Chongqing Hotpot and Thumb Fight

Wan Yao

Chongqing College of Mobile Telecommunication,Chongqing,China

Shinawatra University,Bangkok,Thailand

Email:wanyaovip@163.com

[Abstract] When Chongqing people have Hotpot,they would prefer to play the Thumb Fight,one most favored Popular Game among the traditional Chinese drinking games.In terms of Chongqing Thumb Fight,there are two types:Good Brothers (兄弟好) and Disorderly Chopping Firewood (亂劈柴).This paper introduces the birth of Hotpot in Chongqing and focuses on the origin of the two primary lead-in phrases (過門).Driven by that target,it may dig out some relevant cultural deposits of the Chongqing local traditional Chinese drinking game,Thumb Fight,which may prove the magic brought by the rivers and mountains in Chongqing.

[Keywords] Chongqing;Hotpot;Thumb Fight;Chinese;drinking games

Introduction

China has bred many drinking games through its long history of drinking culture.Generally speaking,drinking games can be regarded as two general types:Popular Games(通令)andElegant Games(雅令).With its vast landscape and various customs,China has evolved different kinds of Popular Games nationwide.Among the Popular Games,theThumb Fight(拇戰(zhàn))is the most favored until nowadays.Chongqing,a southwestern municipal city,located in the upper Yangtze River,enjoys being a city of mountains and rivers.Yangtze River has witnessed Chongqing's economic take-off and cultural evolution over the years.

Along with the famous worldwideHotpot(火鍋),Thumb Fight,the most favored traditional Chinese drinking game in Chongqing,also can sweep the global with times.Thumb Fight is one representative Popular Game among the traditional Chinese drinking games.Therefore,we must get a clear idea of the cultural deposits of the Chongqing Thumb Fight.

The Birth of Chongqing Hotpot

Hotpot is a well-known mark of Chongqing's home and abroad.This paper,tries to trace back the birth of Hotpot and find out its hidden cultural code:its birthplace and its maker.

The Birthplace for Hotpot

Yangtze River has witnessed the considerable development and promotion of the cities along with her.Chongqing is located at the intersection of the Yangtze River (長江) and the Jialing River (嘉陵江).For historical political and military reasons,water transportation quickly gave birth to many wharfs in Chongqing.The gradual development of wharfs powerfully brought Chongqing with rapid prosperity economically.

Records of Southwest China· Ba Culture(華陽國志·巴志)records that along with the Jiangzhou District(江州)(now Yuzhong District,Chongqing 重慶渝中區(qū)),there has over five hundred houses along the wharf,prosperity enough to be remembered as one attractive night scenic spot.Moreover,it is praised as"the view of the night scene of Chongqing along the river"(字水宵燈).The masts are like forests,and the boat canopies are connected in the daytime.When the night comes,the boat owners would first light up the lights and then play cards or chat casually to rest.It is a bright and beautiful moment that the lights and the rivers are mirrored along the river.(He,2018)

The Maker of Hotpot

The wharf has brought two major physical labor jobs:trackers and porters.Trackers,living without settlements,move between the large and small wharfs navigable to Chongqing through the year.The trackers are also divided into boat trackers and beach trackers.The former will work with the ship.Besides pulling nylon ropes(纖繩),anchoring,swaying,and bracing are all their jobs.At the same time,they must be familiar with the vortexes and reefs in the rivers.The water is rushing,and the valley and beach there are very dangerous.When crossing the beach,the trackers need to go down to the shore to draw nylon ropes.Drawing nylon ropes is not only a laborious task but also a technical task.The trackers are divided into the head trackers,the second trackers,the third trackers,et cetera.Generally,the head tracker has the most experience and knows the technology skillfully.The head trackers walk in the forefront when pulling the ropes,followed by the second and third trackers.The nylon rope is sometimes hung on the rock,stuck in the stone crack,or encountered other obstacles.A person is required to adjust the rope.This person is"picking the bowl" (揀碗).The "picking bowl" (揀碗) is responsible for observing the rope's condition at any time and clearing obstacles.(ibid)

However,if they encounter a more extensive fast beach and the boat trackers cannot pull the boat across the beach,they need the help of the beachhead tracker.The beachhead tracker usually stays at the fixed and large fast beach.When the ship goes on the beach,the "boss" of them is responsible for negotiating with the boat owner about the remuneration for pulling and arranging the workforce for pulling.(ibid)

Beach trackers are generally not as professional as boat trackers.Most of them are villagers near the rapids.In the slack season,they come to pull the nylon rope to earn some hard money.It is said that from 1912 to 1949,the beach tracker can get a silver dollar for one time.In documentaries or picture materials,trackers usually appear topless or even naked.From an aesthetic point of view,we often say this shows the beauty of men's masculinity,but the facts are sad.The trackers get on the boat for a while and then go into the water.The water would wet their clothes.Because of the quality of clothes,wet clothes may get hard to wear.It is easy to wear off the skin.More seriously,the wet clothes will be tightly attached to the body,and trackers may quickly become sick.Moreover,poor trackers cherish clothes.They would instead let the rope wear out their body than clothes.(ibid)

