THE FORBIDDEN CITY
The purpose of this cookbook is to show the reader that imperial Chinese cuisine from the Forbidden City is not as mysterious as many think. The Forbidden City is the large palace complex located in central Beijing, China. It housed 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasty for 500 years. It now stands as a museum.
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The cookbook does a good job of revealing the Forbidden City to the reader. Through the historical analysis of food in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, parts of the Forbidden City are unveiled. This furthers the argument that imperial cuisine should not be a mystery to the common people.
THE ROYAL DYNASTIES
The Ming dynasty lasted from 1368 to 1644, and the Qing dynasty lasted from 1644 to 1912. The Ming and Qing Dynasties are an important aspect of Chinese culture. Both dynasties “had one common attribute: diet was used to protect health.”
The focus on health allowed fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, and meats to show up on the menu of the Ming Dynasty. The Qing dynasty focused on harmony. In order to make a dish with harmony, the “food should include the five cereals and five flavors.”