After defeating the nine-headed lion and leaving Yuhuazhou, the Tang monks and apprentices came to Jinping Province. At that time, it was the Shangyuan Festival, so the Tang monks and disciples went to the street to watch the lights.
On the Golden Lantern Bridge, Tang Monk saw three large cylinders of golden lamps. Above the golden lamp is two layers of exquisite attic, and the lamp oil inside emits a fragrance. The Tang monk asked the monk what kind of lamp oil it was, and the monks explained it to him in detail.
It turned out that this lamp oil was called "crisp sesame oil", and this oil cost two or two pieces of silver for one or two, and each pound was worth thirty-two taels. For three days, the three golden lamps cost 1,502 pieces of sesame oil, for a total of 48,000 taels of silver. In fact, this lamp oil was secretly drunk by three rhinoceros spirits pretending to be Buddha.
One or two oils are worth two or two silver, and a pound of oil is worth thirty-two silver, and the number is not large, and it seems that there are not many. But if you convert to today's currency, you know it's ridiculously expensive.
In Journey to the West, one or two pieces of silver can only buy half a pig. A pig is calculated according to 150 pounds, and today's pigs are almost 17 yuan a pound, so the calculation can be seen that a pig is almost 2550 yuan. 1 two silver can only buy half a pig, then it can be speculated that 1 two silver is equivalent to more than 1200 yuan today.
1 two crisp sesame oil is worth two or two silver, that is, more than 2400 yuan, so look, is it too expensive? In fact, it is not only too expensive, it is almost comparable to gold.
The question arises: Why is crisp sesame oil so expensive? Was it written by the author, or is there some other reason?
After checking the information, you will find that there are really many and indeed valuable items in the history of crisp sesame oil, and in history, they are often precious items that foreign countries pay tribute to China. Since it is a tribute, it is obviously extraordinary.
Crisp sesame oil, also known as Suhe sesame oil, the earliest mention of this sesame oil is the Book of the Later Han Dynasty
There is also a fine cloth, or water sheep, and a wild silkworm cocoon. Combine the incense and fry its juice to think of it as Suhe. All foreign treasures are revealed.
Suhe, is a witch hazel tree, produced in Asia Minor, the resin of this tree, is called Suhexiang, Suhexiang refined oil, is Suhexiang oil.
The thirtieth volume of the Wanliye Compilation mentions that "when the canal is sick, rub the Suhe oil and other things all over the body, and the method of curing the disease in Yunqi country is like this." In the "History of Ming", it is also said, "Fang Yuan's father has a disease and needs dragon brain, Shen Xiang, Su He, and sesame oil." It can be seen that Suhe can indeed cure diseases.
However, from the historical records, Suhe is made by frying several spices, more than one. It is mentioned in the Taiping Imperial Records that "combines the herbs and frys them for Suhe". Suhe is a precious incense, and it is fried with other incense, and the price is naturally very expensive. Emperor Huizong of Song also "served Su Hexiang with a silver bowl" and gave it to the chancellor Wang Chu.
Suhe can also make "Suhe Incense Pills", and there are Suhe Xiang Pills in the Taiping Huimin and Pharmacy Bureau Fang, and its ingredients are Aoki incense, black rhinoceros chips, benzoin, agarwood, musk, cloves, cucumbers, dragon brain, Suhe sesame oil and smoked lu incense.
Since it is incense, it can naturally be used to deodorize, and the yuan miscellaneous drama "Qian Da Yin Zhi Pet Xie Tianxiang" said, "Break the Su He incense oil, I feel that the spiny needle tip can burn the oil smell." ”
During the Song Dynasty, the ink in Huizhou, Anhui was very famous, and Emperor Huizong of Song especially liked it. To this end, he also personally made emblem ink. However, he is an ink made of suhe oil soaked in smoke. Later, Jin Zhangzong of the Jin Dynasty also bought this ink, but one or two gold could buy one or two such inks.
Emperor Huizong of Song used Suhe oil and smoke as ink, and after Jin Zhangzong bought it, he only got one or two pounds of gold, which was a very good thing.
Although ink is valuable, Suhe oil is also the key. It can also be seen from this side that Suhe oil is really expensive. Otherwise, the price of emblem ink will not be so high.
Since it is a tribute and a gift, it is obvious that Suhe is very valuable. Since it is expensive, it can deodorize and cure diseases, and the price of Suhe sesame oil is outrageous.
In short, Suhe sesame oil is a very precious sesame oil, and from its status, it seems to be first-class. Since Suhe sesame oil is so precious, it is understandable that the price is extremely high.
Because it is first-class, the price is high, which is also the reason why rhinoceros essence loves to drink crisp sesame oil.