On August 20, the domestic game “Black Myth: Wukong” was officially launched at 10 am, and reached the top of the Steam hot play list, and a number of related entries also appeared on Weibo hot search.
“Black Myth: Wukong” with its exquisite scene details, exquisite picture structure, high-quality game percussion sense, to fill the gaps in the domestic 3A game masterpiece, has become a domestic game “milestone” type of work.
In addition to the breakthrough in the game masterpiece, “Black Myth: Wukong” is more popular “Journey to the West” as the game background, in-depth research and mining of “Journey to the West”, while integrating modern game concepts and technology, to create a familiar and novel mythology world.
In order to show the rationality and authenticity of reality in the mythical world of westward journey, the game’s creator team traveled south and north, searching all over China, among which Shanxi elements are mostly, to bring a cultural feast for players.
Wang Zengqi once wrote: “Four food, but a bowl of human fireworks.” Culture, too, is often linked to food. Let’s follow “Black Myth: Wukong” into Shanxi, explore the culture and flavor of Shanxi.
Xinzhou
In the promotional film of “Black Myth: Wukong”, there is a lotus base in the film, which is the Buddhist building in front of the East Main Hall of Foguang Temple.
Foguang Temple is located in Xinzhou, which is known as “the key to the north of Shanxi Province”. It is one of the most precious wooden architectural relics of Tang Dynasty. It was in the unremitting efforts of Liang Sicheng, Lin Huiyin and other scholars that they discovered this ancient temple, which was only recorded in Dunhuang murals before, thus breaking the assertion of Japanese scholars that “there is no Tang Dynasty structure in China”.
After thousands of years of wind and frost, the elegance and brilliance of the old time, through this sculpture and architecture, and today’s silent dialogue; The human fireworks that have not changed for thousands of years are passed down in the daily diet of the city. Until today. When it comes to Xinzhou’s local cuisine, Dingxiang steamed meat is a must-mention delicacy.
Steamed meat is a special snack in Dingxiang, Xinzhou, which has been inherited for thousands of years. Its long history can be traced back to ancient times, and it was once favored by the court and became a precious tribute. To this day, it is still a necessary dish for local banquets, whether it is to entertain distinguished guests, or as a gift to relatives and friends, it is a good choice, loved by men, women and children.
In the preparation of Dingxiang steamed meat, the selection of high-quality pork, carefully cut into strips, and then marinated in a special sauce until the flavor. Next, add the starch and flour, stirring well to ensure that each piece of meat is coated in this fine coat. Then, put the processed meat slices into a steamer and steam them slowly until cooked. Finally, let it cool naturally, cut into slices and enjoy.
Yuan Haowen, a famous poet from Xinzhou, once praised Dingxiang steamed meat and said, “Silver points and harmony turn over jade chips, and the five flavors of the Republic.” This taste should only exist in heaven, how much can this taste exist on earth?”
Yuncheng
“Fengling Ferry at the beginning of the encounter, a see Yang Guo miss life”, here is the beginning of the Jianghu story, is Jin Yong’s “Return of the Condor Heroes” in Guo Xiang and Yang Guo encounter place.
Fengling Du, or the name of “Fengling Jin”, the ancient buildings under the Yuncheng City where it is located – Yongle Palace, Stork Bird Building, is the “Black Myth: Wukong” shooting. When the poet Wang Zhihuan climbed the stork Tower, he left a famous sentence for thousands of years, “If you want to end a thousand miles of eyes, you will climb a higher floor.”
“Want to end a thousand miles of eyes, a higher level”, highlights the ancient literati’s talent, but also reveals their hearts that the knowledge and realm of yearning. The imperial examination system, as an important way to realize their aspirations, became the ladder to climb the peak of life. After and after the imperial examinations, in order to celebrate this moment of glory, people will hold a grand “tail burning banquet”.
The barbecue is grand and the dishes are exquisite. In the menu of this barbecue banquet, there was a name called “see the wind disappear”, which amazed everyone – it is the predecessor of the special snack “bubble oil cake” in Yuncheng, Shanxi Province.
