Ancient China's lore of sticky rice

[seriousstan]

Ancient Chinese craftsmen used a secret ingredient to keep their structures standing through the centuries - sticky rice.



The legend that rice porridge was used in mortar to make robust ramparts has been verified by archaeological research in the northwestern province of Shaanxi, the state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday.

For centuries, rumours have circulated that even the Great Wall of China used sticky rice in their walls, to fend of hoarding invaders such as Genghis Khan.

----cut----

A chemical test showed that the mortar reacted the same as glutinous rice to a reagent. Infra-red spectral analysis also showed that the mortar displayed a similar molecular structure to glutinous rice.


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FFF5042B-7C84-46C7-8AE2-FDEA35776DCD.htm

[Spinzonner]

1. Always interesting to get to the kernel of truth in such matters

[Wilms]

2. In the tiny grains lie the answers one seeks. n/t

[phantom power]

3. This should come as no surprise to anyone who's ever tried to get

dried rice-goo off the bottom of a pan.

[htuttle]

4. I was just thinking that

Hmm...we should also explore the adhesive properties of oatmeal while we're at it.

[Nihil]

5. Ah ...

... that would be the Scots rather than the Chinese ... their dread
secret weapon against the Sassanach ... mind you, it's probably the
only thing that would counter battlefield dysentry in those days ...

:hi:

[Boomer]

6. And I don't even want to know...

...what you could use haggis for. Psychological torture perhaps, as in "Tell us your war plans or we'll make you eat haggis!"