From its inception around 2000 years ago in Northern China, Tofu has evolved to be a vital part of the Chinese cuisine [1]. The art of making tofu spread to eventually reach the south western parts of the Chinese mainland and has become an integral part of the food culture of areas such as the Yunnan province. Making varieties of tofu, such as the hairy tofu has also become an art as it requires the mastery of microorganisms. For the Mongolian nomads in Northern China, milk tea and curd has become an essential part of their breakfast as they provide vital nutrients and minerals. Turning milk to curd is also helpful to preserve it over a long time, especially during the winter season. Despite its heavy …show more content…
To begin with, with the rampant modernization being witnessed around China, the culture surrounding the preparation and significance of food seems to the one of the last remaining bastions of Chinese traditions and culture that has been passed down for generations. For instance, The Jianshui county present in the Yunnan province ; which was known as Ling’an in ancient times; was an important city in South-West China for the past millennium. As visible in the film “A Bite of China episode 3”; Jianshui’s ancient glory has faded in the modern world, and rapid development has led to various additions and replacements to culture of the Jianshui people. Yet, some of its traditions surrounding tofu which has been practiced for centuries; such as the large gathering of women around wells in the county to set up a production line for tofu using just their bare fingers; has stood the test of time. As the glorious past of Jianshui is slowly forgotten about, the culture surrounding tofu and its old production methods helps people to preserve the deep roots of their culture with the understanding of their food. Similarly, the visible distinction of tofu present in various parts of China speaks volumes about how similar food can evolve differently in different areas and how that in turn can directly influence the culture in …show more content…
Norman (1989) mentions that the Chinese language group is to be described as a set of closely related languages that has evolved over the span of around three and a half millennia, rather to be considered as the group of languages being generic regional variations of a single language. This resulted in the various people groups speaking different dialects to regard one another almost as foreigners and has evidently constituted in the development of distinct cultures surrounding each dialect. However, the modernization of China has resulted in greater integration between these cultures. The rapid development and modernization has resulted in population shift from the rural to urban, and from places of less opportunity to places of greater opportunity, resulting in contact between people of different backgrounds. With more interaction between individuals from differing cultures, China has seen changes were changes where towns and cities have become more diverse and integrated than ever. This evidence is seen in the film “A Bite of China episode 3”, where the once ancient city of Ling’an has now transformed in to a bustling