仙居(ju)傳統菜譜為“八(ba)(ba)大(da)碗(wan)”,寓意(yi)吉祥(xiang),“八(ba)(ba)”在(zai)(zai)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)文(wen)化中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)為吉祥(xiang)之(zhi)(zhi)數(shu)。中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)國(guo)的古典文(wen)化中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)以(yi)陰(yin)陽、五行、八(ba)(ba)卦為綱,從(cong)而在(zai)(zai)后天八(ba)(ba)卦中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)延生(sheng)出第八(ba)(ba)卦為坤(kun)(≡≡),坤(kun)為地、為母、為牛、為眾多(duo),又加(jia)上(shang)“八(ba)(ba)”是(shi)十以(yi)內偶數(shu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的最(zui)大(da)數(shu),所以(yi)寓意(yi)出眾多(duo)的吉祥(xiang)之(zhi)(zhi)說。道教文(wen)化源遠(yuan)流長(chang),塑造(zao)出具(ju)有(you)多(duo)方代(dai)表(biao)的“八(ba)(ba)仙”,吃飯的桌稱為“八(ba)(ba)仙桌”,正方形(xing),邊(bian)長(chang)三尺六(魯班尺)即1公尺,坐(zuo)的四(si)條凳長(chang)四(si)尺(魯班尺)稱四(si)尺凳,每方坐(zuo)二人(ren),共(gong)座八(ba)(ba)人(ren),上(shang)一席菜“八(ba)(ba)大(da)碗(wan)”,上(shang)十六至二十四(si)個菜,民間統稱“八(ba)(ba)大(da)八(ba)(ba)細”。
傳說(shuo)古時(shi)八(ba)(ba)(ba)仙(xian)過海大戰龍(long)王之后,在回神仙(xian)居的路上(shang),只(zhi)見(jian)鄰(lin)村(cun)皤灘(tan)鼓樂喧天(tian)、張燈結彩,遂降(jiang)祥云去湊熱鬧,原來是村(cun)中首富(fu)吳(wu)員外嫁女,八(ba)(ba)(ba)仙(xian)當時(shi)興起,一人做了(le)一道好菜(即采(cai)荷蓮(lian)子(zi)、湘子(zi)海參、鐘離翻碗(wan)肉、國(guo)舅泡鲞、洞賓(bin)大魚、鐵(tie)拐敲肉、仙(xian)姑(gu)肉皮泡、國(guo)老(lao)豆腐)以示慶賀。不(bu)久,仙(xian)居百(bai)姓(xing)都把吃飯用的四方桌(zhuo)改稱為(wei)八(ba)(ba)(ba)仙(xian)桌(zhuo),婚(hun)宴上(shang)都用上(shang)八(ba)(ba)(ba)仙(xian)的八(ba)(ba)(ba)樣拿手菜,并尊(zun)稱為(wei)八(ba)(ba)(ba)大碗(wan)。八(ba)(ba)(ba)大碗(wan)具體名稱改為(wei)以上(shang)八(ba)(ba)(ba)大碗(wan)名稱。