8. Tomb Food

These model food dishes provided the tomb occupant with the ingredients for a lavish meal to enjoy beyond the grave. Lavish in quality and style, not in quantity. These dishes are saucer size. Food was not just for sustenance, but also for feasting, to celebrate religious and  family events, and  business transactions. Shown are:  a whole lamb, a pig, a rabbit, a fish and a goose,  each modelled in relief on a different dish. Five other dishes depict  pomegranates, peaches, water chestnuts, shaobing [fried cakes] and ‘mantou’ [steamed bread]. Mantou are popular in Northern China so indicate a northern Chinese deceased. Food types and names can be traced along the Silk Roads. Central Asians have a similar dish to Mantou called Manti.  Melons, spinach, onions, cucumbers, broad beans, and peas are all thought to have come to China  from West Asia. – though it seems our tomb occupant didn’t like his greens.

These dishes are dated to 1450-1600