Origins of today's You Tiao courtesy of
http://www.chinese-forums.com/showthread.php?t=1647
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's everyday Chinese breakfast food, You Tiao, had its origins
dating back to the story of Yue Fei during the Southern Song
dynasty. Every Chinese is familiar with this food. For non-Chinese
who have not heard of it, it is basically two long fried sticks
attached together, made up of flour and cooked in vegetable oil. It
is often served with Dou Jiang, a soybean milk.
Almost all of us has heard of Yue Fei, one of China's most beloved
heroes, a general whose patriotism was rooted in his childhood. He
was born in a poor and humble family. When he was young, his mother
tattoed on his back these 4 words.
As a young man, Yue Fei witnessed the fall of the northern Song
dynasty to Jurchen invaders. As a general during the southern Song
dynasty, he was determined to prevent the Jurchens from advancing
into the south, and launched offensives to recover the former
northern Song territory. The soldiers who fought under Yue Fei
highly respected him for his intelligence and integrity. His words
to his soldiers became famous: "Do not tear down houses because you
need firewood, even if you are freezing; do not steal from the
people, even if you are hungry."
Yue Fei won many victories against the Jins and once defeated an
enemy force of 500,000 strong with only 800 men. The Jin commander
sighed that it is easier to shake Mount Tai than Yue Fei's
army.
At that time, China was divided as to how to deal with the Jins.
Many people wanted continued resistance and others wanted peace at
all costs. Although Yue Fei, along with another general, Han
Shizong, had recovered a large part of Song territory, the
capitulationists dominated the court and had the real power. As Yue
Fei was about to recover Kaifeng, the former northern Song capital,
the emperor Gaozong recalled him back to Hangzhou. Yue Fei could
not believe what he saw and thought the order was a fake. He at
first ignored it, but then Gaozong sent repeated orders telling him
to come back to the capital. Yue Fei had to come back because to
not do so would be insubordination. Of course he did not know the
devious intentions of Gaozong and Qin Hui.
Imperial order that Gaozong gave to Yue Fei:
Qin Hui the prime minister persuaded Gaozong that it would be
better to make a peace treaty with the Jins rather than fight them.
Qin Hui and his wife then thought of a scheme to get rid of Yue
Fei. Yue Fei was thrown into jail based on fabricated charges and
then executed.
Although Qin Hui's act was despicable, I would say Gaozong was the
real bad guy here. He held the ultimate authority and did not have
to listen to Qin Hui. He listened to Qin Hui because that would
alleviate his insecurity of having to face the possibility of Yue
Fei accompanying the two captured Song emperors back to the
capital. Gaozong feared for his job and was willing to appease the
Jin and keep his throne, rather than lose it by reestablishing
Chinese sovereignty.
The people hated Qin Hui afterwards. A dough maker took two pieces
of dough, shaped them into Qin Hui and his wife, dipped them in
boiling hot oil, and invited people to take bites out of his new
delicacy. People began to call this food "You Zha Hui". This is
said to be the origins of today's You Tiao.
