Evolution of "Yu Sheng"


"Yu Sheng" is a special, new year dish served by every restuarant & almost all food stalls in the coffee shops; during Chinese New Year period.

It originated in Singapore & was created by the "coolies" out of necessity.

"Coolies" are odd job labourers. In the bygone days of yesteryears, they worked at the quays, loading & unloading goods from boats.

The "coolies" came from China to escape from the calamities (flood/famines..) & oppressions from the landlords in their homeland.

Life in Singapore was tough, but better!

They lived thriftily -- shared rooms, ate simple food which were bought from the road- side stalls by the quay. They scrimped & saved so as to remit money to their families in China.

Their only rest days fell on the first 3 days of the Chinese New Year (CNY) period. The road-side stalls were closed. The "coolies" got together to prepare food which did not require cooking for consumption. They created "Yu Sheng" which consists finely sliced fish & a variety of vegetables.

The "coolies" jointly tossed & mixed the ingredients of the "yu sheng" ("yu" = fish, "sheng" = raw) as they shared their dreams. The sharing spinned off
to mutual well wishes for the new year.

Slowly, the tossing of "yu sheng" with well wishes amongst a group of "coolies" evolved.

It is no longer a dish of local mixed vegetables mixed with slices of a local fish ("parang").

Instead of the humble "parang", a certain hotel, served a plethora of salmon, tuna, abalone slices plus baby abalone sprayed with gold, in their "yu cheng". The vegetables was arranged into a beautiful picture of a rabbit (This year is the rabbit year) with plum blossoms, on an equally beautiful, painted, gigantic tray. Extra, extra, long chop-sticks were used to facilitate tossing the "yu sheng" to great height. ("Gao sheng" = great height = high status in life or good promotion)

The well wishes & especially "Fatt ah, fatt ah!" (Prosper, prosper) rang round the resturant, in waves after waves; as the dish was served.

Well, the restaurant which served  the dish is indeed prospering.  It charged a few hundred for one serving of "yu sheng"!!

** "yu sheng recipe in "Food" page