Confucianism
originated with
ancient
necromancers and
alchemists, who
were similar to the
witches in later
generations that
made sacrifices to
gods and ancestors.
The most important
part of the
sacrifices was food
and wine;
therefore, those in
charge of
sacrificial rites
knew protocol and
understood cookery.
Confucius (551-479
B.C.) was a
philosopher,
teacher, and the
founder of the
Confucian school.
He attached great
importance to food
and described it as
one of the three
basic conditions,
along with an army
and trust, for
founding a state.
He advocated that
rulers “practice
thrift and love the
people."
Confucius spoke
highly of Yu the
Great (2276 –2177
B.C., the founder
of the Xia
Dynasty). Yu paid
little attention to
food, but believed
few people could
abstain from good
food and good
housing because
most people desire
delicious food. Yu
dedicated himself
to the public good.
On the relationship
between food and
sacrifice,
Confucius said
animals offered in
sacrificial rites
should be chosen
and cut according
to fixed standards
or they could not
be eaten. He said
meats given in
sacrificial rites
for the head of the
state should be
eaten the same day
and not be kept
until the next day.
Meat offered in
sacrifice at home
should not be eaten
if it were kept
longer than three
days.
Confucius advanced
many principles of
dietetic hygiene
and criteria for
testing the hygiene
of foods. He said
foods should not be
eaten if they had
rotted, if they
were not well
cooked, if their
color had changed,
or if the wine and
dried meats bought
from the market
were not clean. He
believed foods
should only be
eaten at mealtime,
and if there were
many meat courses,
people should not
overeat. This
belief is reflected
in the dietetic
culture of the
Chinese nation; it
also conforms to
dietetic hygiene
because meats are
not easily
digested.
Confucius said, "Only wine drinking
is not limited, but
not so much as to
make you confused."
He meant you could
drink as much as
you wanted, but
should not become
drunk. This was
because the wine at
that time contained
little alcohol.
His advice, "Do not
eat too much" and
“Do not talk at
meals," conforms to
the principle of
building health
through diet, as
does “Do not take
away the ginger."
Ginger is pungent,
removes dampness,
and reduces
internal heat and
fever, so eating a
bit of it before
meals aids health
and digestion.
Confucius also
said: “I do not eat
if I do not get the
proper soy sauce."
In his time meat
dishes were
unsalted, so they
were dipped in soy
sauce before they
were eaten and
different soy
sauces were used
for different
meats. Confucius
stressed that the
dishes in his meals
must be compatible,
and did not resign
himself to
circumstances.
“Although they use
simple food,
vegetables and
melons, the three
sacrifices must all
be offered at the
rite." This shows
Confucius was
serious about
meals. Even if
simple food were
involved, the
attitude had to be
serious.
In his writings,
Mencius said that
peoples’ demand for
delicious food was
reasonable: “Fish
is what I like as
well as bear’s
paw." But, he
opposed rulers
disregarding the
desire of common
people for good
food in order to
satisfy their own
desires. He exposed
the dark reality
that “They do not
criticize
themselves about
dogs and swine
eating human food,
and they ignore the
starved people
lying on the
roads." He believed
the emperor should
share the joy of
life with the
people, and his
“benevolent
government" was the
way to achieve
this.
With regard to
colonies, Mencius
believed that only
if people were
clothed and fed
would it be
possible to
establish
harmonious
relations and help
the common people
become cultured. He
further believed
that people should
be vigorous and
overcome their
natural demands
(overcome hunger)
in order to
shoulder the
mission of
humankind.
If we judge the
history of China’s
dietetic culture
since these times,
the Confucianists
positively
influenced the
development of a
dietetic culture.
As Taoism and
Confucianism have
since blended
spiritually, the
two schools have
complemented each
other in the theory
and practice of
health building
through diet.
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