A few species of swiftlets(genus Aerodramus)which are mostly found in South-east Asia build edible bird'nests(EBN).Around the middle of the Ming dynasty,EBN ap-peared in China.At first,most Chinese people knew little about this novelty.With the frequent interactions between China and Southeast Asia,foreign knowledge of EBN gradually spread to China,enriching Chinese people's comprehension.Chinese people understood this foreign prod-uct in the context of their traditional culture to establish their perceptions about the nature of bird's nests,nesting materials,and the medicinal value of bird's nests,making EBN a highly sought-after rarity in China as both a delicacy and elixir.This ancient knowledge still has a significant impact on how EBN is perceived in China today.
Ming and Qing ChinaEdible Bird's NestExotic GoodsLocalization
万方数据
维普