The porters'main job is carrying the goods from the ship to the land,or even farther destination.Since every porter carries a stick as a labor-saving aid,Chongqing locals callBangbang(棒棒)in the Chongqing dialect.Banghere means stick,and Bangbang uses the tool taken by the porters to refer to the job that needs carrying and moving the goods.Bangbang is a particular product in Chongqing because of its mountainous landscape.Since the Bangbang is a good help for the Chongqing locals to move and carry daily goods,the group of Bangbang is gradually nicknamed as Bangbang Army(棒棒軍)by the local people.(ibid)

Bangbang Army is a business card of Chongqing before the widespread installation of elevators.They carry a bamboo stick about one meter on their shoulders,and two nylon ropes are tied to the stick.Although the current Bangbang Army team is not as large as in previous years,they can still be seen in the urban area.The main two groups of the Bangbang Army are the porter on the dock just mentioned,and the other is the water picker.In the beginning,the loading and unloading of goods at the Chongqing wharf was carried out by human resources.Many poor people worked hard to earn a living as porters on the wharf.At that time,the handling equipment was backward.Unlike the current freight terminal,which has containers,conveyor belts,giant cranes,and other tools,tons of goods could be quickly loaded and unloaded smoothly.In addition,when the urban water pipe network in Chongqing was not perfect,the first half of water resources in urban areas are scarce,and a workforce is needed to carry water from the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers.Bangbang Army plays a vital role in the lives of Chongqing people.

Mainly,the trackers and porters have a meager income and no fixed dining table.When the weather is cold,they walked with heavy steps to warm their bodies with hot food,dragged their tired bodies,and built soil by the river as a stove.They took out the chili,pepper,and spices they brought with them,took water from the Yangtze River,boiled it into soup,bought some beef and sheep offal (internal organs) that the rich did not eat at the slaughterhouse,and poured it into the broth made from beef bones.(ibid)After the soup is boiling,the beef and sheep offal and vegetables are blanched.This way of eating is economical and affordable,and it can keep the stomach full from the cold.Dockworkers and boaters deeply love it.They served with spirits,hot fresh fish,live shrimp,and various vegetables.With much heroism and passion,the whole body was exhausted.The trackers roared fiercely and set off on the road with the rope on their backs.Behind them were earthen stoves and wisps of blue smoke.It is the origin of the famous Chongqing local food,Hotpot.With the worldwide acceptance of Chongqing Hotpot,nobody can imagine that the poor labor workers create the famous Hotpot.Nevertheless,it is valid for the Chongqing Hotpot.

The Origin of Two Lead-in Phrases of Chongqing Thumb Fight

If tourists went to Chongqing,they may notice that the locals would like to play Thumb Fight during their social gatherings,especially eating Hotpot,particularly in summer.Many may be attracted by the interesting Chongqing dialects and players'energetic body gestures,incredibly excited complexion,concentrated eyes,passionate mouth,everchanging finger numbers,high-or-low pitch,as well as shaking hands and feet.That is no more the rare lively scene on everyday Chongqing local restaurants and streets.Almost every Chongqing local would like to play some drinking games for a while,or even a whole day,when meeting friends old or new,home or foreign.Moreover,some loyal players would even launch such drinking games just over a cup of tea with their obsessed players and friends.It may be just the magic of the original drinking games,taking everyone in and sticking around.

As for the whole process of Chongqing Thumb Fight,there should have lead-in,fighting progress,and results.Because of the focus of this paper,we would explain the lead-in part here.With time passing by,the current familiar Thumb Fight played and popularized among Chongqing players remains two significant lead-in phrases:Good Brothers(兄弟好) andDisorderly Chopping Firewood(亂劈柴).When interviewing the skillful players,both young and old,about the origin of the two names,none of them may give a complete and clear explanation.No matter a historical story or even an oral-past old story,help know the origin of the two significant phrases,on the one hand.On the other hand,their incomplete explanation shows the necessity of this paper.However,it is a tricky task for the author to explain well and sound for the origin,which is necessary for us to understand the local Thumb Fight,and even its reflection on the local culture,to some extent.

