Ma Yu Ching's Bucket Chicken House

Ma Yu Ching's Bucket Chicken House (Chinese: 马豫兴桶子鸡; pinyin: Mǎ Yùxīng Tǒngzi Jī), located in Kaifeng, China, is by some accounts the world's oldest restaurant, although the Guinness Book of World Records recognizes Cafe Botin in Spain as the oldest eatery in the world.[1] It opened for business during the Jin Dynasty in AD 1153.[2][3] Having survived numerous wars, invasions, and dynasty changes, as of May 2012, the business is still serving noodles, rice, and roast chicken.[4]

It is known that restaurants existed in Kaifeng before 1153, since there is documentation of them during the Northern era (960–1127) of the Song Dynasty.[5]

History

Traditionally, "bucket chicken" is believed to originate from roast chickens sold in the markets of Kaifeng,[6] when it was the capital city during the Song Dynasty. The Ma family began trading in bucket chicken in Nanjing, in today's Jiangsu Province, after the Song Dynasty moved to the south.[7]

In 1855, Ma Youren, a descendent of the original Mr Ma moved back to his ancestral home in the village of Laodong, Kaifeng, bringing with him a bucket of the traditional sauce. There, Ma Youren established the "Ma Yuxing Roast Chicken Shop" in 1864, specialising in bucket chicken.[8] In 1954, a branch store was established in Zhengzhou when that city became the capital of Henan province.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ The present restaurant in Kaifeng was re-established in the 19th century. See below.
  2. ↑ Linda Haas Davenport. "Interesting Happenings From Around the World 1000-1499 AD". Haas Davenport Homepage. Linda Haas Davenport. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. ↑ Stephens, John Richard, Weird History 101, p. 127
  4. ↑ "World’s Most Unique and Historic Restaurants". AWC new's. AWC new’s. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  5. ↑ Gernet, Jacques (1962). Daily Life in China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion, 1250-1276. (in English (Translated by H. M. Wright)). Stanford: Stanford University Press. pp. 133–134. ISBN 0-8047-0720-0.
  6. ↑ "What Is the Oldest Restaurant In the World and When Did It Open?". Big Site of Amazing Facts. Big Site of Amazing Facts. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  7. ↑ "河南小吃-马豫兴桶子鸡". Xinhua News. April 8, 2005. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  8. ↑ "马豫兴"桶子鸡"". Mei Shi Jie. Retrieved October 12, 2012.