Ancient Chinese Food Culture中国古代饮食文化 精装

中国国家博物馆常设展览“中国古代饮食文化”英文版官方图录 

 

中国国家博物馆是代表国家收藏、研究、展示、阐释中华文化代表性物证的最高历史文化艺术殿堂，负有留存民族集体记忆、传承国家文化基因、促进文明交流互鉴的重要使命，也是国家文化客厅。
彭萍，北京外国语大学教授、英语学院副院长。兼任国际儒学联合会理事、国务院侨办专家咨询委员会委员、中国中医药研究促进会中医药翻译与国际传播专业委员会副会长、中国比较文学学会海外汉学研究分会理事等，荣获“文明之光•2019中国文化交流年度人物”称号。

本书为中国国家博物馆常设展览的英文图录之一种，共分为“食自八方”“茶韵酒香”“琳琅美器”“鼎中之变”“礼始饮食”五个单元，精选文物百余件（套），从食材、器具、技艺、礼仪等不同角度出发，全面呈现中国古代饮食文化的历史变迁，真实刻画古代劳动人民充满烟火气息的日常生活，深刻表达中华民族对丰衣足食的美好生活的憧憬和信心。本书面向国外读者，系统阐释中国古代饮食的发展变迁与文化内涵，引导读者感知中华民族的血脉与生趣。 

 

Introduction
Essays
Wines and Wine Vessels in Ancient China / Sun Ji  
A Study of Ancient Chinese Food Culture from the Perspective of Archaeological Discoveries / Wang Renxiang
Chapter One  Food from Everywhere
Food staples
Domestic animals
Fruit and vegetables
Chapter Two  Wine and Tea
Wine
Tea
Chapter Three  Tableware
Pottery  
Bronzes
Lacquerware
Porcelain
Gold, silver and jade ware
Chapter Four  The Evolving Kitchen
Cooking methods  
Food in books  
Food and state governance
Chapter Five  Ritual in Dining
Ritual vessels   
Dining etiquette   
Banquet etiquette
Curator Team’s Word
Interaction Between ‘People’ and ‘Artefacts’: Design Features of the Ancient Chinese Food Culture Exhibition / Wang Hui
Bibliography
Glossary
Afterword

Introduction
Food and drink are essential not only for human survival, but also as important indicators of social development and progress. Food culture is a significant part of traditional Chinese culture. The dining tables of ancient China have witnessed thousands of years of culinary evolution and cultural transformation, from eating raw food to eating cooked food, from simple soups and fermented beverages to sumptuous delicacies. Eating is not just about satisfying hunger and staying alive; it is also an expression of a way of life. The wisdom and dignity of living can be seen everywhere in the preparation and enjoyment of food. 
On December 28, 2021, the National Museum of China launched a thematic exhibition ‘Ancient Chinese Food Culture’. The exhibition aims to show the evolution and cultural significance of food in ancient China, to invite visitors to savour its flavours, and to provide an in-depth understanding of the vitality of China’s cultural heritage.
Ancient Chinese food culture has a history of thousands of years. It encompasses not only exquisitely crafted food utensils, well-established culinary systems and an immense body of literary works and regulations, but it has also engendered philosophical concepts, political wisdom and scientific ideas that have influenced the development of Chinese civilisation. It is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for literary and artistic creations such as traditional music, dance, painting, sculpture, and poetry. 
The exhibition displays more than 240 carefully selected artefacts, which reveal the evolution of China’s culinary culture from various perspectives, including ingredients, utensils, techniques, and etiquette. It vividly portrays the daily life of ancient Chinese working people, reflecting their longing for and confidence in a life of abundance.