|
Post by chefying on Aug 27, 2014 16:16:18 GMT
Mooncakes have a tenuous relationship with wuxia world. I am not sure if it was actually written out by Jin Yong in his Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, but I remember distinctively in the TVB 1978 version of Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre, there was a scene were mooncakes was mentioned as part of the plot. Cakes... unlike the West, the Chinese word "gao" 糕 encompasses many a food item, and includes cakes, gateaux, pies, etc., and can be sweet or savoury. Mooncakes 月饼 is an item of food given to friends and relatives during the Autumn or Harvest Festival. During the Mongolian Yuan dynasty, secret messages on when to rise up against the Mongolian rulers were tucked in these mooncakes and were passed on undetected. This was how the Ming managed to gather momentum to rise against the Yuan's. The book Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre was set during this period. Back to the mooncake itself, different places make different types of mooncakes. Many places in China seem to prefer the flaky pastry with some sort of filling inside for their mooncakes. The Cantonese from the Province of Guangdong prefer to have the pastry made quite differently, and is brown in colour. I am of Cantonese origin, so I make my mooncakes the Cantonese style. This is a photo of one of my mooncakes - this type has a filling made of five different types of kernels, called "wu ren" 伍仁. It also has Chinese ham stuffing inside. The most well known Chinese ham is 金华火腿. As such the shortened form of referring to the Five Kernel Mooncakes with Ham Stuffing is "jintui wuren" 金腿伍仁. This is my version of the Five Kernel Mooncakes with Ham Stuffing, but the embossed characters on in say Jin Pai WuRen 金牌伍仁, meaning Gold Award (Winning) Five Kernel Mooncake. This mooncake is stuffed into a wooden mould and is then knocked out, and baked. This is some of my moulds. I have collected a few more since this photo was taken. A close-up of some of my moulds...
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 27, 2014 16:18:47 GMT
These wooden moulds are used for making mooncakes. The spoon is there for scale.
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 27, 2014 16:24:55 GMT
More closeup of some of my moulds.... This is part of my annual mooncake production.... It is very hard work because I prepare the red bean paste and lotus paste personally. Cooking the red bean mush and the lotus mush into red bean paste and lotus paste is back-breaking and dangerous work. As they are cooked, they have to be stirred constantly, and the hot paste splatters during the cooking process. My face and arms have been victims. Hurts like hell.
|
|
|
Post by siuyiu on Aug 27, 2014 17:29:18 GMT
yay, you've revived your mooncake thread! i was particularly interested in the angry bird ones you made for your spoiled nieces and nephews one year! please post pics of some of your past creations! and when you're done the batch for this year, of course.
|
|
|
Post by galvatron prime on Aug 28, 2014 4:50:03 GMT
Moon cake and the Mongols A popular Mid Autumn legend claims that moon cakes were instrumental in the overthrow of the Mongol dynasty, 元朝, that ruled China from 1271–1368. Chinatownology locates this myth against the historical backdrop of the Mongol dynasty. Mid Autumn version Under the oppression of Mongol rule, a plan was devised to overthrow the Mongols. Messages were inserted into moon cakes so that families were informed of the rebellion. The message supposedly read “kill the Mongols on the 15th of 8th lunar month”. Accordingly to the legend, people responded to the call and managed to drive the Mongols out of China and led to the founding of the Ming Dynasty, 明朝, in 1368. Historical version In 1271, the Mongols established the Mongol Dynasty or Yuan Dynasty, 元朝, and by 1279, defeated the Chinese Southern Song Dynasty, 南宋. The Mongols introduced four social categories for their subjects. The top of the hierarchy were Mongols followed by Western and Central Asians, former subjects of the Jin Dynasty (including Chinese) and the bottom were the former subjects of the Southern Song Dynasty (mainly Chinese subjects). The results of Mongolian economic policy such as tax farms and inflation as well as land management failures caused much hardship especially for those at the lower end of the hierarchy, the former subjects of the fallen Southern Song Dynasty. Socially, there controls targeted at the Chinese population. Chinese subjects were not allowed to gather in public, could not own weapons. At one stage, Kublai Khan even forbade Chinese from using bamboos as it could be used to