辣椒在中国的传播及其影响

原产于美洲的辛辣作物辣椒，传入中国以后与中国传统辛辣饮食相结合，迅速替代了传统的辛香植物花椒、食朱萸等，并且作为一种蔬菜，在全国范围内快速普及开来。本文重点考证了辣椒传入的时间、路径以及明清、民国直至当代辣椒在中国的分布和演进情况，对辣椒在中国传播的动因及其对中国经济、社会、文化等方面的影响进行较为系统的研究。

The Spread of Pepper and Its Influence in China

Pepper, originated in America, has been introduced into China combining with Chinese traditional spicy diet, replacing the traditional fragrant spices and becoming a vegetable, spreading rapidly all over the country. This paper has done the textual research on the time and the path of pepper's introduction, as well as its condition of spread and evolution from the period of Ming and Qing, to modern times and now; and focuses on the motivation of its spread in China, as well as its influence on China's economy, society and culture.