Ming Dynasty daily life

 In fact, the quality of life of the people in ancient times was closely related to the dynasty they lived in. Strictly speaking, if they were born in a prosperous age, even ordinary people would not be able to live a life of good quality, but they would not be hungry and cold.

In 1368 AD, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of Ming Dynasty established the Ming Dynasty in Nanjing after completely defeating the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty. Although it has been recorded in many historical materials, Zhu Yuanzhang was an uncertain and cruel emperor. But what surprised later scholars was that the people living in the Ming Dynasty were very happy.

If you analyze this issue from a historical perspective, you can find that it is actually closely related to Zhu Yuanzhang's life experience. Since Zhu Yuanzhang had always been from the bottom of society when he was a child, he had been a beggar and a monk in order to feed himself. So in comparison, he is more able to understand the sufferings of the people, and start to reduce taxes and corvee from the actual situation.

In addition, the society was in a stable state after the Ming Dynasty was established, so the common people could get more opportunities to recuperate. Suddenly, the whole country was full of enthusiasm, and both agricultural production and commercial economic development achieved unprecedented prosperity. It is no exaggeration to show that most people in the DPRK have already lived the well-off life that modern people desire.

The colorful life customs of the Ming Dynasty people

Many history lovers in society now have a lot of differences and debates about who is happier in the Ming Dynasty or the Tang Dynasty. Some people think that the Tang Dynasty's political environment is relatively relaxed, and the people living in society can get more freedom. In addition, the status of women in the Tang Dynasty was relatively high, and even a relatively open trend of thought once appeared.

But for people who like the Ming Dynasty, they think that the Ming Dynasty not only has the genes of a great power. Moreover, the life of the people of the Ming Dynasty was also very happy. Even the poor who lived at the bottom of the society could lead a well-fed life. Especially due to the relatively high economic level, many daily necessities and grains have reached the price of cabbage.

Although ordinary people don't want to be rich and expensive, they also want to be able to eat and dress warmly. And this most basic living requirement could not only be fully realized during the Ming Dynasty, but the people also didn't need to worry about taxation, corvee and other things that would hurt the people and money.

1. The idle life of the farming nation

As a unified regime established by the Han people in the Ming Dynasty, agriculture is still the pillar industry of the social economy. Although the development of the commodity economy has reached a certain height, as a superpower with a population of nearly 200 million, the first thing to solve is the food problem of the people. Therefore, farmers who lived in the Ming Dynasty still lived a farming life of "work at sunrise and rest at sunset".

In the Ming Dynasty, people practiced three meals a day, but this dining custom originated in the middle and late Tang Dynasty. Especially in the summer, all kinds of food are more abundant, and the people's table becomes especially rich. Not only can people eat all kinds of vegetables, but they can also eat pork, beef, mutton, and some wealthy people can even eat beef.

As the level of productivity has been greatly improved, the cooking techniques of the time were also diverse. The frying, frying, frying, which is more popular in modern society, also existed in the Ming Dynasty, so from this point of view, the pace of life of the people in the Ming Dynasty was not too fast. In other words, their pace of life is complete, which can be described as "idle" and comfortable.

Although the material life was greatly satisfied, the people who lived in the Ming Dynasty were extremely frugal in their lives. This is mainly related to the rule of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang. Since Zhu Yuanzhang was an emperor from the bottom, who only sat on the dragon chair after constant hard work and struggle, he was particularly concerned about food issues.

2. The clothing requirements of the people of the Ming Dynasty

All dynasties in ancient society have made strict requirements on the shape and color of clothing. Different classes of society in the Ming Dynasty have their own unique clothing qualities and cultural colors. And meticulous to the hairstyle and clothes material and color. Even the jewelry worn by women must meet relevant requirements.

Men in the Ming Dynasty had to tie their hair with hairpins, and officials had to wear black hats when they were in court. The official clothes of Ming dynasty officials are generally made of brocade silk and satin, and they have very strict requirements in terms of color. The common people can only wear coarse linen, and the color is mostly green, which also reflects the "untouchable" color.

3. Food on the common people's table

In the Ming Dynasty, the staple food on ordinary people's table was still rice and white noodles, which may differ slightly according to the different tastes of North and South. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, peppers; as well as garlic, pumpkin, corn, etc., have played an important role on the table of the Ming Dynasty. Until now, these foods in society are still essential foods in people's daily lives.

It is said that the famous dish of tomato and egg soup has appeared in society at that time, although modern people do not take it seriously. But in the distant Ming Dynasty, it was a delicacy that only the nobles and rich people could eat. In fact, there were many delicacies at that time, including crystal goose, phoenix belly, fried goose paw, crisp chicken, braised roast duck, etc.

According to undocumented records, the reason why Xu Da, a general of the Ming Dynasty, died of gangrene was because Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang gave him a roast goose. Xu Daming knows that roast goose is fat, and it will worsen the condition after eating. But in the feudal society where the monarch’s fate was difficult, "the ruler had to die." This shows that roast goose should also be a common dish in society at that time.

I think that in the Ming Dynasty, the reason why people had enough food and clothing was not related to national policies and the natural environment. In fact, the main reason is that ordinary people can have more time to concentrate on plowing the land. While maximizing the benefits of agricultural development, ancient cuisines that can make people's mouth water appear on the people's table.