manufacture bows and arrows. There were certainly constrains in communication as well. The various policies resulted in much resentment against the Mongol rulers and many Chinese scholars refused to serve the Mongol government. In less than one century, the Mongol rule over China weakened and various rebellion movements rose to challenge the dynasty. By 1355, one of the rebels, Zhu Yuan Zhang, 朱元璋, emerged as the leader of the rebellion movement. In 1356, he captured Nanjing, 南京, and used it as his based to consolidate his power against other rebel groups. In 1367, Zhu Yuan Zhang sent troops north towards the capital of Yuan Dynasty (today’s Beijing). On 14 September 1368 (2nd day of the 8th lunar month), Zhu Yuan Zhang's troops entered the Mongol capital and the Mongol Emperor Toghun Temur retreated into Mongolia. Zhu Yuan Zhang declared the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, 明朝, and made Nanjing the capital of his new dynasty. Mid Autumn version vs. Historical version Was moon cakes used as a communicate medium for the final uprising to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty? The movement to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty was not a single unified force directed towards the Mongolians. The rebels were collectively known as the Red Turbans, 红军, after their headdress or Incense Army, 香军. Within the Red Turban, there were internal struggle for leadership. The contending leaders installed figurehead Emperors but eventually declared their imperial ambitions. In 1367, when Zhu Yuan Zhang emerged as the leader of the rebels, he sent troops towards the Mongol capital to mark his final victory. The forces sent to attack the Mongols were rebel troops under the control of Zhu Yuan Zhang. Orders were issued from Nanjing, outside of Mongol control and the troops were not civilians as suggested in the Mid Autumn version. There was no need for communications to be sent through moon cakes. The Mid Autumn story does reflect controlled communication among civilians under Mongol rule. Hence, it is possible that the story refers to rebellion movements against the Mongols but not the final uprising that overthrew the Yuan Dynasty in 1368. On the other hand, most of the rebellion movement appropriated popular religious ideas as a unifying force. One of the slogans used was “the empire is in great disorder, Maitreya Buddha shall descend to be reborn and the King of Light shall appear in this world.” (天下大乱弥勒下生明王出世). This “popular” movement was different and not related to the mainstream Buddhism practiced at that time. The Red Turban itself had distant association with the millenarian White Lotus Society, 白莲教 and had used similar concepts to install one of their Emperor in 1355. The, Emperor, Han Ling er, 韩林儿, was known as Lesser King of Light, 小明王. This made the more rational and intellectual message in the Mid Autumn version incompatible with the Red Turban style. It is likely that Zhu Yuan Zhang appropriated popular belief for his political ambitions. After the Ming Dynasty was founded, he issued an edict to ban heterodox teachings (左道乱正). Four traditions were mentioned; Maitrya, White Lotus, Manichaeism and White Cloud. Leaders of heterodox sects faced penalty of strangulation while followers faced the penalty of 100 strokes of flogging and banishment. If moon cakes had been used as a communication medium under the Mongols, it reflected an attempt to overcome the social control. However, it is not likely to have brought about a civilian driven uprising that overthrew the Yuan Dynasty. Last but not least, the Ming troops entered Mongol capital on the 2nd day of the 8th lunar month of 1368 (14 Sept 1368). It was 7 days before the Mid Autumn Festival! www.chinatownology.com/mooncake_and_mongols.html
|
|
|
Post by caiyi on Aug 28, 2014 14:48:25 GMT
Wow, Chef, you have your own box and brand. Do you have a mooncake shop also?
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 28, 2014 15:54:24 GMT
...snipped... On 14 September 1368 (2nd day of the 8th lunar month), Zhu Yuan Zhang's troops entered the Mongol capital and the Mongol Emperor Toghun Temur retreated into Mongolia. ...snipped... If moon cakes had been used as a communication medium under the Mongols, it reflected an attempt to overcome the social control. However, it is not likely to have brought about a civilian driven uprising that overthrew the Yuan Dynasty. Last but not least, the Ming troops entered Mongol capital on the 2nd day of the 8th lunar month of 1368 (14 Sept 1368). It was 7 days before the Mid Autumn Festival! galvatron1976, you debunked and ruined a good story! But seriously, thanks for setting the story straight.
