Kuai (dish)

''Kuai'' was a Chinese dish consisting of finely cut strips of raw fish or meat, which was popular and commonly eaten in the early Chinese dynasties. According to the ''Book of Rites'' compiled between 202 BCE and 220 CE, ''kuai'' consists of small thin slices or strips of raw meat, which are prepared by first thinly slicing the meat and then cutting the thin slices into strips. In modern times, the dishes are more often referred to as "raw fish slices" () or as "yusheng" (). The type of fish commonly used in ancient times included carp () and mandarin fish (), while in modern times salmon () is commonly used.

Sauces were an essential part of ''kuai'' dishes, with scallions used for preparation of sauces in spring and mustard seed used for sauces in autumn. According to many classical texts, ''kuai'' served without sauces was deemed inedible and should be avoided.() ''Xiang Dang'' (), ''The Analects''.

History

Raw fish and meat dishes, known collectively as ''kuai'', were first documented in China in the Zhou dynasty (1045–256 BC), and are mentioned in the ''Classic of Poetry'', ''Classic of Rites'', '' Analects'' and '' Mencius''. A related preparation method is ''xuan'' (), which involve slicing the raw meat in large thin pieces in the manner of carpaccio, however the term ''kuai'' was used to refer to this method. ''Kuai'' is the preferred preparation of raw beef and lamb, or fish such as the carp, while meat from wild deer and boar were prepared as ''xuan''. Thinness in the slices or strips was an important factor for judging the quality of the dish. During the Zhou dynasty and the Warring States period, ''kuai'' made from all fauna were widely consumed.

During the time of the Qin (221–206 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasties, ''kuai'' made from the meat of land fauna became less popular with the term used to refer more and more to thinly sliced raw fish. The dish was widely consumed by all classes and coincides with the appearance of the character ''kuài'' () with its fish radical () during this period (alongside the character with the "" meat radical). In addition, characters such as ''huì'' () with the fire radical () were introduced to indicate fish that has grilled to the rare stage and then thinly sliced, similar to Japanese tataki. Indeed, ''kuai'' and raw fish were so commonly consumed that Ying Shao wrote in the '' Fengsu Tongyi'', a manuscript that described the odd and exotic practices of various cultures and peoples, that "in Zhu and E, raw fish is not consumed", alluding to the perceived oddity of not eating fish raw. It is also during this period that the renowned dish ''jinji yukuai'' () along its accompanying ''baheji'' sauce () was created.''Qimin Yaoshu'' vol. 8.

Although the dish was not widely consumed in later Chinese dynasties, it enjoyed a very high status in Chinese cuisine. Chinese physicians of the time sometimes recommended against it due to the very real possibility of serious illness due to flukes and other parasitic organisms, however many prominent Chinese individuals (including Cao Zhi and Chen Deng) maintained a strong affinity for the dish. It was believed that the application of strongly flavored spices such as mustard or Sichuan pepper could render the dish safe to consume.

Consumption of ''kuai'' in China declined sharply by the time of the Qing dynasty. Since that time, most Chinese food has been cooked, though a Chaozhou (Teochew) dish called ''yusheng'' uses raw fish as its primary ingredient.

See also

*Carpaccio
*Hoe (dish)
*Sashimi
*Steak tartare

References

{{reflist

External links

"''Kuai'' and ''Sheng'' ─ the Raw Fish and Meat Dishes in Chinese History"
by Fan Hsiao

Chinese cuisine
Fish dishes
Uncooked fish dishes