The Story of Luohan Vegetables

2020-11-12

Lohan vegetables are grown on the high-altitude wetlands of Dahuping Village, Yijiahe, Zhelin, at an elevation of over 800 meters. Bathed in the gentle rains and dew of the mountains, these vegetables are a pure, natural, wild green delicacy—producing only about 5,000 kilograms of fresh vegetables annually. Lohan vegetables have extremely strict requirements for their surrounding growing environment; they can thrive only in a unique climate and an absolutely pollution-free environment, requiring no artificial cultivation whatsoever. When transplanted elsewhere, they undergo noticeable genetic mutations. Thus, Dahuping is the only place in the entire county where Lohan vegetables naturally flourish—a tradition that has continued for more than 1,400 years.

It is said that during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there was a temple in Dahu Ping, surrounded by more than twenty households. Because the mountain roads were steep and transportation was severely hampered, the village was almost completely isolated from the outside world. The people lived in extreme poverty, having no choice but to forage for food on the mountains—relying on wild vegetables and fruits to stave off hunger—and enduring a life of scant clothing and inadequate meals. Yet, they had profound faith in Buddhism. To honor the Bodhisattvas, they could only offer the finest wild fruits they gathered from the mountains as sacrifices. Over time, their sincere devotion moved the Buddha from the West. One winter night, the Buddha appeared in a dream to the abbot of the temple, saying: “The mountain villagers here are simple and kind-hearted. Their devotion to the Buddhist faith is truly pure and sincere. Therefore, I bestow upon this place a cool and delicious vegetable. I have sent eighteen Arhats to sow its seeds here, and every year around the Qingming Festival, this vegetable will sprout forth.” The following year, indeed, lush green vegetables began to grow all around the villagers’ homes, covering an area of over 200 mu. At first, no one knew what kind of vegetable it was, nor did they dare to eat it. So they consulted the abbot of the temple. After hearing the abbot explain the origin of the vegetable, they tasted it themselves for the first time. From then on, this vegetable became a staple in the villagers’ diet—a refreshing, delicious dish with an exquisite flavor that never grew tiresome, even after prolonged consumption. According to the Buddha’s dream message to the abbot, this vegetable possessed another remarkable property: children who ate it could digest food more easily, ward off calamities, and grow up healthy and strong; adults who consumed it could strengthen their bodies, improve their health, and remain free from all kinds of illnesses. This vegetable was so wonderful that no one knew its proper name. Thus, the villagers asked the abbot to give it a name. After pondering for a moment, the abbot thought to himself: Since this vegetable was planted by the eighteen Arhats sent by the Buddha, he decided to call it “Arhat Vegetable.” And so, the vegetable came to be known as “Arhat Vegetable.”

Keywords:

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