It is said that when Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty went to the North Yuan for hunting, he passed through this area and tasted the oil cake with a frothy, loose and lubricated skin and soft and sweet filling, and repeatedly praised “good, good, good, see the wind.” Since then, “see the wind elimination” bubble oil cake fame.
Contemporary bubble oil cake with flour, sugar, lard as the main material, through the hot, dough, mixing, packaging, frying and other processes to produce, time-consuming and laborious, golden and fluffy appearance, the surface of many bubbles, sweet and soft to eat, is many people’s childhood memories.
Gaoping
Yang Qi, the art director of “Black Myth: Wukong”, said in an interview that the Iron Buddha Temple was one of his dream locations because he was shocked by the exquisite carving technology of the 24 heavenly statues in a book of Iron Buddha Temple paintings when he was a student.
When he actually arrived, he was still shocked by the amazing carving process, but was surprised that the Tiefo Temple was a narrow residential compound.
Coincidentally, the legend of “Li Eao Ao”, a special snack in Gaoping City, also originates from a misunderstanding.
According to legend, there was a shepherd named Li who tended sheep for a rich man for years. Rich people prefer mutton buns, so chefs often make them. The kind cook would occasionally sneak the poor shepherd a few steamed buns. However, one day this matter was discovered by the rich, and they stipulated the daily amount of mutton and the number of steamed buns.
Picture in-game Iron Buddha Temple scene (photo source: game official website)
In order to deal with this situation, the chef and the shepherd after consultation, decided to eat most of the mutton, the rest is mixed with vermicels, grayling white and so on. Due to impatience, the dough is too soft, resulting in thin and soft bun skin, difficult to form. Finally, they flatten it, wrap it carefully, steam it, and fry it on a small griddle.
Picture in-game Iron Buddha Temple scene (photo source: game official website)
When the dish was presented to the rich man, he was full of praise after tasting it and asked for its name. The cook mistakenly thought that Caizhi was asking about the mutton, and quickly replied, “It’s Li Eao.” The rich man only heard the words “Li Ejiao” and praised them. As time went by, people came to call it Li Ejiao.
“Li Eao Ao” in Jincheng dialect means “inside”. The practice is to wrap the filling in a thin sheet of dough and bake it on a special small iron plate until both sides are golden. The skin is very thin and the taste is crispy.
Shanxi
According to incomplete statistics, the “Black Myth: Wukong” in various provinces and cities in 36 locations, Shanxi Province exclusively 27, Xi County Xitian, Xinzhou Wutai Mountain of Buddha Light Temple, Nanshan Temple, Jinge Temple, Jincheng Qinglian Temple, Lingchuan Xixi two temple, Zezhou Jade Emperor Temple and other cultural temples. Shanxi has completely “fire” out of the circle and become a cultural symbol that shocks the world.
At the same time, Shanxi, as one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, has a broad and profound catering culture with a long history. Shanxi pasta is a wide variety, according to records, Shanxi noodles about 2250 kinds, there are more than 400 kinds of common pasta. Among them, sliced noodles are the best in Shanxi pasta.
Knive-cut noodles, also known as “Emperor’s son-in-law’s noodles”, according to legend, knive-cut noodles was created by Emperor’s son-in-law Chai Shao in the Tang Dynasty. Because of his perennial battle on the battlefield, there was no suitable kitchen tools, so he thought of using a knife to cut noodles, which has been passed down to this day.
The technical requirements of the cutting face and the face are stricter, the proportion of water and the face is accurate, beat the face into a spike, and then knead it into a dough, and then cover it with a wet cloth, and knead it after waking for half an hour until it is evenly kneaded, soft and smooth.
When the dough is cut, the left hand holds the kneaded dough, and the right hand holds the knife. Like a calligrapher, he cuts the elastic dough into thin slices and throws them into the boiling pot. The noodles curved elegantly in the air, shining silver, and rippling as they fell into the water, like a mountain spring leaping into a deep pool.
As Black Myth: The Monkey King producer Feng Ji said, “It is more important to set foot on the path than to reach the Spiritual Mountain.” On the journey, the important thing is not the destination, but the scenery and flavor along the way.
