Song Wusao ( zh, 宋五嫂,''fl.'' 1179), was a Chinese restaurant owner. She fled from

Kaifeng Kaifeng () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, China. It is one of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and is best known for having been the Chinese capital during the Nort ...

when it was taken by the Jurchen in 1126 and settled in the new capital of

Hangzhou Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...

, where she founded a net of restaurants and was eventually favored by Emperor Gaozong of Song with providing the imperial court with fish, which made her famous and rich. Her famous fish soup became a traditional dish in Hangzhou, and she is also said to be the inventor of the dish vinegar fish famed by the restaurant Louwalou.

References

* Lily Xiao Hong Lee, Sue Wiles: ''Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women'', volume II: ''Tang Through Ming 618 - 1644'' 12th-century Chinese women 12th-century Chinese people 12th-century businesspeople 12th-century merchants Medieval businesswomen