The English word "Culture" is developed after the Latin term "cultura animi." An ancient Roman philosopher,Marcus Tullius Cicero (c.106 BC- 43 BC) used the "cultura animi" in hisTusculanae Disputationes.(n.d.) He used the term to mean the cultivation of the soul,which was a metaphor in philosophy that the so-called soul development is the highest state of human development.Later,the word"culture"gradually evolves into a more common meaning:it refers to the accumulated knowledge or experience related to the living being's own life in their development.Therefore,they can better adapt to nature or the surrounding environment.Moreover,it is a convention formed by people living together in the same natural environment and economic production mode shown through its subconscious external manifestation.With this explanation of culture,we may follow the coming lines to reveal the mystery of the two lead-in phrases one by one.

The Origin of Good Brothers(兄弟好)

Chongqing is located at the intersection of Yangtze River and Jialing River.On a more detailed Chongqing local map,many"smaller"rivers are contrasted with the Yangtze River and Jialing River.On the Chongqing local map,the main stem of the Yangtze River penetrates through Chongqing District as long as 691 kilometers.There are two main stems of the Chongqing section of the Yangtze River,namely the Jialing River and Wujiang River (烏江).Besides that,there are seven tributaries,namely the other seven more prominent and vital tributaries of the Yangtze River,including Qujiang (渠江),Fujiang (涪江),Longxi River (龍溪河),Xiaojiang (小江),Daning River (大寧河) on the north bank,and Qijiang (綦江) and Youshui (酉水) on the south bank.(n.d.) From the maps,thousands of trickles converge into a torrential river,just like blood veins attached to the skeleton of the mountain,forming flesh and blood of Chongqing people and portraying the appearance of Chongqing today.It can be a river feast in Chongqing.

The highest excellence is like(that of)water.The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things,and in its occupying,without striving(to the contrary),the low place which all men dislike.Hence(its way)is near to(that of)the Tao.(Legge,2008,p.19)

From those above classical lines,which every educated Chinese can recite,we may easily find out the spiritual benefits of water.Water is good at helping everything but not competing with everything.It stays where everyone does not like it,so it holds the love from all aspects.We are encouraged to act like this humble and kind water from our ancient Chinese culture.Based on this cultural cultivation,the place surrounded by waters,rivers,or even small trickles,may subconsciously exert subtle influence,a drop by drop,day after day.Chongqing can be the best representative of those places.

The thousands of trickles within the Chongqing region have bred Chongqing people kindness,open-hearted and hospitable character.They treat every acquittance kind and enthusiastic.They like to share their good experience with everyone they encounter.Young people usually help older adults to carry heavy articles or baggage.The Chongqing locals are inclined to take the travelers to the targeted destination in person when they are asked for help from strangers.Chongqing people would feel relieved and invite new friends without in-depth social interaction to be their home guests.Chongqing street hawkers may give one cup of icy water or drinks to a newcomer,especially in the suffocating summer,so on and so forth.Chongqing locals may behave like the water to welcome every encounter with people from all over the world.

Moreover,the Chongqing male is inclined to make brothers with a male they meet.Therefore,there is one famous lead-in phrase of local Thumb Fight:Good Brothers(兄弟好).Maybe this lead-in phrase may give the strangers and friends the same friendship rank as Chongqing people.Whenever Chongqing people say this lead-in,they would subconsciously take the newly meet acquaintance as an old friend with the warmth like spring,narrowing their distance between hearts and becoming true faithful friends.

The Origin of Disorderly Chopping Firewood(亂劈柴)

Chongqing is a famous mountain city in the country and even the world.It is famous for its mountains and is rich in trees.In ancient China,people were faced with a daily life problem:what natural materials can make a fire to cook?Without convenient transportation,people would only take advantage of their surroundings.For then Chongqing forbears,the trees can be the best one because,in the Paleolithic Age,the Suiren clan(燧人氏)had already learned how to make fire(鉆木取火).Naturally,firewood for cooking was ranked first in the"seven daily matters to run a day," firewood,rice,oil,salt,sauce,vinegar,and tea,for the ancients.

Although theoretically,many fuels can be used for cooking in ancient China,the primary source of fuel was wood for a long historical period.For example,in the famous ancient Chinese bookEssential Skills of Medioscience(齊民要術(shù)),elm,willow,oak,and other trees that can be used as "fuel" are listed.(Chao,2021) However,the elm,willow,and oak are ornamental plants nowadays.Maybe,the mountainous land does Chongqing people a great favour,especially in firewood's daily necessities.The mountain has ensured the locals have hot water and meal daily.Chongqing locals would do a series of physical labor work from the trees in the mountains to the firewood in houses:cutting down trees,chopping them into smaller pieces,and carrying them home.The ancient Chongqing live on firewood to run the warm everyday life.However,the history of the Chinese people using coal can be traced back at least to the Han Dynasty (c.202 BC- 220 AD).However,the absolute popularity of coal will not be until the Ming Dynasty (c.1368 AD-1644 AD).(ibid)We may know that firewood plays an essential role in ordinary people's expected lives through long Chinese history.So are the Chongqing people.Since the mountainous landscape of Chongqing,the firewood may play a more critical role in locals'happy life.

