远古时代，狩猎而来的动物内脏往往被遗弃。随着人类的不断探索尝试，对动物内脏开始直接食用。动物肠第一次有记载的应用大致始于春秋时期，据《周礼.考工记》记载“春被弦则一年之事”。人们开始认识到动物肠的弹性、韧性，用其制成弦线。
In ancient times, the internal organs of hunting animals were often abandoned. With the constant exploration and attempt of human beings, the viscera of animals began to be eaten directly. The first recorded application of animal intestines began roughly in the Spring and Autumn Period. According to Zhou Li Kao Gong Ji, it is recorded that "spring quilt strings are a year's event". People begin to realize the elasticity and toughness of animal intestines and use them to make strings.
约于东汉年间，动物肠开始被人们作为食品材料应用，灌制肠。北魏时期贾思勰著述《齐名要术》中就有“灌肠法”的记载，“灌肠法：取羊盘肠，净洗治。细锉羊肉，令如笼肉，细切葱白，盐、鼓汁、姜、椒末调和，令咸淡适口，以灌肠。两条夹而炙之。割食甚香美。”
About the Eastern Han Dynasty, animal intestines began to be used as food materials, enema. In Jia Sixie's Qi Ming Yao Shu in the Northern Wei Dynasty, there is a record of "enema method", "enema method: taking sheep's bowel, cleaning and treating. Filing mutton, such as cage meat, sliced onion white, salt, drum juice, ginger, pepper mingled, make salty and palatable to sausage. Two clips burn it. Cutting is delicious."
另外，在《儒林外史》、《金瓶梅》等古典名著中亦有吃腊肠、吃“羊贯肠”的记述。
In addition, in classical works such as The Scholar's History and Jin Ping Mei, there are also descriptions of eating sausage and "sheep through intestine".