Fotiaoqiang (Buddha Jumps Over the Wall)

Fotiaoqiang, also known as "Man Tan Xiang" (Full Jar Fragrance) or "Fushouquan" (Blessing and Longevity Complete), is a signature dish of Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China, belonging to the Fujian cuisine.

I. Historical Origin

It is said that Fotiaoqiang has a history dating back to the reign of Emperor Daoguang, or some say Tongzhi, of the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that once, when officials from the Fuzhou Bureau of Currency held a banquet, one of the courses was a dish called "Fushouquan," cooked in a slow simmer with chicken, duck, lamb shank, pig's trotters, pork ribs, quail eggs, and other foodstuffs. He was so impressed that Zhou Lian, then Fujian Governor-General, had to call for it. Later, Zhou Lian's chef, Zheng Chunfa, refined the recipe into what it is today, mainly by reducing the amount of meat and adding all kinds of seafood to make the dish more flavorful. Zheng Chunfa later opened the "Juchunyuan" restaurant; this dish became his signature and spread in popularity.

II. Dish Characteristics