The lead-in phrase Disorderly Chopping Firewood(亂劈柴)of Chongqing Thumb Fight makes it hard to spot its accurate emerging date and place.However,the original Thumb Fight emerged as early as the Tang Dynasty (c.618 AD- 907 AD).It shows the possibility for the Chongqing locals to play the Thumb Fight with fellows from the Tang Dynasty.Nevertheless,maybe it is impossible to trace back the exact and valid true origin of this lead-in phrase because of the disappeared written documents or the past ancients'recordings,which is like the true origin of the human being without relevant written evidence.After the short and brief introduction of firewood history,we may quickly know the incomparable role of firewood in people's everyday living life.

Why is firewood? Because without firewood,they would not live their everyday life.Without firewood,they would eat uncooked food;without firewood,they would have no hot water to drink;without firewood,they cannot even have a warm shower,so on and so forth.It is its crucial position of firewood that puts its priority.Before the prevalence of coal as a significant burning material as early as the Ming Dynasty,there is a substantial overlapping period of 1,000 years for citizens to depend on the firewood to keep on their everyday life.One thousand years maybe is not that long period a time is,While,for the human generations,maybe it is a relatively long time for them to adapt to something,even rely on something mainly.

Moreover,the current life span per person ranges from 70 to 90 years old,much longer than our ancients.As to the life span of the ancients may be cut half at least.After such a reflection on the ancients'practical life,the importance of firewood is beyond words to say now.

Since firewood is an indispensable element for the ancient people,getting enough fireworks for every ancient family tops the priority.Chopping a tree and getting some firewood is sure to be one routine,including the rich and the poor.We know the firewood is as accessible to the poor as the rich,just like the sunshine and air.Moreover,the firewood is generally from the trees.In ancient times,the trees are almost like the incult primitive forest where some fierce,even dangerous animals may live.The ancients cannot be equipped with the edge tools as the current people land because of the lower tool-making capability.

Furthermore,even nowadays,with more advanced tools,some animals living in the uncultivated forests are still frightening the modern brave people,in a way.It is not to mention the relatively weak ancients.Therefore,the best way to get the firewood is to form a group,maybe at least two,with no further restriction of its number size.

We may have a bold guess of its creation image of the Disorderly Chopping Firewood (亂劈柴).Maybe it was one day in ancient times.The two ancients were tired after a half-day of hard and heavy chopping work.As we know,cutting a tree down and chopping it into suitable firewood is a kind of physical labor work,which needs a lot of strength and energy.After a half-day of weighty physical consumption,even the most assertive Wu Song (武松)would need three bowls of wine drink to relax and refresh.Therefore,they may have a drink of carry-on water or wines to relieve their physical fatigue.The only drink is boring.Since the prevalence of Thumb Fight,they may launch a local Thumb Fight on the spur of that moment.While they were uneducated people,the literary lead-in phrases were complicated for them to play.Like the dock workers,the firewood labourers just made full use of the matters at their fingertips.They turned to describe their hands-on working,chopping the firewood,and they are adepts in this familiar field.To make the game easy and exciting to carry on,they may speak out the phrases at will without any artificial disciplines.So,there may emerge the rudiment of the lead-in phrase Disorderly Chopping Firewood.

On the one hand,the lead-in phrase represents the cooking history and reflects the ancients'hardworking living styles of Chongqing locals on the other hand,to some degree.Until now,it may not be abnormal to have such a leadin phrase Disorderly Chopping Firewood.Just as the well-known saying,arts come from life.Here,it may be changed into,the lead-in phrases of the Thumb Fight come from Chongqing locals' ancient life.Like the popular local Chongqing saying from the famous local TV episode,Foggy Night Talk(霧都夜話):this is the Chongqing native acting their own stories.Maybe,all the Chongqing locals are playing the seemingly same stories here or there,in one way or another.Indeed,when the Chongqing locals are playing their local Thumb Fight,whether Good Brothers or Disorderly Chopping Firewood,they act their own living stories vividly and lively.

Conclusion

The preceding words have given us a brief introduction to the origin of Hotpot,the birth of the two lead-in phrases of Chongqing Thumb Fight,and its hidden historical stories and cultural background.After reading,we may get closer to the Chongqing locals.Chongqing people treat guests as hospitable as the Chongqing hotpot and make friends with newcomers like brothers.

Along with the birth of Chongqing Hotpot,we figure out the two primary lead-in phrases of Chongqing's local Thumb Fight.As we all know,the Thumb Fight is a typical representative of traditional Chines drinking games,which may be taken as the mark of the traditional Chinese drinking culture to some extent.Our traditional Chinese drinking games are various and varied and need more scholars to dig out their glorious colour and refine them with a modern spirit.