History
According to Bencao Gangmu (Pen Ts’ao or Chinese Materia medica), by Li Shizhen (1596), the creation of soybean curd is attributed to Liu An (179 – 122 BC), king of Wainan. Manufacture spread began during the Han Dynasty in China after it was created. The date when the preservation of this curd began is unknown, but most likely was derived from those wishing to preserve the curd that had appeared to have gone bad.
The Food Encyclopedia, written by Wang Su-Hsiung (1861) of Qing Dynasty, made reference to preserved bean curd as superior to difficult-to-digest, hardened tofu especially for the elderly, children and ill persons.
Read more about this topic: Fermented Bean Curd
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