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 28, 2014 15:59:11 GMT
Wow, Chef, you have your own box and brand. Do you have a mooncake shop also? Ah, caiyi, the boxes were bought from a shop near where I live. I do not order from the printer my own boxes. I do not sell my mooncakes - there had been many requests for me to sell them though - but as for my brand, I do have one. No that I sell them, but I made these labels for my Chinese New Year cookies when I give them to friends and family.
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 28, 2014 16:02:07 GMT
yay, you've revived your mooncake thread! i was particularly interested in the angry bird ones you made for your spoiled nieces and nephews one year! please post pics of some of your past creations! and when you're done the batch for this year, of course. Per your request... When Angry Birds were the rage, I made these mooncake figurines for my nephews and nieces. Yes, I spoil them rotten. Truth be told, I have never played the Angry Bird game nor have I watched anyone play it.
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 28, 2014 16:10:46 GMT
Is making mooncakes difficult? Sure as hell, yes, but I have been making them for many years now. This photo was taken some time in the late 1980's - I threw a Moon Cake Festival Party for my friends when I was in London. A closeup of the Mooncakes I made for that party... The white one (left) was the Crystal Pastry Lotus Seed Paste mooncake. This variation was made popular in South East Asia, and it is now growing in popularity in Hong Kong and China. The one with the black filling (right) was a Black Sesame Seed with Szechuan Peppercorn filling - delicious, but it takes a lot of work to make. This is a Central/Northern Chinese style, not Cantonese style. The one with the brown pastry (centre, back) is the Five Kernel Mooncake, Cantonese style. Took me quite a while to make this selection!
|
|
|
Post by galvatron prime on Aug 29, 2014 2:48:44 GMT
Customs of Ethnic Minorities on Mid-Autumn Festival The ethnic minorities in China celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival like the Han Chinese. Whilst some offer sacrifices to the moon, appreciate the moon and eat moon cakes, others celebrate the occasion in their own ways. The Dai nationality is one of the ethnic minorities that make offering to the moon. They include games like pheasants and fish and round glutinous rice cakes. The whole families worship the moon with devotion, after which they enjoy the delicious food and appreciate the bright moon. The most typical custom of the Zhuang nationality, on the other hand, is the invitation of a goddess from heaven on that particular night. A sacrificial table is set at the edge of the village or in an open place where offerings and burning of incense are made. A bamboo or any tree branch of about 13 inches is placed on the right side of the table, where the goddess is supposed to descend to earth and return to heaven. There are four stages to the activity, during which one or two women will play the part of the goddess. Firstly, the goddess is invited to descend to earth; secondly, the antiphonal singing between humans and the goddess; thirdly, the divination and fortune-telling by the goddess and finally, sending the goddess back to the heaven. Reputed as “an ethnic minority on horseback”, the Mongolians’ Moon Festival must have something to do with the horse. They ride horses in the moonlight, all the way to the west where the moon sets. It is called “chasing the moon” and they do not stop until the moon is set on the horizon. The Tibetans celebrate the festival by “seeking” the moon along the river, or more specifically, the moon’s reflection. On the night, young men, women and children try to seek the moon’s reflection around their houses before eating their moon cakes. The Dong nationalities in Hunan Province have an interesting custom called “stealing the moon vegetables.” According to their legend, the goddess from the moon comes to the earth on the night of the Mid-Autumn Day and sprays sweet dews. As these dews are meant for all human beings, everyone thus can share all their vegetables and fruits with sweet dews with anyone. No one will be considered a thief for taking these vegetables or fruits. For single women, they “steal” vegetables or fruits for real love; for married women, the vegetables or fruits can bring them healthy babies; and for single men, they “steal” for happiness. The Miao people play Lusheng (a reed-pipe wind instrument), sing and dance in the moonlight. The singles try to seek their love ones to express their feelings, which is as pure as the moonlight. The Deang ethnic minority celebrate the day in a way somehow similar to the Miao people. They also play musical instrument, Hulusheng (a gourd-pipe wind instrument). Young women and men also express their love on this particular night. Some even get engaged by sending betel nuts and tea. Axi people, a branch of the Yi ethnic minority, gather together in an open place and dance the night away. The most exciting part is the love songs that are sang in antiphonal style by young women and men. Even the moon is touched by their expression. The Oroqen people worship the moon by offering sacrifices and placing a basin of water in front of the offering. The Tu people also has water in a basin but they beat the moon’s reflection. Hence it’s called “Beating the Moon”. In addition to offer sacrifices to the moon, the Hezhen people also harvest grapes, said to commemorate a smart and hard-working woman who ran to the moon because she could not bear the abuse of her mother-in-law. www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/mid-autumn-customs2.htmIt seem Mongol also celebrate mid autumn festival. chefying ,i think the Chinese celebrate eating in moon cake on 1368 after 7 day of overthrow Yuan dynasty .
