste.
During the whole exchange, Uncle Li was very enthusiastic. Although the communication was not very smooth due to the dialect, the whole conversation was successfully completed with the assistance of the staff.
When leaving Uncle Li's house, he sent us to the door, looking at the back that was gradually moving away, Shenjing was being eliminated by this society, and these old people who were lost in the torrent were not it.
03
After finishing this meaningful interview, I decided to conduct in-depth research to learn more about the use of this century-old earthen refrigerator in rural areas of southern Jinnan.
I interviewed more villagers and listened to their stories and experiences related to this earthen refrigerator.
Through conversations with the villagers, I learned that this earthen refrigerator is not only a weapon for food preservation, but also a symbol of culture.
In the rural areas of southern Jin, every household follows the tradition of using this earthen refrigerator, and they owe the freshness and preservation of food to this ancient and magical device.
This way of using it has continued for generations and has become a part of village life and is deeply rooted.
The villagers told me that the storage capacity of this earthen refrigerator is excellent. They can preserve a variety of foods, including vegetables, legumes, fruits, meat, and more.
These foods can stay fresh for months, or even half a year, when kept in the refrigerator. This allows residents in rural areas of Jinnan to store large quantities of food during the harvest season for the rest of the year.
Due to the built-in cooling function of the earthen refrigerator, in the scorching heat of summer, the villagers will put fresh oranges, apples and other fruits and vegetables into clay pots, hang them on rope wheels, and sink to the bottom of the deep well, so as to maintain the freshness and taste of the fruits and vegetables.
This method of preservation has created a unique landscape in rural life, where people share their supplies with each other.
However, with the development of the times and the impact of urbanization, the use of this earthen refrigerator has gradually decreased. With the development of modern refrigeration technology, people choose to use refrigerators and refrigeration equipment more often.
Despite this, some residents of rural Jinnan still adhere to this tradition, viewing the earthen refrigerator as an integral part of rural life.
This earthen refrigerator is not only a practical food preservation tool, but also carries the continuation of local culture behind it.
It represents the wisdom and diligence of the farmers of Jinnan, and also tells their dependence and inheritance on the traditional way of life. The precious preservation of this rural memory is reflected through the existence of earthen refrigerators.
Despite the unprecedented convenience brought by modern technology, it is also time to re-examine these traditional wisdom and cultures, which embody the human understanding of nature and life.
It is hoped that this century-old native refrigerator in Jinnan can receive more attention and protection in the future, pass on its story, and let more people know and feel the value of this rural memory.
04
In the modern world, we have been surrounded by technology and convenience, and there are few opportunities to come into contact with and learn Xi these traditional wisdoms.
However, it is this traditional wisdom that allows us to better connect with nature and human history, allowing us to respect and cherish food and nature's gifts more.
This earthen refrigerator is not only a container for storing food, but also a symbol of inheritance and continuity. It carries the wisdom and experience of rural people for life, and makes people feel the charm and power of traditional culture.
It is the preciousness of this traditional wisdom that makes us emphasize the importance of maintaining a balance between traditional and modern culture.
This story made me reflect on the balance between traditional culture and modern culture. Traditional culture has a wealth of wisdom and practical experience, and traditional preservation methods are one of them.
We should respect and protect traditional culture as a valuable resource, not just as a heritage, but also as a source of creativity and wisdom.
At the same time, we should also appreciate the convenience and efficiency brought by modern technology and innovation, and create a better lifestyle by combining tradition and modernity.
In the process of maintaining a balance between traditional culture and modern culture, we should cherish the preciousness of traditional wisdom and creativity, and combine it with modern technology to bring new enlightenment and progress to society and life.
Through inheritance, integration and innovation, we can maintain the charm and influence of traditional culture in modern society, while not losing the convenience and innovation brought by modernization.
As Fukai-clay refrigerators demonstrate, traditional wisdom and modern technology can merge with each other to allow us to experience the best of both worlds in our daily lives.