中国特殊的节庆传统 童子尿煮鸡蛋

 　　China is a place with many unusual annual traditions, including a mud-flinging festival in the country’s tropical southwest and a June celebration of eating worms. But one of the most exotic rituals comes in spring, when residents of Dongyang, in coastal¹ Zhejiang Province, chow down on eggs simmered in steaming pots of — wait for it — boys’ urine.

　　中国有许多特殊的节庆传统，比如西南热带地区的泼泥节，还有在6月份举办的吃虫节。而其中最奇异的风俗之一，来自浙江沿海的东阳居民。每逢春季，他们便要大啖蒸锅里的煮鸡蛋——看官且听我说完：这是用小男孩的尿煮的鸡蛋。

　　Sold since ancient times as “virgin boy eggs,” the local delicacy² was officially listed as ”intangible cultural heritage” in Dongyang in 2008. Many residents believe these incredible, edible³ eggs energize⁴ the body, improve blood circulation and prevent heat stroke. They are also a bargain at around 25 cents an egg, urine included.

　　这种自古便以“童子蛋”之名销售的本土美食，已在2008年正式成为东阳市非物质文化遗产。许多当地居民相信童子蛋能增强体力、改善血液循环、预防中暑。此外童子蛋物廉价美，连蛋带尿一个大约25美分。

　　Across Dongyang, a bustling⁵ city of nearly 1 million people, fresh urine is collected every day from buckets placed in elementary school hallways, where boys under the age of 10 are instructed to answer nature’s call — as long as they are not sick, out of concern for, umm, food safety. Some vendors⁶ even carry around empty bottles and wait in parks or public bathrooms until they find a parent that is willing to let their prepubescent son participate in the custom.

　　在这个人口近百万、熙来攘往的东阳市里，每天都有人在市内各小学的厕所用桶收集新鲜尿液。未满10岁的男童遵循指示，内急时就对着摆在校园走廊上的尿桶解决——只要他们没生病的话。这是出于，嗯，食品安全的考量。有些小贩甚至会随身携带空瓶在公园或公共厕所候着，直到他们找到某位愿意让自己未到青春期的小儿参与这项习俗的家长。

　　Chinese medicine practitioners⁷ are divided on the supposed benefits of ingesting urine, which modern science has shown to have no nutritional⁸ value. But the locals in Dongyang are happy to shower praise on the eggs they call “the taste of spring.”

　　对于喝尿所谓的益处，中医界存在分歧，而现代科学则已经证实了尿液并无营养价值。不过东阳市民仍乐于推崇这些被他们称作“春天的味道”的鸡蛋。

　　To prepare the eggs, chefs generally stick to a time-tested recipe: First, soak the eggs in pots of urine and bring to a boil. Remove the eggs, crack the shells, then return the eggs to the pot and simmer for about a day, adding more urine as necessary, sometimes with herbs. The marinade gives the egg whites a pale golden hue⁹, while the yolks turn green. They are also quite salty, according to Wu Bei, 39, an employee at the Zhang Yuming Chinese Medicine Clinic in Dongyang.

　　要烹煮童子蛋，厨师通常会遵循一个久经考验的做法：首先，将鸡蛋浸泡在尿液中加热至沸腾，然后取出来敲裂蛋壳，再放回原来的炖锅里，以文火继续煮大约一天。其间可视需求添加尿液，有时亦可加入草药。经过这番浸泡，蛋白会染上一层金黄色泽，蛋黄则会转绿。在东阳市张裕明（音）中医诊所工作的吴贝（音）今年39岁，她表示，这些蛋尝起来也挺咸的。

　　“They taste a bit like urine, but not too much,” she said. “It’s delicious, you should try one sometime!”

　　“它们吃起来有点尿骚味儿，但不会太强烈，”她说。”味道很好，哪天你该尝尝！”

 

1 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

2 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

3 edible   

n.食品，食物；adj.可食用的

参考例句：

• Edible wild herbs kept us from dying of starvation.我们靠着野菜才没被饿死。
• This kind of mushroom is edible,but that kind is not.这种蘑菇吃得，那种吃不得。

4 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

5 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

6 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

7 practitioners   

n.习艺者，实习者( practitioner的名词复数 )；从业者（尤指医师）

参考例句：

• one of the greatest practitioners of science fiction 最了不起的科幻小说家之一
• The technique is experimental, but the list of its practitioners is growing. 这种技术是试验性的，但是采用它的人正在增加。 来自辞典例句

8 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

9 hue   

n.色度；色调；样子

参考例句：

• The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
• The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。