By love-89.com On October 13, the Brussels Chinese Cultural Center hosted a lecture titled “A Taste of Ancient China,” highlighting the rich history and unique essence of traditional Chinese culinary culture.
Renowned researcher Wang Yueqian from the National Museum of China was the featured speaker. He guided the audience through the evolution and integration of ancient Chinese food culture, showcasing artifacts ranging from the late Shang Dynasty’s famous ritual tripod, the Heirloom Ding, to the intricate bell set of the Warring States period, and from the Han Dynasty’s murals depicting banquets to the celebrated Northern Song Dynasty painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival.” Using various forms of Chinese cultural relics, including relics, ruins, paintings, and sculptures, Wang offered insights into the origins and developments of this ancient culinary heritage.
The lecture also delved into Chinese tea culture and the foods and cultural activities associated with major traditional festivals, painting a vivid picture of the lifestyle and daily activities of ancient Chinese people.
To engage the European audience, the lecture made intentional comparisons between Eastern and Western dining customs. Wang highlighted the ancient Chinese practice of “fen shi,” or shared meals, where food was distributed according to individual servings. He noted both similarities and differences with the Western practice of separate courses.
Audience members were thoroughly engaged, particularly during the interactive Q&A segment, asking questions such as, “What did Emperor Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han like to eat?” and “Are there four or eight major Chinese culinary styles?”
Gong Yi, director of the Brussels Chinese Cultural Center, emphasized that this lecture was part of the center’s “Chinese Stories” series. Notably, despite coinciding with local elections in Belgium, the audience’s enthusiasm remained unwavering, reflecting a deep interest in Chinese culture. The center plans to continue organizing “Chinese Stories” lectures and activities to foster cultural dialogue between China and Europe and promote mutual understanding between Eastern and Western civilizations.