Post by Otagiri Tatsuzou on Oct 10, 2005 13:59:03 GMT -5
In the book, "Nihonchikusanshi" (日本地区産史: The History of Livestock in Japan), written by KAMO Giichi (加茂儀一), it notes that dogs, pigs, goats, sheep, and chickens all existed in Japan as early as 700 B.C. Goats milk was consumed during the Yayoi Period (300B.C - 200 A.D), and yet, there is no mention of cheese during this era. Was cheese still an unknown commodity to the Japanese at this stage? Or if not, was cheese not suited to the Japanese palate?
It is thought that milk products were first brought to China by traveling merchants or desert nomads from Mongolia, where such products were used for medical purposes. Eventually these products entered Japan via the Korean peninsula. In 562 the Zennanoomi family (善那使主), who had immigrated to Korea from China, came to Japan and brought with them many rare and precious things including Buddhist statues, medical books and knowledge on how to make various milk products. The family members became naturalized Japanese citizens and served the royal family. Prince Shotokutaishi, a devout Buddhist and a great politician who was born during this period, undoubtedly grew up enjoying cheese and other milk products as result of his privileged upbringing. In Buddhist writings he studied, a monk's aestheticism was compared to the maturing of milk products, referring to such foods as yogurt, rare and mature cheese and butter. In Buddhism, milk products were considered very special, and were even used as an offering to Buddha. Emperor Kotoku (孝徳), who reigned from 645-654, often received milk as a gift from the 2nd and 3rd Zennanoomi Family head. Such was its importance, a technical officer or chinochojo (乳長上) was appointed to oversee production of milk and milk products on behalf of the royal family.
In 701 the Taiho Code (大宝法令), the first penal and administration code, was introduced. Also, around this time "wadokaichin" (和同開珎) or "wadokaiho", Japan's oldest coins were first minted. During such lively and changing times, Emperor Monbu (文武) dispatched cheese-making envoys into the countryside and ordered them to pay their tributes in cheese. In 1988, about seventy four thousand "mokkan" (木管), memos written on pieces of wood, were found in the ruins of Heijokyo (平城京), present-day Nara Prefecture. These memos tell us which country regions contributed cheese, of which present-day Shiga and Shimane Prefectures figure prominently. Furthermore, two "mokkan" found in the ruins of government minister NAGAYAO's (長屋王) residence, dating back to the 8th century, certify that he exchanged rice for milk with a farmer and that another farmer used his kitchen as a place to make cheese.
During the Heian Period (9C.-12C.) 55 different country regions from Kyushu to Ibaragi provided cheese to the emperor and royal family. The cheese would have spoiled in the summer heat while being transported to Kyoto, so it was brought during winter. Limited to the noble classes, cheese was served at banquets as a special delicacy. It was thought of as a medicine providing perpetual youth and long life. In "Shoyuki" (小右記), a diary on court life written by FUJIWARA no Sanesuke (藤原実資), it notes FUJIWARA no Michinaga (藤原道長), a powerful court officer ruling Japan for 30 years, ate cheese with honey every day as he suffered from diabetes. During the same period, a farm called "Ajifuno-maki" (味原牧) was established in Osaka where grazing land existed and water from Yodo-gawa River was available for irrigation. This farm delivered seven milking cows to "Nyugyuin" (乳牛院), a small dairy farm built for the royal family. This was later taken over by a powerful military family, becoming the fief of the Kasugasha clan.
In the transition from a dynasty period to a warring state at the end of the 12th century, cheese making seems to have disappeared. Government lands were taken over by temples, shrines and powerful families, and the system of cheese contribution gradually eroded.
www.kcif.or.jp/en/newsletter/lik/archives/08_2000.htm
It is thought that milk products were first brought to China by traveling merchants or desert nomads from Mongolia, where such products were used for medical purposes. Eventually these products entered Japan via the Korean peninsula. In 562 the Zennanoomi family (善那使主), who had immigrated to Korea from China, came to Japan and brought with them many rare and precious things including Buddhist statues, medical books and knowledge on how to make various milk products. The family members became naturalized Japanese citizens and served the royal family. Prince Shotokutaishi, a devout Buddhist and a great politician who was born during this period, undoubtedly grew up enjoying cheese and other milk products as result of his privileged upbringing. In Buddhist writings he studied, a monk's aestheticism was compared to the maturing of milk products, referring to such foods as yogurt, rare and mature cheese and butter. In Buddhism, milk products were considered very special, and were even used as an offering to Buddha. Emperor Kotoku (孝徳), who reigned from 645-654, often received milk as a gift from the 2nd and 3rd Zennanoomi Family head. Such was its importance, a technical officer or chinochojo (乳長上) was appointed to oversee production of milk and milk products on behalf of the royal family.
In 701 the Taiho Code (大宝法令), the first penal and administration code, was introduced. Also, around this time "wadokaichin" (和同開珎) or "wadokaiho", Japan's oldest coins were first minted. During such lively and changing times, Emperor Monbu (文武) dispatched cheese-making envoys into the countryside and ordered them to pay their tributes in cheese. In 1988, about seventy four thousand "mokkan" (木管), memos written on pieces of wood, were found in the ruins of Heijokyo (平城京), present-day Nara Prefecture. These memos tell us which country regions contributed cheese, of which present-day Shiga and Shimane Prefectures figure prominently. Furthermore, two "mokkan" found in the ruins of government minister NAGAYAO's (長屋王) residence, dating back to the 8th century, certify that he exchanged rice for milk with a farmer and that another farmer used his kitchen as a place to make cheese.
During the Heian Period (9C.-12C.) 55 different country regions from Kyushu to Ibaragi provided cheese to the emperor and royal family. The cheese would have spoiled in the summer heat while being transported to Kyoto, so it was brought during winter. Limited to the noble classes, cheese was served at banquets as a special delicacy. It was thought of as a medicine providing perpetual youth and long life. In "Shoyuki" (小右記), a diary on court life written by FUJIWARA no Sanesuke (藤原実資), it notes FUJIWARA no Michinaga (藤原道長), a powerful court officer ruling Japan for 30 years, ate cheese with honey every day as he suffered from diabetes. During the same period, a farm called "Ajifuno-maki" (味原牧) was established in Osaka where grazing land existed and water from Yodo-gawa River was available for irrigation. This farm delivered seven milking cows to "Nyugyuin" (乳牛院), a small dairy farm built for the royal family. This was later taken over by a powerful military family, becoming the fief of the Kasugasha clan.
In the transition from a dynasty period to a warring state at the end of the 12th century, cheese making seems to have disappeared. Government lands were taken over by temples, shrines and powerful families, and the system of cheese contribution gradually eroded.
www.kcif.or.jp/en/newsletter/lik/archives/08_2000.htm