Fushan lettuce

Fushan lettuce
SpeciesLactuca sativa var. sativa
Cultivar'Leaf Lettuce'

Fushan lettuce is a vegetable belonging to the genus Lactuca in the Asteraceae family.[1] It is a type of tender-leaf lettuce within the lettuce category. In mainland China, like other leaf lettuces, it is generally referred to as “shengcai” (lettuce). In Beijing, it is commonly known as “chuncai” (spring vegetable), while in Taiwan, it is commonly called “mainland lettuce” or “mainland girl”.[2][3]

福山萵苣 Fushan lettuce

Introduction

This vegetable is similar to the Taiwanese lettuce commonly known by Taiwanese people as “wozicai” (Taiwanese Hokkien: 妹仔菜, A仔菜, A菜). Early Taiwanese farmers called it “mainland wozicai” (tāi-lio̍k-e-á-tshài), or simply shortened it to “mainland lettuce” (tāi-lio̍k-e / tai-lio̍k-meh). Later, it was widely and mistakenly referred to as “mainland girl” (tāi-lio̍k-bē).[4][5][6][7]

According to staff members of the Taipei Agricultural Products Marketing Corporation,[8] before 1999, farmers in southern Taiwan privately introduced this vegetable from mainland China and began cultivating it in Taiwan. The Fushan lettuce sold in Taiwan is not imported from mainland China, but is locally grown in Taiwan and produced throughout the year.

Since 2001, it has become a very common household vegetable in southern Taiwan. The main cultivation areas are Erlun and Xiluo in Yunlin County, which are major leafy vegetable production regions in Taiwan. The daily market trading volume is about 2 to 3 metric tons.

In addition to being mistakenly called “mainland girl,” the company once named this emerging vegetable “youmaicai” (oil wheat vegetable). However, in Hong Kong and Macau, “youmaicai” actually refers to Taiwanese lettuce, which is commonly called “wozicai” in Taiwan.

Traditional lettuce was often used only as a decorative base for seafood dishes because of its poor texture and was usually not eaten. However, Fushan lettuce is an improved variety of lettuce with large green leaves and a sweet, crisp texture, making it widely popular.

In addition, because it does not easily change color and is inexpensive, it has become one of the common vegetables found in hot pot restaurants and snack shops in Taiwan.

The name correction movement in Taiwan

In March 2017, students including Zeng Pinxuan from the Graduate Institute of Arts and Humanities Education at National Taipei University of the Arts launched the “Fushan Lettuce Name Correction Movement”.[9][10][11] They called on the public and shop owners in Taiwan to replace the commonly used nickname “mainland girl” with the proper name “Fushan lettuce,” in order to remove the association between the vegetable's name and women from mainland China.

Taiwanese sociologist Li Mingcong also responded in support of the movement,[12] stating that such a name could be considered a form of harassment toward women from mainland China living in Taiwan. Even if it did not amount to discrimination, it was still a frivolous and disrespectful term toward these women.

In November 2018, the Council of Agriculture of the Executive Yuan, the highest authority for agricultural affairs in Taiwan, officially responded to this issue for the first time on behalf of the Taiwanese government.[13] It called on the public to use the correct name “Fushan lettuce,” stating that the term “mainland girl” carries discriminatory implications for women from mainland China, especially spouses from the mainland. It recommended using “Fushan lettuce” or “mainland A-cai” (lettuce, wozicai) instead, and advised against using the term “mainland girl”.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 《萵苣》，路全利，2009 從農場到餐桌特輯，鄉間小路月刊 Archived 2012-04-17 at the Wayback Machine Lettuce, by Lu Quanli, 2009, Special Feature: From Farm to Table, Country Road Monthly, Archived April 17, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ 關於「大陸妹」一詞的相關社論 Archived 2020-11-22 at the Wayback MachineEditorials Related to the Term “Mainland Girl,” Archived November 22, 2020, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ 大陸妹營養6功效，可以生吃？大陸妹不變黑料理1技巧 6 Nutritional Benefits of “Mainland Lettuce”: Can It Be Eaten Raw? 1 Cooking Tip to Prevent It from Turning Black
  4. ↑ 青菜大陸妹非歧視用語 此妹非彼妹 Archived 2018-11-29 at the Wayback Machine,中央社，2017年2月1日“Mainland Lettuce” Is Not a Discriminatory Term: This ‘Mei’ Is Not That ‘Mei’,” Archived November 29, 2018, at the Wayback Machine, Central News Agency, February 1, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Is "Mainland Girl" Discriminatory? University Teachers and Students Call for a Name Correction but Face Strong Criticism from Netizens". 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2020-02-27. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  6. ↑ "Why Is This Vegetable Called "Mainland Girl"? Expert Explanation Shocks Netizens: "Are You a Vegetable Expert?"". 東森新聞. Archived from the original on 2018-07-04. Retrieved 2018-05-18.
  7. ↑ Cao Mingzong pointed out in his book The Origin of Oyster Omelet: A Study of Taiwanese Food Names that Taiwanese lettuce, called “wozicai” (e-a-tshai), came to be pronounced as “A-cai” because “e” and “A” are homophones. In some parts of Taiwan, it was also called “meizicai” (me-a-tshai). Later, when a mainland variety of lettuce was introduced, it became known as “mainland meizicai,” which was gradually shortened in everyday speech to “mainland girl.”
  8. ↑ Meng Xiangjie, “Good Vegetable! ‘Mainland Lettuce’ Is Sweeping Across Taiwan,” NOWnews, December 28, 2001.
  9. ↑ "Stop Calling It "Mainland Girl": Graduate Students Launch "End Discrimination Through Ordering Food" Campaign". Archived from the original on 2017-10-03. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  10. ↑ ""Is 'Mainland Girl' a Vegetable or a Girl?" She Advocates a Name Correction: Please Call It "Fushan Lettuce"!". 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2017-06-15.
  11. ↑ "Lettuce Commonly Known in Taiwan as "Mainland Girl" Involves Discrimination: The New Generation Promotes Renaming It "Fushan Lettuce"". 16 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2017-06-16.
  12. ↑ ""The Naming, Stigmatization, and Renaming of 'Mainland Girl'"". Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  13. ↑ "My Name Is — Fushan Lettuce!". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  14. ↑ "I Am Just a Bunch of Fushan Lettuce — The Naming Controversy of "Mainland Girl"". Archived from the original on 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
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