MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2025
The word “Digua” (sweet potato) may sound utterly ordinary to people in Fujian, but behind it lies a story that spans oceans.
Sweet potatoes originated in the Americas. During the Age of Exploration, they were introduced to Fujian via places like Luzon, taking root there as early as the 16th century. At first, people called them “Fanshu”, “Fan” meaning foreign, and “Shu” referring to tuber crops in general. Over time, as cultivation spread, the crop became localized, and people began to use the more vivid name “Digua,” literally “earth melon,” reflecting the way it grows underground with spreading vines, simple yet evocative.
During the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, Fujian suffered a severe drought. Chen Zhenlong took the risk of introducing sweet potato vines and promoting their cultivation, turning the crop into a vital famine relief resource. Hardy and able to grow in poor soil without competing with rice or wheat for farmland, sweet potatoes quickly spread across the region. They not only eased food shortages but also supported population growth. Qing dynasty records even note that just two jin of sweet potatoes could sustain a person, making them an essential staple for ordinary people.
This story continues today. Sweet potatoes are still widely grown across Fujian. With improved cultivation techniques and favorable natural conditions, their quality has steadily increased, contributing to rural economic development. What was once an overseas import has become a “sweet industry” that nourishes the land, its journey a small yet vivid reflection of Fujian’s long history of exchange and integration with the wider world.
