Culture of Food, Food as Culture: Ancient Chinese Food Culture in Cultural Relics

Food holds extraordinary significance in Chinese civilization. The long-lasting and profound food culture is an important part of ancient Chinese traditional culture. After thousands of years of accumulation, Chinese food culture has been inherited through steadfastness and innovated through change, resulting in exquisitely crafted culinary utensils, a self-contained system of cooking techniques, and an extensive body of classical literature. Food activities have also nurtured and developed a series of philosophical concepts, political wisdom, and scientific ideas that have influenced the development of Chinese civilization. They provide an inexhaustible source of inspiration for numerous artistic creations, including traditional music, dance, painting, sculpture, and poetry, contributing significantly to the richness of the world’s cultural heritage. By summarizing the unique features of food culture from various historical periods and presenting them through physical exhibitions, we can authentically and comprehensively showcase the profound depth and unique charm of ancient Chinese food culture to a wide audience.

Date: 2024.10.16. 17:00

Greetings by: Gábor Veres, Deputy Director General

Brief Introduction to the Speaker:

Wang Yueqian, research fellow and curator at the National Museum of China.

He specializes in exhibition planning, research on cultural relics, and archaeology, while also engaging in painting creation. Exhibitions he has curated include “Rituals from the East: Archaeological Discoveries at the Jiaojia Site in Shandong,” “Echoes of Zhou: Archaeological Findings at Liujiawa, Shaanxi,” “Ancient Chinese Food Culture Exhibition,” and “Blanc de Chine: Dehua White Porcelain.” He has participated in archaeological excavations at sites such as the Shang Dynasty site in Yuanqu, Shanxi, the Yuancun site in Xiaxian, and the Zhoujiazhuang site in Jiangxian. His major works include “Yuanqu City (Volume 2)” and “Pictorial Guide to Chinese Culture: Archaeological Discoveries.”