發(fa)布時(shi)間：2018-09-17|發布(bu)者: 大連鹽化集團(tuan)|欄目：鹽與風俗
在中國(guo)(guo)傳統文化中，鹽被稱為“國(guo)(guo)之(zhi)大寶”， 因(yin)為它不僅是人們生(sheng)活必需品之(zhi)一， 而且關乎國(guo)(guo)計民生(sheng)。有鹽，民安康(kang)；有鹽，國(guo)(guo)就(jiu)(jiu)富。前面講(jiang)到的黃帝(di)戰蚩尤的故事，實質上就(jiu)(jiu)是因(yin)爭奪鹽池(chi)而引起的戰爭。
有(you)人(ren)(ren)說(shuo)：“鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)潔白的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)精(jing)靈(ling)(ling)，是(shi)(shi)(shi)自(zi)然界里(li)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)神秘物(wu)質，是(shi)(shi)(shi)造化生命(ming)之(zhi)(zhi)初的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)根本，是(shi)(shi)(shi)勃勃萬物(wu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)根基。”根據《漢志》記載，鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)為命(ming)根，萬物(wu)之(zhi)(zhi)靈(ling)(ling)，通宇(yu)宙之(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)寶。秦始(shi)皇則認為，鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)宇(yu)宙賞賜給人(ren)(ren)類的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)天寶，是(shi)(shi)(shi)生命(ming)之(zhi)(zhi)不(bu)朽的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)精(jing)華(hua)之(zhi)(zhi)物(wu)。所(suo)以，從秦始(shi)皇開始(shi)，人(ren)(ren)們就(jiu)(jiu)把(ba)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)視(shi)為神秘的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)寶物(wu)，以至于死后(hou)都要(yao)用鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)包裹，填充棺木。鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)是(shi)(shi)(shi)首選的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)隨葬寶物(wu)，那時(shi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)人(ren)(ren)們相信鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)有(you)不(bu)朽的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)神奇功力。食鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)制(zhi)作，最早期是(shi)(shi)(shi)用海(hai)(hai)水煮(zhu)(zhu)出來(lai)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)，這是(shi)(shi)(shi)不(bu)爭的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)事實。《說(shuo)文(wen)(wen)》中(zhong)(zhong)記述：天生者(zhe)稱鹵，煮(zhu)(zhu)成者(zhe)叫(jiao)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)。傳說(shuo)黃(huang)(huang)帝時(shi)有(you)個叫(jiao)夙(su)沙(sha)(sha)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)諸侯(hou)，以海(hai)(hai)水煮(zhu)(zhu)鹵，煎成鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)，顏色有(you)青、黃(huang)(huang)、白、黑、紫五樣。現在(zai)(zai)推斷中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)人(ren)(ren)大約(yue)在(zai)(zai)神農氏（炎帝）與(yu)黃(huang)(huang)帝之(zhi)(zhi)間的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)時(shi)期開始(shi)煮(zhu)(zhu)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)。20世紀50年(nian)代福建有(you)文(wen)(wen)物(wu)出土，其中(zhong)(zhong)有(you)煎鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)器具，證明了仰韶時(shi)期（公元(yuan) 前(qian) 5000 年(nian)一公 元(yuan) 前(qian) 3000 年(nian)）古人(ren)(ren)已學會煎煮(zhu)(zhu)海(hai)(hai)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)。