|
|
|
Post by galvatron prime on Aug 29, 2014 6:52:25 GMT
The Legend of Chang E No one is certain of all the details of the Chang E legend, but the story goes something like this: Chang E was a beautiful young girl working in the Jade Emperor's palace in heaven, where immortals, good people and fairies lived. One day, she accidentally broke a precious porcelain jar. Angered, the Jade Emperor banished her to live on earth, where ordinary people lived. She could return to the Heaven, if she contributed a valuable service on earth. Chang E was transformed into a member of a poor farming family. When she was 18, a young hunter named Hou Yi from another village spotted her, now a beautiful young woman. They became friends. One day, a strange phenomenon occurred -- 10 suns arose in the sky instead one one, blazing the earth. Hou Yi, an expert archer, stepped forward to try to save the earth. He successfully shot down nine of the suns, becoming an instant hero. He eventually became king and married Chang E. But Hou Yi grew to become a despot. He sought immortality by ordering an elixir be created to prolong his life. The elixir in the form of a single pill was almost ready when Chang E came upon it. She either accidentally or purposely swallowed the pill. This angered King Hou Yi, who went after his wife. Trying to flee, she jumped out the window of a chamber at the top of palace -- and, instead of falling, she floated into the sky toward the moon. King Hou Yi tried to shoot her down with arrows, but without success. Once on the moon, Chang E became a three-legged toad, as punishment from the Queen Mother, according to one version of the legend. Her companion, a rabbit, is constantly pounding the elixir of immortality in a large mortar. The moon is also inhabited by a wood cutter who tries to cut down the cassia tree, giver of life. But as fast as he cuts into the tree, it heals itself, and he never makes any progress. The Chinese use this image of the cassia tree to explain mortal life on earth -- the limbs are constantly being cut away by death, but new buds continually appear. Meanwhile, King Hou Yi ascended to the sun and built a palace. So Chang E and Hou Yi came to represent the yin and yang, the moon and the sun. www.moonfestival.org/change.htmlchefying,This a great story about the moon cakes,i think you like this one more.
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 29, 2014 17:13:43 GMT
Meanwhile, King Hou Yi ascended to the sun and built a palace. So Chang E and Hou Yi came to represent the yin and yang, the moon and the sun. www.moonfestival.org/change.htmlchefying,This a great story about the moon cakes,i think you like this one more. Oh, this story is much more interesting! Thanks galvatron1976.
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 29, 2014 17:31:17 GMT
galvatron1976 mentioned the rabbit on the moon, pounding the elixir of life. I dug around, and found this mooncake mould I bought many years ago, with the picture of a rabbit pounding on a mortar. What coincidence!
|
|
|
Post by chefying on Aug 29, 2014 17:34:06 GMT
Cooked red bean paste today. I first soaked the red bean overnight, then boiled them. The were then ground, and cooked with sugar, oil and wheat starch until it became a paste - red bean paste.
|
|