这两天,一位叫Marcelo Duhalde的外国人,用图文并茂的形式,在South China Morning Post 上分(tu) 享 (cao)了他眼中的中国古代帝王的宫廷饮食习惯。
▲图片截取自South China Morning Post
文章标题为:在紫禁城里,皇帝的一日三餐真是又简朴又冷清。
▲图片来自网络
01
你以为贵为九五至尊,皇帝每餐都是大鱼大肉?
文章一开头,这位老外就说:古代皇帝的伙食完全不符合我的期待啊!怎么这么简单清冷?
One common misconception is that the emperor routinely feasted on lavish meals。 His diet was balanced, but surprisingly plain。 Both the Ming and Qing dynasties ate in accordance with the same principle: a diet must promote health。
The Imperial kitchen adjusted the diet of the emperor according to the season。 Lighter dishes were served in the summer with heavier, more nutritious meals in winter。 It was believed that light food increased body fluids, while heavier meals created more vital energy。
Menus were drawn up in advance for each meal and submitted to the inner court minister for approval。
皇帝每天的菜单都是提前安排好的,提交给内务府大臣审核批准。
▲图片来自网络; 身体棒棒哒~
“日理万机”的皇帝每餐要吃些什么?跟现代人平时吃的东西有什么区别?
The emperor‘s diet mostly consisted of pork, mutton and fowl and vegetables。 All the dishes were served with covers that were removed when the emperor took his seat at the table。
Main courses included bird‘s nest soup, duck, chicken, deer tail, pork, cakes, pastries or pickles。 Beef was banned in the palace because it was considered a sin to consume animals that were beasts of burden。
Qing dynasty emperors had two formal meals a day。 These were served on gold dishes or special porcelain manufactured in Jingdezhen in Jiangxi province。
清朝皇帝们每天只吃两顿正餐!这些食物都是装在黄金餐盘里或是江西景德镇定制的瓷器餐具里。
皇帝的伙食放到今天,依旧是营养均衡,食材高贵冷艳。
02
但最让老外费解的是: 皇帝吃饭怎么连个家人都不在场?
堂堂一国之君,吃饭竟然连个“饭搭子”都没有?
▲图片来自网络
Qing emperors made it their custom to eat meals alone except during special ceremonies,without even the pleasure of family for company。 Although the Qianlong Emperor sometimes invited a consort to dinner, protocol dictated that all persons, except a dowager empress, had to stand in the emperor’s presence。
The empress and imperial concubines took their meals in their own palaces。
皇后和后宫妃子们只能在自己的住所吃饭。
这饭吃得,怎一个冷冷清清了得。
这世上还有什么比一个人吃饭,更孤独的事情?看来皇帝们都是“一人食”boys~
除了没有“饭搭子”,这位老外还惊讶地发现——清朝皇帝吃饭的时间和地点都不固定!
During the Qing dynasty, emperors did not have a fixed place or time to take their meals。 The emperor would inform his guards when he wished the meal to be served and would sit down to eat wherever he happened to be at that time of day。
The kitchen officials ordered eunuchs to set whichever table was in the emperor‘s vicinity the moment they were informed of the mealtime。
当皇帝想用膳了,御膳房的官员们会让公公们在离皇帝当时临近的桌子上,摆上膳食。
皇帝吃饭的风格,果然跟一般人不一样啊。。。。。。乘兴而起,乘兴而去,吃得就是一个感觉!
▲图片来自网络
03
这位老外还敏锐地捕捉到,中国古代帝王对于食品安全的重视!
作为一朝天子,最怕的就是吃着吃着,被身边人药死了。。。
▲图片来自网络
我们来围观一下古代皇帝吃饭的小心谨慎。。。
The emperors lived in constant fear of assassination and could not afford to trust even their closest attendants or bodyguards, much less the officials and eunuchs in charge of meals。
When the dishes were placed on the table, the emperor would take a small silver plate and insert it several times into each dish。
当餐盘被端上餐桌,皇帝会拿出一个小银盘,然后把它浸入每道菜中,来回几次。
▲图片来自网络
It was believed that the silver plate would change colour if the food had been poisoned。
当这个小银盘变色了,就说明食物里有毒。
If the emperor was in any doubt, he would command the eunuch waiting on him to taste the dishes before beginning the meal himself。
如果皇帝对菜的安全性还不放心,他会让公公先试吃,自己等一会儿再用膳。
小编想说,这么一道程序下来,菜是不是都凉了啊。。。
尽管如此小心,但历史上被毒死的皇帝,据说还有20来位!
▲图片来自网络
这位老外还对皇帝用膳的餐桌用品充满兴趣。毕竟中国皇宫的餐具,跟外国宫廷里的餐具区别很大。
▲图片截取自South China Morning Post
It included enamel bowls, plates and dishes, blue and white jade sunflower tureens and gold and silver thread embroidered napkins。 Meals for Qing Dynasty emperors were served on gold dishes or special porcelain。