On a cold winter day in 1234, the Song envoys embarked on a long journey to the Kingdom of Jin. Their task was to express the Song dynasty's friendly intentions towards the Jin state and try to ease tensions between the two countries. However, when they arrived at the imperial city of Jin, what they saw and heard was far beyond their imagination. The court life of the Jin Kingdom was completely different from the gorgeous and elegant they expected, but was full of primitive and barbaric atmosphere. The members of the delegation witnessed a shocking banquet, in which the cooking methods and ingredient choices were so frightened that some even hid their faces and lost their words because they could not accept the scene before them. Was this an extreme manifestation of culture, or was it a deliberate psychological tactic by the Jin State, how did they deal with this culture shock, and how would they report it to the Song Dynasty?
The departure and mission of the Song Dynasty envoys
The year 1234 was marked by a new high in tensions between the Song and Jin states. The Song Dynasty, once an ancient civilization, has always been on the weak side in the face of the strong enemy Jin State in the north. Against this background, the Song emperor decided to send an envoy to the Jin State, aiming to ease the tension between the two countries through diplomatic means, and also to try to gain more space for peace and development for the Song Dynasty through friendly diplomatic relations.
The composition of the diplomatic corps carefully selected a group of officials who knew both the Chinese language and diplomatic etiquette. The head of the delegation was Li Sijing, an experienced diplomat who had made many missions to the Liao State and Western Xia and had considerable experience in handling complex international relations. This mission is both a challenge and an opportunity for him. In addition to Li Sijing, there were more than 100 scribes, translators, escorts, and accompanying service personnel, forming this historic diplomatic mission.
Before departure, the envoys held a grand departure ceremony in the capital. The emperor of the Song Dynasty personally presented flags to the members of the envoys and bestowed on them the title of "Messengers of Peace", hoping that they would be able to successfully complete their mission and win glory for the country. At the ceremony, Li Sijing and others knelt down one by one to receive the holy decree, vowing to complete the mission and live up to the emperor's grace.
During the long journey, the delegation passed through several states and counties, and was warmly welcomed by local officials along the way. They crossed the mountains, crossed the mighty rivers, and after several months, finally reached the border of the Kingdom of Jin. Here, the border officials of the Kingdom of Jin have been waiting for a long time, ready to receive this delegation of envoys from the south. Although the attitude of the Jin officials was Hakka, they were not thorough in etiquette, which made the members of the Song Dynasty envoys feel subtle diplomatic pressure.
As the envoys went deep into the territory of the Jin Kingdom, they witnessed the customs of the Jin Kingdom for the first time. Although the Jin State was militarily strong, its culture was much rougher than that of the Song Dynasty. Although the city of Jin is large, in the eyes of the envoys, whether it is the architectural style or the life of the city, it exudes a barbaric atmosphere. This cultural difference was both novel and unsettling for the members of the mission.
The journey of the envoys was full of unknowns and challenges, and they fought for the diplomatic efforts of the Song dynasty at every step, but also for their sense of mission. However, the real challenge lies ahead, and that banquet in the Imperial City of Jin will be one of their most memorable experiences.
First Arrival in China: First Impressions and Culture Shock
As the Song envoys penetrated deep into the hinterland of the Jin Kingdom, their convoy eventually arrived at the capital of the Jin Kingdom, Zhongdu. The city, as the political and cultural center of the Kingdom of Jin, was naturally an important destination for the envoys. However, the envoys saw that the capital was very different from the glorious capital they had expected.
Although the city walls of Zhongdu, the capital of the Jin Kingdom, are majestic, most of the buildings in the city are simple, and the streets are narrow and muddy. Compared to the capital of the Song Dynasty, the market here is quite backward, with low-rise wooden houses and simple street vendors. The members of the legations, guided by Jin officials, walked through these busy but slightly messy streets, witnessing the daily life of the citizens of Jin, a primitive and rugged way of life that contrasted sharply with the civilization and prosperity of the Song Dynasty.
After the initial observations, the envoys were arranged to rest in an inn specially prepared for them by the Jin government. Although this inn is called the "State Guesthouse", its essence is far inferior to similar facilities in the Song Dynasty. The interior of the inn was simply decorated, the facilities were crude, and even the windows were only papier-mâché, which made the members of the envoy corps, who were accustomed to the exquisite life of the Song Dynasty, quite inconvenient.
Soon after, officials from the Kingdom of Jin came to inform the delegation that they would be introduced to the Imperial City to meet with the Emperor of the Kingdom of Jin, Wanyan Shouxu. The envoys were ready to set off and marched towards the imperial city along the path that turned from the official road. However, the so-called "imperial city" was actually just an area enclosed by earthen walls, and its scale and architectural style were rather rudimentary compared to the imperial cities of the Song Dynasty. Although the word "Imperial City" is hung on the gate of the imperial city, the entire entrance looks very simple, not like the grandeur of the imperial city of a big country.
After entering the imperial city, the envoys were led to a large hall called the "Qianyuan Palace". This hall was the place where the Jin Kingdom carried out important political activities, but its interior decoration was equally austere, even rough. The furnishings in the hall are very limited, with only the necessary seating and some basic decorations. Here, the envoys finally met the Emperor of the Kingdom of Jin, Wanyan Shouxu, who, though gorgeously dressed, contrasted with the simplicity of his residence.
During the initial meeting, Wanyan Shouxu welcomed the Song envoys and briefly inquired about their journey. The officials of the Kingdom of Jin watched all this silently, their expressions unpredictable. The members of the legation were somewhat surprised by this type of reception, as in the Song dynasty, the emperor's meetings with foreign envoys were usually more solemn and formal.
