During the Liao-Jin period, Beijing, as the seat of the Liao-Nanjing and Jin-Zhongdu, gradually established itself as the political center of the north.
This historical change has not only promoted Beijing's urban development, but also profoundly affected the local food culture, making it enter a new stage of development.
During this period, the food culture of Liaonanjing and Jinzhongdu showed rich and colorful characteristics. With the exchange and integration of various ethnic groups, the blending of food culture has become a significant feature.
While adhering to their own eating habits, different ethnic groups also actively absorb and learn from the food culture of other ethnic groups, thus forming a unique Beijing food culture.
In the Yanjing region of the Liao Dynasty, we can see the dietary differences and blends between the Han and ethnic minorities.
Han Chinese people eat grain and vegetables as their staple food, and the proportion of meat has increased compared with other Central Plains regions.
The Khitan and other northern ethnic minorities eat meat and dairy products as their staple food, and although they also grow grain and vegetables, meat and dairy products still occupy an important place in their diets.
However, this dietary difference has not hindered communication and integration among the various ethnic groups. On the contrary, it promotes mutual learning and borrowing between different ethnic groups.
For example, the Khitan learned more cooking skills and food processing methods from the Han Chinese, and the Han people also introduced more meat and dairy products from the Khitans, thus enriching their diet.
By the Jin Dynasty, the food culture of the Zhongdu region continued to develop and incorporate the characteristics of the Jurchen people. The Jurchen people have a rich variety of foods, such as staple foods such as barnyard rice and noodles, as well as various soups made from animal blood and offal.
These Jurchen specialties have gradually been integrated into the food culture of the Zhongdu region, adding new elements to Beijing's food culture.
In addition, the Jurchen people of the Jin Dynasty also had unique customs in drinking tea and brewing wine. Although tea drinking was seen as a sign of acceptance of sinicization, it was very popular among the upper class of the Jin Dynasty.
Tea was transmitted to the Youyan region through the Rongchang trade of the Northern Song Dynasty and the "Gongna" of the Song Dynasty, and the style of tea drinking quickly became popular among the upper class of the Jin Dynasty and gradually spread to all classes.
At the same time, the folk liquor industry in the Zhongdu area of the Jin Dynasty was also very developed, and there were many restaurants in the city, reflecting the prosperity of the liquor culture at that time.
In the process of ethnic integration, Beijing's food culture not only absorbs the special foods of various ethnic groups, but also integrates the cooking skills and food customs of various ethnic groups.
This integration not only makes Beijing's food culture more colorful, but also lays the foundation for its subsequent development.
It is worth mentioning that the food culture of Beijing in the Liaojin Dynasty had more obvious national characteristics than that of later dynasties. While trying to adhere to their own eating habits, various ethnic groups have also been influenced by the food culture of other ethnic groups, and gradually changed.
For example, the Han people not only changed the habit of eating relatively single staple grains, but also began to "eat meat and drink cheese". This change not only reflects the exchange and integration between various ethnic groups, but also reflects the inclusiveness and innovation of Beijing's food culture.
Overall, Beijing's food culture in the Liaojin era is a rich and interconnected history. While adhering to their own eating habits, all ethnic groups actively absorb and learn from the food culture elements of other ethnic groups, forming a unique Beijing food culture.
This kind of culture not only enriches people's taste bud experience, but also reflects the unique charm of the pluralistic and integrated culture of the Chinese nation. By in-depth understanding of this history, we can better understand and appreciate the profound heritage and diverse characteristics of Beijing's food culture.
At the same time, it also provides valuable reference and inspiration for us to inherit and carry forward the excellent traditional culture of the Chinese nation.