中国古代苦瓜史考略

A Brief Study on the History of Balsam Pear in Ancient China

苦瓜原产亚洲热带地区,现广泛分布于热带、亚热带、温带甚至寒带地区,而东印度和东南亚栽培历史最为悠久。北宋时期苦瓜由东印度和东南亚一带传入中国,历经宋代、元代、明代、清代至今,在中国至少有1 000年的栽培历史,在中国园艺史和食品史上留下深刻的历史文化印记,并经由中国,约在14世纪末或江户时代传入日本。

Balsam Pear is native to tropical Asia and now is widely distributed in tropical,subtropical,temperate and even cold regions,while East India and Southeast Asia have the longest cultivation history. Balsam Pear was introduced into China from East India and Southeast Asia in the Northern Song Dynasty.It has been cultivated in China for at least1000 years since the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has left a deep historical and cultural mark in the history of horticulture and food in China. It was introduced into Japan through China at the end of the 14 th century or the Edo period.