Manchu-Han – The 300-Course Banquet That Sparked Peace in China

Negotiations, peace, and a seemingly never-ending banquet. These are the three elements that form the Manchu-Han Feast, which took place during the Qing dynasty in China, beginning in the 17th century. No other feast has featured more dishes than this historic event, which marked a pivotal moment in the peace between the Manchu and Han peoples of China.

The Qing dynasty's takeover meant the chefs of the Forbidden City had to be replaced, particularly since they had been operating during the Ming dynasty. Manchu chefs then took over the palace kitchens, making their cuisine the main food served there. This remained the case until the great Emperor Qianlong invited chefs from southern China to cook in the palace kitchens. It marked the beginning of a new style of cooking, incorporating Manchu, southern, and Shandong elements to form the Manchu-Han Banquet.

The Qianlong Emperor - Photo credit: National Gallery of Victoria

With this new form of dining established, it later came to be used by the Kangxi Emperor to resolve the conflict between the Manchu and Han peoples of China. He recognised that negotiations for peace would be necessary, and therefore arranged for representatives of both sides to attend a banquet at the palace on his 66th birthday. This offered an opportunity to discuss issues such as food shortages and war-related concerns.

The full banquet consisted of six individual banquets, totalling over 300 dishes, with a minimum of 108 dishes presented. Over three days, a total of 196 main courses and 126 snack dishes were served and consumed by attendees. The dishes that were presented during this banquet are not the everyday dishes you would expect to see on your dining table. The dishes included Wensi tofu, Peking duck, and dried sea cucumbers, served with utensils designed to resemble different animals.

A table consisting of Manchu-Han banquet dishes - Photo credit: Visual China Group

Throughout this banquet, the negotiations for peace between the Manchu and Han peoples continued. A settlement was eventually reached, marking the beginning of a period of peace throughout China. From this point forward, the Manchu-Han style of dining became more fashionable, going into the 19th century. This is especially given that the Qing dynasty had ended, and many restaurants in China were scrambling to hire the chefs who had been involved in the original Manchu-Han banquet. The influence then continued into the 20th and 21st centuries, with restaurants serving Chinese cuisine worldwide, including Beijing, China’s capital.

While this banquet plays a pivotal role in the country’s history of peace, there have been arguments suggesting that it was actually depicted as a myth. Certain professors and food historians have researched the possible evidence which could confirm the banquet’s authenticity. In the meantime, there have been numerous references to the banquet in television programmes and films. This covers scales on both the historical and humorous sides of the banquet, and has even been compared to the American tradition of Thanksgiving.

Tao Heung Museum's Manchu-Han banquet interpretation - Photo credit: Charlotte1125

In any case, fiction or non-fiction, this banquet has been a historical landmark for the possibility that peace in China is possible. It also shows that discussing issues over food and drink can really help resolve conflicts between parties.