Eggplant (Nasu) - Eggplant (English spelling)

Japanese: ナス(茄∥茄子) - ナス（英語表記）eggplant

It is an annual plant (perennial in the tropics) of the Solanaceae family, also known as eggplant (illustration). Its fruit is edible and is an important vegetable. Native to India, it is widely cultivated from the tropics to temperate regions. Its cultivation in China is very old, with its cultivation and seed production already recorded in the Qimin Yaoshu, giving it a history of over 1,500 years. It was introduced to Arabia and North Africa by the Persians around the 5th century. It is unclear when it was introduced to Japan, but the oldest record is from the Shosoin documents, which state, "On June 21, 750, the 2nd year of Tenpyo Shoho, Aiyuan eggplants were presented," and from the description in the Engishiki, it is assumed that it was cultivated and was an important vegetable since ancient times.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ナス科の一年草(熱帯では多年草)で，ナスビともいう（イラスト）。果実を食用とする重要野菜である。インドの原産で熱帯から温帯地方に広く栽培される。中国での栽培はきわめて古く，《斉民要術》にすでに栽培，採種について記載されており，千数百年の歴史を有する。アラビア，北アフリカ地方には5世紀前後にペルシア人によって伝えられた。日本への渡来年代は不明であるが，最古の記録として，正倉院文書に〈天平勝宝2年(750)6月21日藍園茄子を進上したり〉とあり，また《延喜式》の記述内容からも，古くから栽培され重要な野菜であったと推定される。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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