Abstract
T’O-PA -WEI Social Life and Food Culture under Han - Turk Syncretism
T’o-Pa Wei was born by H'sien-pi in the 3rd century as a statelet in Northern China which was in a social turmoil. Among them there were Turkic - Mongol tribes but used to speak a Turkic language, commonly. They entered bilateral administrative style due to the practice and dynamics of high Chinese culture and nomadic life style. Cultural syncretism spread to the ruling elite. Initially practicing Tengri belief, T’o-Pa Wei became Buddhist. Chinesiation on one hand, Buddhism as the official religion, they developed a bilateral social life. Finally, ruling class was seen in the eyes of the Chinese 'barbaric', through in the eyes of nomads 'Chinese'. Under this syncretism, they constructed a magnificent grotto by developing a burial tradition and practice; they inherited rich archeological remains documenting the stages of life and culture being excavated, recently. Besides tomb frescos, relics provide important information about their daily life and culture. At least it is valuable as others a document Qimin - Yaoshu found in China. It comprises what to eat as healthy diet and a significant number are recipes. “Nomad (Hu) style soup” and “Nomad style cereal soup” recipes provide us probably with the oldest known dishes of Turkic nomads.
Keywords
Eastern Turks, T’o-Pa Wei, Qimin Yaoshu, Food Culture, History of Food.
