Jianghu Tribute Rice

Jianghu Tribute Rice

Jianghu Tribute Rice is a product with geographical indication status.

　　In the southwestern part of Tancheng County in southern Shandong lies Guichang Township, a town renowned for its abundant rice production and rice–crab farming. Historical records indicate that Guichang was once called Xinglong Town. During the Zhou Dynasty, King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang, led his troops here for an extended rest. To commemorate his return after seeking virtuous talents, the place was renamed Guichang, and later, due to the area’s abundant rice production, it was called Daotian Township. Approximately two kilometers southeast of the township seat lies a low-lying waterlogged area known locally as Jianghu. Legend has it that Jiang Ziya once fished here with a straight hook (when asked why, he replied, “Those who wish to be caught, come; those who don’t, let the water take them”). Hence, the name Jianghu. Originally, the area around Jianghu spanned dozens of square li and was entirely waterlogged—deep enough in some spots to submerge several people, shallow enough in others to reach the ankles. No crops could grow there, only shallow-water plants such as “zhangba,” “water chestnuts,” and “crow’s claws” (local colloquial names). In autumn and winter, locals would venture into the fields with baskets to dig up the roots of these plants for food. One winter, as Granny Wang was digging for zhangba by Jianghu, a man suddenly asked from behind, “Old woman, what are you digging these roots for?” She replied, “No crops grow here, and we have no stored grain. I dig zhangba to stave off hunger.” The man said, “These roots may fill your belly, but only for a short while.” He then took out a single red awn rice grain (about one centimeter long) from his robe and gave it to her, saying, “Next spring, sow this red awn rice in your field. Harvest it in autumn, remove the husk, and cook it. Eating it will refresh your spirit and keep hunger at bay for half a year.” He then took out another grain of rice, broke it in half, and gave her one piece, instructing her to eat it during times of famine. Granny Wang, skeptical yet curious, tried to ask more, but the man had already vanished. Only then did she realize he must have been an immortal. Remembering his words, the next autumn she harvested a bountiful crop of rice. From then on, the waterlogged land was no longer just home to aquatic plants but bore grain, gradually spreading throughout the township.

　　Historical records and folklore recount that in 1752, Emperor Qianlong visited Tancheng during his southern tour and, in disguise, went to the shores of Jianghu. It was dusk when he noticed smoke rising from a thatched cottage. Qianlong and his guard approached and, after knocking on the fence gate, were welcomed by a dignified elderly man with snowy white hair. Claiming to be a traveling merchant, Qianlong asked for a drink of water, and the old man hospitably invited them in. After tea, the old man said, “It’s getting late, and you must be hungry. Would you like a bowl of rice before you go?” The two were indeed famished, so they accepted. Exhausted and starving from their journey, and charmed by the fragrant rice of Jianghu, Qianlong found it especially delicious and praised it endlessly. After the meal, he offered the old man a silver ingot, which the man at first refused but eventually accepted. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the old man said, “Since you gentlemen truly appreciate my cooking, if you don’t mind, stay the night and tomorrow I’ll prepare an even better rice dish for you.” Qianlong, in high spirits, agreed to stay. That night, Qianlong learned about the local customs from the old man, who also recounted the tragic aftermath of the 1668 earthquake in Tancheng and the legend of Jianghu rice. Qianlong listened with great interest, and they talked until the rooster crowed. The next morning, the old man had already prepared the rice. Though skeptical that it could be better than the previous night’s, Qianlong was amazed when he saw the glistening, fragrant grains—some dotted with pale, pinkish beans. The taste surpassed the previous evening’s meal. When Qianlong asked what the white beans were called and where they came from, the old man answered, “I picked these white beans by the Jianghu shore. I don’t know what they’re called.” (These are what we now call “Jiangdou.”) Because of this magical encounter with Jianghu rice, Emperor Qianlong ordered the local magistrate to send Jianghu rice as an annual tribute to the imperial court, giving rise to the name Jianghu Tribute Rice.

　　Region

　　Guichang Township is a traditional agricultural area with a long history of rice cultivation, often referred to as the “Rice Granary of Southern Shandong, Guichang of Tancheng.” The township spans 8.5 kilometers from east to west and 11.5 kilometers from north to south, covering a total area of 68 square kilometers. The terrain is flat and low-lying, mostly composed of young paddy soil. Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, frequent flooding from the Yi and Shu Rivers turned the area into a vast lake during the rainy season, hence the name “lake,” which remains in use today. The protected production area of Jianghu Tribute Rice is located in Guichang Township in the southwestern part of Tancheng County. It includes 29 administrative villages, 2 military farms, and 2 local state-owned farms. The region spans from Fan Village in the east to Gao Village in the west, Dongfan Village in the south, and Tanshan Village in the north. Its geographical coordinates lie between 118°13′ to 118°20′ east longitude and 34°28′ to 34°34′ north latitude, with an average elevation of 30 to 34 meters. The protected cultivation area covers 4,000 hectares, with a total annual yield of 36,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. The *Tancheng County Annals* praise Jianghu Tribute Rice as “crystal clear, snow-white in color, refreshing and delicious, and fragrant like glutinous rice.” The rice boasts an attractive, neat appearance, with slender grains, minimal opaque belly-white. The cooked grains are intact, shiny white, soft yet firm and elastic, not hardening or retrograding when cooled, and highly palatable. It offers a high husking rate and whole grain rate, making it excellent for processing. 2. Internal quality indicators: Jianghu Tribute Rice typically contains 7%–8% protein, 6.5%–7.0% amino acids, and 80%–85% starch, along with 10.5–11.5 mg/kg iron, 5.8–6.5 mg/100g calcium, and 105–115 mg/100g phosphorus. It also contains various trace elements. 3. Safety requirements: Jianghu Tribute Rice must meet the hygiene standards of the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Pollution-Free Food – Rice,” adhering to the NY5115-2008 standard for pollution-free agricultural products.