Subsequently, Jin officials announced that a welcome banquet would be held for the Song Dynasty envoys to show the friendship and respect of the Jin state. The members of the delegation were full of anticipation for the upcoming banquet, but they also felt a vague sense of unease in their hearts - this banquet would be their first in-depth cultural experience in the Kingdom of Jin, and it could also be the beginning of a culture shock.
Court Banquet: A terrifying experience of dark cuisine
As night fell, the lights in the Imperial City of Jin gradually lit up, and members of the Song Dynasty envoys were guided to a vast banquet venue. This is a welcome banquet prepared by the Jin Kingdom for the Song Dynasty envoys, aiming to show the enthusiasm and boldness of the Jin Kingdom. However, for the members of the envoy corps, accustomed to the exquisite food culture of the Song Dynasty, the banquet became an unprecedented culture shock.
The banquet took place in an open courtyard of the Imperial City, surrounded by a rough wooden fence and illuminated by torches. In the center is a huge iron pot with a blazing fire and several rows of benches around it for guests to sit around. One by one, the officials of the Jin State led the members of the Song Dynasty envoys to their seats, and although the atmosphere was warm, it also carried a kind of primitive roughness.
As the banquet officially began, the chefs of the Golden Country began to process the ingredients on the spot. The first to appear is the meat of various wild animals, including venison, wild boar and horse meat. These cuts of meat are crudely chopped into large pieces and, without any seasoning, thrown directly into a boiling cauldron. The members of the Song Dynasty envoys looked at this cooking method and felt both novel and a little uneasy.
Then, a series of Jinguo special dishes were served, among which the most shocking dish for the members of the Song Dynasty envoys was a dish called "blood sausage". This dish is made by filling the casing with fresh animal blood and boiling it slightly. The officials of the Jin Kingdom were clearly proud of the dish, and the members of the Song Dynasty's envoys were the first to see such a direct way of consuming blood, and many were embarrassed.
During the banquet, the music and dance performances of the Golden Kingdom were also carried out. Dressed in costumes made of beast fur, the dancers dance to the beat of the drums, making the scene both primitive and wild. This kind of performance is very different from the dance style of the Song Dynasty, and is more about showing strength and wildness than the grace and delicacy that are common in the Song Dynasty.
As the feast progressed, a member of the delegation tried to communicate with a chef from the Golden Country, trying to understand the cultural significance behind these unique dishes. In simple Song language, the chef of the Jin Kingdom explained that these cooking methods originated from the hunting culture of the Jin Kingdom, and that hunting was an important activity of the Jin nobility, and that this direct and primitive cooking method was a celebration of nature and vitality.
At the end of the banquet, the emperor of the Jin State, Wanyan Shouxu, raised his glass to the envoys of the Song Dynasty, expressing his respect for the Song Dynasty and his wish that the two countries could coexist peacefully. Although the members of the delegation were shocked by the experience of this banquet, they also felt the uniqueness and rugged beauty of the culture of Jinguo.
This banquet is not only a food experience, but also a profound cultural exchange. Through this series of intuitive and intense experiences, the members of the Song Dynasty envoys began to gradually understand the culture and customs of the neighboring country of Jin.
Homecoming and Reflection: Profound Revelations of Cultural Differences
With the end of the banquet, the days of the Song Dynasty envoys in the Jin Kingdom gradually came to an end. During their time in the Kingdom of Jin, the members of the legation experienced many things that had never been seen before, and saw many scenes that they had never imagined. In the process of preparing to return to China, the members of the delegation began to write a report on their return to China, recording what they had seen and heard in the Kingdom of Jin, as well as their understanding of the culture of the Kingdom.
In the process of writing the report, the members of the mission recorded in detail their observations in the Kingdom of Jin. They described the style of the capital of the Jin Kingdom, the living habits of the people of the Jin Kingdom, and the banquet culture of the Jin court. They tried their best to record these experiences in the most authentic way, hoping to provide the most direct first-hand information for the emperor and court of the Song Dynasty.
While documenting the culture of the Jin Kingdom, the members of the delegation also made in-depth observations of the political and social structure of the Jin Kingdom. They noted that although the Jin state was militarily strong, its political system and social organization differed markedly from that of the Song dynasty. The nobility of the Jin Kingdom still maintained a strong hunting culture, which occupied an important position in the court and in society as a whole.
The members of the delegation also observed the religious beliefs and artistic expressions of the Kingdom of Jin. They found that the religion of the Jin Kingdom was more diverse and inclusive than that of the Song Dynasty. Although the artistic expression of the Jin Kingdom is not as refined as that of the Song Dynasty, it has a rugged sense of power, and this artistic style deeply reflects the character and aesthetics of the people of the Jin Kingdom.
In the process of writing the report, the members of the mission also had to face some misunderstandings and confusion. They realize that cultural differences bring about not only superficial differences in customs and habits, but also differences in understanding and values of the world at a deeper level. They began to think about how to better understand and respect these differences in future diplomatic relations to promote peace and cooperation between the two countries.
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As the envoys set out on their way home, their hearts were filled with thoughts about the future. This envoy trip was not only the completion of a diplomatic mission, but also the beginning of cultural exchange and mutual understanding. The members of the delegation concluded this historic journey with a profound enlightenment of the culture of the Kingdom of Jin, as well as new hope for the future relations between the two countries.