An interesting and timely story in today's Asia Times: Tarted-up mooncakes sell like hotcakes:
"Mooncakes, the traditional delicacy of the Mid-Autumn Festival, were once regarded as symbols of family reunion and represented the round harvest moon. But in recent years, as Chinese palates have become more jaded and customers have grown richer, the cakes have morphed into an ostentatious show of wealth... Mooncakes even have been called by some, and rightly so, an urbane form of bribery. A presentable box of mooncakes these days may come with a bottle of French red wine, a top-quality root of ginseng - or even a diamond ring.
The festival, which this year falls on Tuesday, also celebrates the love story of moon beauty Chang E and her archer husband Hou Yi. And so jewelers have cashed in on the legend, transforming it into a sort of Chinese Valentine's Day - pairing heart-shaped mooncakes with heart-shaped diamonds. " (continues --well worth reading as a glimpse into contemporary China)
This is one aspect of Asian culture that is very close to our own. Bribery by food and exploitation of stories for benefit. I find it highly amusing,however, that mooncakes are used to bribe officials and actually succeed at doing so, but also that there are people getting angry with the improper use of mooncakes. I don't think that people should be angry because the mooncakes are used to bribe others, but that there are idiots out there willing to be bribed by mooncakes. I'd take money over mooncakes any day, but to each their own.
Posted by: Leah at September 28, 2004 05:28 PM