根據以上(shang)資料和實物(wu)佐證，在(zai)(zai)中(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)，鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)起源發(fa)生的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)時(shi)間遠(yuan)在(zai)(zai)5000年(nian)前(qian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)炎黃(huang)(huang)時(shi)代，發(fa)明人(ren)(ren)夙(su)沙(sha)(sha)氏是(shi)(shi)(shi)海(hai)(hai)水制(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)用火(huo)煎煮(zhu)(zhu)之(zhi)(zhi)鼻祖，后(hou)世尊崇其為“鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)宗(zong)”。在(zai)(zai)宋朝以前(qian)，在(zai)(zai)河東解州安(an)邑縣東南(nan)十里(li)，就(jiu)(jiu)修(xiu)建了專(zhuan)為祭(ji)祀“鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)宗(zong)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)廟宇(yu)。清(qing)同治年(nian)間，鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)運使喬松年(nian)在(zai)(zai)泰州修(xiu)建“鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)宗(zong)廟”，廟中(zhong)(zhong)供(gong)奉在(zai)(zai)主(zhu)位的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)即是(shi)(shi)(shi)煮(zhu)(zhu)海(hai)(hai)為鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)夙(su)沙(sha)(sha)氏，商周之(zhi)(zhi)際運輸鹵鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)膠鬲、春秋時(shi)在(zai)(zai)齊國(guo)實行(xing)“鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)政官營”的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)管仲，置于陪祭(ji)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)地位。
中國也是鹽(yan)井的(de)發明地(di)。《蜀王本紀》：“宣帝地(di)節(jie)（公(gong)元(yuan)前69年至(zhi)公(gong)元(yuan)前66年）中始穿鹽(yan)井數十所。”漢代起，也始利用鹽(yan)池(chi)取鹽(yan)。王廙(yi)(yi)《洛都(dou)賦》：“東有鹽(yan)池(chi)，玉(yu)潔冰鮮，不勞煮，成之(zhi)自然(ran)。”劉(liu)楨《魯(lu)都(dou)賦》：“又有鹽(yan)池(chi)漭沆，煎炙陽春，焦暴噴沫(mo)，疏鹽(yan)自殷，挹之(zhi)不損，取之(zhi)不勤。”
初期鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)制作，直接安爐灶架鐵(tie)鍋燃火(huo)煮(zhu)。這種(zhong)原始的(de)煮(zhu)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)費工時，耗燃料，產量少(shao)，鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)價貴(gui)。于是(shi)，從鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)一(yi)誕生(sheng)起，王(wang)室就(jiu)立有鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)法。在周朝時，掌鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)政之(zhi)官(guan)叫“鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)人(ren)(ren)”。《周禮(li)·天官(guan)·鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)人(ren)(ren)》記(ji)述(shu)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)人(ren)(ren)掌管鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)政，管理各(ge)種(zhong)用(yong)(yong)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)事務。祭祀要用(yong)(yong)苦鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、散鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)，待客要用(yong)(yong)形(xing)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)，大(da)王(wang)的(de)膳饈要用(yong)(yong)飴鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)。