In ancient times, science and technology were relatively backward, productivity was relatively low, coupled with the effects of wars and natural disasters, famines often occurred. The situation is better in the south, where famine usually occurs only during periods of severe flooding. Comparatively speaking, floods and droughts often occur in the densely populated northern regions, which is undoubtedly a major disaster for the ancients who relied on the sky for food.
For people living in the mountains and by the sea, the impact of the famine is relatively small, as there is no shortage of food in the mountains and by the sea. But for the ancients who lived on the plains, it was difficult to find something to eat during times of famine.
When the plains ran out of food, they had to survive on grass roots and tree bark. Even today, many plains still have the custom of eating locust flowers.
Many people may wonder why, in a famine year, they don't like to go to the rivers to catch fish and shrimp, but eat grass roots and gnaw tree bark. Of course, this question has a bit of a "why not eat minced meat" feeling, but there are actually some hidden secrets behind it.
Famine has been an unavoidable nightmare for every dynasty for thousands of years of history. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, wars continued and the country's population decreased sharply, resulting in a decrease in agricultural production and eventually a famine with an imbalance between income and expenditure.
In this famine, people faced severe food shortages, and many were forced to gnaw grass roots and tree bark, even in a cannibalistic way.
During the Sui and Tang dynasties, war was the main cause of famine. Famine is getting worse due to the decline in productivity caused by the war, insufficient food production, coupled with political corruption and social chaos. During this period, people had to dig wild vegetables to survive due to hunger.
At the end of the Ming Dynasty, the famine once again swept across the Central Plains, and the reasons for this famine were very complex, including war factors and natural factors. Under the oppression of famine, people began to look for various food sources, and even the tragedy of cannibalism occurred.
The famine is recorded to have lasted for four years, and for the first year, people were barely surviving on the bark and grass roots mixed with food. But by the second year, the people's food supply was almost exhausted. In order to fill their stomachs as much as possible, some people grind small pebbles into powder and make a paste. While this method can temporarily satisfy hunger, there are also many people who die from bloating.
In the third year, the mortality rate of the victims began to rise sharply, and in this state, the victims continued to revolt. This famine can also be considered one of the reasons for the fall of the Ming Dynasty.
So why don't they eat fish and shrimp?
1. Feudal ideology and superstition
In ancient times, when people encountered natural disasters, especially severe droughts, they trusted the so-called "dragon kings", believing that it was because the dragon kings were not satisfied with them, so they "punished" them.
They even exchanged the lives of animals and even humans for psychological comfort, begging for the dragon king's forgiveness, hoping to be protected by the dragon king.
Do you think this is ridiculous? But this kind of thing is not too far away from us, and there are still many people in the last world who believe this statement.
So many people have a natural awe of what is in the water, and they are afraid of being punished for offending the dragon king. Because no one knows which fish or shrimp in the river is the "dragon son and dragon grandson", they dare not catch it casually.
So people don't dare to bet that if something really happens to them, it will affect the whole village.
Second, there are many types of disasters
In addition to common disasters such as floods and droughts, insect plagues and plagues often cause famine. "Insect infestations" are far more dangerous than floods and droughts.
Because during the flood, it is possible to go to the highlands; When drought hits, there may be water sources deep in the mountains, and not food production will be destroyed everywhere. Only locusts pass through the border, and not a single grass grows.
The locust plague has dealt a devastating blow to food production. In this case, even if you live in an area with abundant fish and shrimp resources, you can only rely on fish and shrimp to maintain a short life, which is not a long-term solution.
Third, the cooking technique is not enough to taste
Fish and shrimp are delicious, but they are hard to swallow when eaten raw. According to historical records, in the Han Dynasty, the main seasoning of people was only pickled foods such as tempeh and soy sauce, and these items were even more luxurious during the famine. Without rich seasoning, even if it is grilled, the fish and shrimp will not be very delicious.
Moreover, the energy consumed in catching fish and shrimp is not cost-effective compared to the energy obtained by eating it. In conclusion, there are no unpredictable food sources, and people tend to choose more labor-saving wild vegetables, etc.