Dumplings originated during the Eastern Han Dynasty, first invented by Zhang Zhongjing, a native of Dengzhou, Henan Province, in the Eastern Han Dynasty. At that time, they were used for medicinal purposes, and Zhang Zhongjing wrapped herbs with dough—such as lamb and pepper—to heal illnesses and prevent patients' ears from freezing.
During the period of the Three Kingdoms of the last Han Dynasty, dumplings had already become a type of food. This dish was mentioned in the book "Guangya," written by Zhang Yi of the Wei Dynasty. According to Guangya (Guangya), a book written by Zhang Yi of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period, there was a crescent-shaped food called "hundun," which was essentially similar to dumplings.
Dumplings were introduced to Mongolia during the Song Dynasty, and the Mongolian pronunciation of dumplings is similar to "plazi." After the Mongol Empire's conquest, gyoza was also introduced worldwide. This includes Russian gyoza, Kazakh gyoza, Korean gyoza, and many other types of gyoza.
Eating dumplings represents waiting for a reunion, symbolizing peace and togetherness, and also carries the hope of returning home soon. It is a tradition in northern China to wrap dumplings on New Year’s Day to welcome friends and family, especially on the first day of Chinese New Year.