漢武帝始設(she)立鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)法，實行官(guan)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)專賣(mai)，禁止私產私營。《史記(ji)，平準書》中記(ji)載，當時誰敢私自(zi)制鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)，就(jiu)施以把左腳趾割掉的(de)刑(xing)罰。晉代時，私煮(zhu)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)者百姓(xing)判(pan)四年刑(xing)，官(guan)吏判(pan)兩(liang)年。立鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)法后，市民供應食鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)的(de)量是(shi)有規定的(de)。《管子(zi)》云：“凡食鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)之(zhi)數，一(yi)月(yue)丈(zhang)夫五升(sheng)(sheng)少(shao)半(ban)，婦人(ren)(ren)三升(sheng)(sheng)少(shao)半(ban)，嬰(ying)兒(er)二升(sheng)(sheng)少(shao)半(ban)。”
古時(shi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)的種類繁(fan)多(duo)，從顏(yan)色上分就(jiu)有(you)：絳雪、桃花、青、紫、白(bai)等等，從出處(chu)分為：海(hai)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)取海(hai)鹵煎(jian)(jian)煉(lian)而(er)(er)(er)成(cheng)(cheng)，井(jing)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)取井(jing)鹵煎(jian)(jian)煉(lian)而(er)(er)(er)成(cheng)(cheng)，堿(jian)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)是刮取堿(jian)土煎(jian)(jian)煉(lian)而(er)(er)(er)成(cheng)(cheng)，池(chi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)出自池(chi)鹵風(feng)干，崖(ya)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)生于(yu)土崖(ya)之(zhi)(zhi)間(jian)。海(hai)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、井(jing)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、堿(jian)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)三者出于(yu)人，池(chi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、崖(ya)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)二(er)者出于(yu)天。《明(ming)史》記(ji)有(you)： “解州(zhou)之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)風(feng)水所結，寧夏之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)刮池(chi)得之(zhi)(zhi)，淮、浙之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)熬汲，川、滇(dian)之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)汲井(jing)，閩、粵之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)積鹵，淮南(nan)之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)煎(jian)(jian)，淮北之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)曬(shai)，山(shan)東(dong)(dong)之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)有(you)煎(jian)(jian)有(you)曬(shai)，此其大較也。”南(nan)朝(chao)陶弘景(jing)《名醫別錄》記(ji)有(you)：東(dong)(dong)海(hai)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、北海(hai)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、南(nan)海(hai)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、河(he)東(dong)(dong)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)池(chi)、梁益鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)井(jing)、西羌山(shan)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)、胡中樹(shu)鹽(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)(yan)，色類不(bu)同，以河(he)東(dong)(dong)者為勝。
