Magistrate who martyred himself for his people
An illustration of Li Daiwen (center)
Li Daiwen (1603-1645), a Songjiang magistrate who pleaded "Show mercy to my people" when he faced execution by intruding Manchurian forces in 1645, has been remembered by local residents over the past four centuries through a culinary tradition.
Seniors in Songjiang might superstitiously tell their grandchildren that a cup of soybean milk on the 14th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar will benefit their eyes.
That day is actually Li's birthday, a hero during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) who martyred himself while fighting against the Manchurian army.
Songjiang was occupied by the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Manchurian army during its southward expedition in 1645.
Li and his soldiers defended the city gate with valor but suffered from a food shortage.
On his birthday, Li donated all the food his family had left – a few packages of soybeans – ground them into soybean milk and distributed it to soldiers and residents to help alleviate their hunger.
When the city finally surrendered to Manchurian forces, Li tried to hang himself but was captured before his action. Facing execution, he pleaded with the Manchurians: "Kill me anyway, but please spare my people."
Since then, generations of people in Songjiang have celebrated this heroic magistrate. A statue of Li sits at Songjiang's City God Temple where he is revered as the City God.
On the 14th day of the seventh lunar month, people in Songjiang grind soybeans to make soybean milk. They then drink the milk and eat deep-fried dough sticks to pay tribute to this folk hero.
