It all began in the Qing Dynasty when vendors started trading around Dongzhimen Gate at midnight until early dawn. Their oil lamps were dim and the atmosphere was ghostly. Hence it got its name "Ghost Street' 鬼街 (gui jie). In the 1980s more restaurants began to open and due to the changing character of the street, the Commerce Commission changed the word 鬼 to 簋 (a bronze vessel used to contain food in ancient times). This changed the meaning of the name but not its pronounciation. Brilliant!
No comments:
Post a Comment