A Study on Chinese Noodles

중국(中國)의 면조문화연구(麵條文化硏究)

The purpose of this study is to understand the Chinese noodles(mian tiao). Wheat seems to have been cultivated 3-4,000 years before according to the archaeological evidences from the neolithic sites. The five grains(rice, millet, beans, barley, barnyard millet) already appeared in the period prior to Chin dynasty and were used as whole grain, but it was not until Chun Chu Zhan Guo period that the introduction of the flouring method stimulated the cultivation of wheat. In Chin-Han period, when water power and animal force were put into usage to facilitate the mass production of wheat flour, 'Bing', a designation for all the food made of wheat first appeared in the literature, and it was this 'Bing' that had later developed into noodles. In Wei Chin Nan Bei Chao period, roasted 'Bing', namely 'Kao-Bing' made its first appearance, and in Tang period, various noodles were created with the increase of restaurants specialized in noodles. In Song dynasty, 'La-Mian', the noodles stretched and beat from noodle dough, was first introduced, and in Yuan period, invention of drying method made the appearance of dried noodles, 'Gua-Mian', possible, which was good for easy and long preservation. Qing dynasty developed the noodles with a variety of assorted ingredients. The Chinese noodles are classified by various standards such as main ingredients, cooking methods, kinds of sauce, secondary ingredients, shape, eating method, flavor, and look.