秦漢時(shi)河(he)東郡地在今山(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)運城(cheng)、臨汾一(yi)帶。因(yin)黃(huang)河(he)流經(jing)山(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)省西(xi)(xi)南境，山(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)卻(que)在黃(huang)河(he)以東，故(gu)這(zhe)塊(kuai)地方古代稱(cheng)為河(he)東。古人從河(he)東鹽(yan)(yan)池中引水至旁(pang)邊的(de)(de)(de)(de)耕(geng)地，每當仲夏時(shi)節(jie)，遇到刮大(da)南風時(shi)，一(yi)天一(yi)夜(ye)耕(geng)地中就(jiu)長滿了鹽(yan)(yan)花，當地人把這(zhe)叫“種鹽(yan)(yan)”，鹽(yan)(yan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)品質非(fei)常好(hao)。《呂氏春秋，本(ben)味(wei)篇》中有：“和之(zhi)(zhi)美者，陽樸之(zhi)(zhi)姜(jiang)，招搖之(zhi)(zhi)桂，越駱之(zhi)(zhi)菌，鳣(shan)(zhan)鮪(wei)之(zhi)(zhi)醢(hai)(hai)，大(da)夏之(zhi)(zhi)鹽(yan)(yan)，宰(zai)揭(jie)之(zhi)(zhi)露，其色如(ru)玉(yu)(yu)，長澤之(zhi)(zhi)卵。”意思(si)就(jiu)是說最好(hao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)調料是四川陽樸的(de)(de)(de)(de)姜(jiang)，湖南桂陽招搖山(shan)(shan)(shan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)桂，廣西(xi)(xi)越駱國的(de)(de)(de)(de)竹筍，用(yong)鱘鰉魚肉(rou)制成的(de)(de)(de)(de)醬(jiang)，山(shan)(shan)(shan)西(xi)(xi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)河(he)東鹽(yan)(yan)，宰(zai)揭(jie)山(shan)(shan)(shan)顏色如(ru)玉(yu)(yu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)甘露，西(xi)(xi)方大(da)澤里(li)的(de)(de)(de)(de)魚子醬(jiang)。
春(chun)(chun)秋戰(zhan)國(guo)時(shi)，有鹽(yan)，國(guo)就富。《漢 書》云(yun)：“吳煮(zhu)東(dong)海之(zhi)水為(wei)鹽(yan)，以(yi)致富，國(guo)用饒(rao)足。”齊國(guo)管仲也設鹽(yan)官專(zhuan)煮(zhu)鹽(yan)，以(yi)漁鹽(yan)之(zhi)利而興國(guo)。中國(guo)第一個(ge)鹽(yan)商是春(chun)(chun)秋時(shi)魯人猗(yi)頓，舊有“陶(tao) 朱、猗(yi)頓之(zhi)富”之(zhi)說，陶(tao)朱是指范(fan)蠡。范(fan)蠡助越(yue)王(wang)勾(gou)踐滅吳后(hou)，因(yin)(yin)為(wei)認為(wei)越(yue)王(wang)為(wei)人不可共(gong)安樂，因(yin)(yin)此(ci)棄官到(dao)山東(dong)定陶(tao)縣稱“陶(tao)朱公”，經(jing)商致富。“十九年中三致千金(jin)，子孫經(jing)營繁息(xi)，遂至巨萬(wan)。”猗(yi)頓則到(dao)春(chun)(chun)秋時(shi)的郇(xun)國(guo)。郇(xun)國(guo)漢屬(shu)河東(dong)郡，今(jin)屬(shu)山西。猗(yi)頓在(zai)郇(xun)國(guo)經(jing)營河東(dong)鹽(yan)十年，亦成(cheng)為(wei)豪富。
古代鹽商(shang)一般(ban)都具壟斷特權(quan)，所以鹽商(shang)十有八(ba)九都發(fa)了大財(cai)。明清兩代，江南(nan)揚州一帶的鹽商(shang)之(zhi)奢(she)靡達(da)到頂峰。據《清稗類鈔》記；“有欲以萬金(jin)一時費去者，使門下客以金(jin)盡買金(jin)箔，載至(zhi)鎮江金(jin)山寺塔上，向風揚之(zhi)，頃刻而散，沿(yan)緣草樹(shu)間(jian)，不可復收。又(you)有以三(san)千金(jin)尺(chi)買蘇州不倒翁，傾于水(shui)中，水(shui)道為之(zhi)寒者。”有喜歡漂亮貌美的，從看門人一直到女廚工，都選用二八(ba)佳麗清秀之(zhi)輩。有反過(guo)來喜歡貌丑的，奴仆為錄用，不惜(xi)毀其容，用醬(jiang)敷之(zhi)，在太陽下曝曬。
古(gu)代(dai)，我國(guo)民(min)間也視食(shi)(shi)鹽為珍寶，因(yin)為有些偏僻(pi)的山(shan)寨中(zhong)是(shi)很難(nan)得到鹽的。古(gu)時的滇西少數民(min)族(zu)，許(xu)多(duo)鄉民(min)把“鹽寶”供在神龕上，西盟縣(xian)佤族(zu)自治(zhi)縣(xian)把存鹽看(kan)成是(shi)財(cai)富，傣(dai)族(zu)把食(shi)(shi)鹽叫做“白色(se)的金子”，白族(zu)把筒鹽作為結婚的禮品(pin)。
在國外，古希(xi)臘(la)吟游詩人荷馬，曾經(jing)說鹽是“神(shen)賜(si)之物”。柏拉圖也認(ren)為(wei)鹽和(he)水、火一樣，都是最原始、最神(shen)圣的(de)(de)(de)構成要素。在國外，鹽是一種(zhong)有(you)益健康的(de)(de)(de)結(jie)晶(jing)體(ti)，色白(bai)質(zhi)純(chun)，因而古希(xi)臘(la)人用鹽作為(wei)祭神(shen)的(de)(de)(de)貢品(pin)， 以示虔誠。舊約全書．利末記》中有(you)句話：“在你們所有(you)的(de)(de)(de)奉獻中，必須包括食鹽。”因此(ci)，歷(li)代朝廷官(guan)員敬奉貢品(pin)，都少不了(le)鹽。《尚書·禺貢》即載： “海濱(bin)之斥……厥貢鹽希(xi)。”說明在我(wo)國夏禹(yu)時，鹽就已被列為(wei)貢品(pin)。