饺子 (Jiǎozi, dumplings)

A food that symbolizes 财 (cái, wealth) and prosperity

By 雷甫瑞 (léi fǔ ruì, Forrest Sprague)

Introduction

• 饺子 are considered lucky because of their resemblance to ancient 中国 (Zhōng Guó, Chinese) money.

• 中国 money consisted of 饺子 -shaped 银 (yín ， silver) and gold ingots called 元宝 (Yuán Bǎo, right).

• Because of the similarity in shape, 饺子 symbolizes 财 and hopes for a profitable future.

饺子传说 (chuán shuō, legend)

• Originally 饺子 was called 娇耳 (jiāo ěr, delicate ears) because they were used to treat frostbitten 耳朵 (ěrduo, ears).

• During 东汉 (Dōng Hàn, Eastern Han Dynasty. 二十五 - 二百二十 AD) a doctor named 张仲景 (zhāng zhòng jǐng) travelled back to his hometown in the county of 南阳 (Nán yáng).

饺子传说• He found the 人们 (rénmen ， people) dying from

hunger and cold. It was so cold that many of the 人们 had frostbitten 耳朵 .

• 张仲景 made a mixture of mutton, cayenne and a special medicine that he wrapped in a piece 耳朵 -shaped dough.

• 饺子 were fed to the cold and hungry 人们 . By 除夕 (Chú Xī, New Years Eve), 他们 (tāmen, they) were saved from their hunger and their frostbitten 耳朵 were healed.

Names of 饺子• Later, they were called 饺子 because they were

horn shaped. The 中国 word for horn is 角 (jiǎo) , and 饺子 was originally written with the 中国 character for “horn”.

• In the ancient 中国 timing system, the time named 子 is twelve o’ clock midnight. 更岁 (gēng suì) 饺子 means the change of 年 and 饺子 means that the change happens at the very moment of 子 . This is why 家人 (jiā rén ， the family) traditionally 吃 (chī, eat) 饺子 just after midnight.

饺子 and Culture

• 饺子 is 一个 (yí gè ， one) of the most important foods in 中国新年 (Xīn Nián ， New Year). 家人 gets together to make 饺子 during the 除夕 .

家人 may hide some coins in 一个饺子 . 人 (rén ， person) who finds the coin will probably have a 好 (hǎo ， good) fortune in the 新年 .

• 饺子 is also a popular food in other 中国 holidays and 节日 (jié rì, festivals), so it is part of the 中国 culture and tradition.

Types of 饺子

• Boiled 饺子 , ( 水饺 , shuǐ jiǎo) literally means “water dumplings”

• Steamed 饺子 , ( 蒸饺 , zhēng jiǎo) literally means “steam dumpling”

• Shallow fried 饺子 ( 锅贴 , guō tiē) literally means “pan stick”. In 美国 (Měi Guó, America) 我们 (wǒmen, we) call these pot stickers

饺子 Fillings

• Common 饺子 肉 (ròu, meat) fillings include 猪肉 (zhū ròu, pork), mutton, 牛肉 (niú ròu, beef), 鸡肉 (jī ròu, chicken), 鱼 (yú, fish), and shrimp.

• Common 青菜 (qīng cài, Vegetables) fillings are cabbage, scallion, leek and 中国 chives.

饺子馅 (Xiàn)

• Xiàn is regarded as the birthplace of 饺子 . In Xiàn you will find the most elegant and delicious 饺子 in all of 中国 (Zhōng Guó, China).