Manchu Eight Bowls

Manchu Eight Bowls

The Manchu Eight Bowls are an intangible cultural heritage of Jilin Province.

　　The Manchu Eight Bowls are a distinctive dish of the Manchu people. They consist of eight dishes: stir-fried minced tofu with pickled vegetables, salted shrimp tofu omelet, braised pork trotters, blanched frog, chicken and mushroom with vermicelli, New Year’s pig stew, imperial Chinese toon fish, and Amazun meat.

　　The preparation of the Eight Bowls varies in refinement; the refined Eight Bowls include: sautéed fish slices, shrimp stir-fry, family feast, osmanthus fish bone, smooth fish stir-fry, shredded pork Sichuan-style, large Sichuan meatballs, and pine meat; the coarse Eight Bowls include: stir-fried green shrimp, shredded chicken stir-fry, full stewed crab roe custard, sea cucumber meatballs, ingot meat, clear soup chicken, deconstructed chicken stew, and home-style braised carp. The Eight Bowls are often served when entertaining guests—eight people per table, eight dishes per table, all served in identical large bowls. They look hearty and taste satisfying, embodying strong local rustic charm.

　　During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, at the height of its prosperity, the political situation was stable, the economy was thriving, and the food market enjoyed unprecedented prosperity. Among them, the “Manchu-Han Imperial Feast” dominated the culinary scene. This feast was divided into “Upper Eight Delicacies,” “Middle Eight Delicacies,” and “Lower Eight Delicacies.” The Manchu Eight Bowls were part of the Lower Eight Delicacies of the Manchu-Han Imperial Feast. Local Manchu flavors also emerged around this time, and specialized eateries in Jilin became increasingly numerous, presenting a scene of great prosperity. The Manchu Eight Bowls gained widespread popularity among the people.