Vegetarian food is ancient dietary wisdom and does not originate from Buddhism

Vegetarianism is not the same as vegetarianism, and it is not unique to Buddhism. However, China’s vegetarian culture does have its origins in being closer to Buddhism. As time goes by, vegetarian culture has undergone changes in social development and has become increasingly fashionable. It is worth noting that "new vegetarianism" and Buddhist culture still have an inseparable "destiny".

Before Buddhism was introduced to China, vegetarianism was already popular in Han Dynasty. Medical books such as "Huangdi Neijing" recorded the ancient people's dietary concept of "nourishing, assisting, benefiting and replenishing", advocating "grains as nourishment, nourishment and replenishment". "Five fruits are helpful", and regards vegetarianism as a virtue; Lao and Zhuang's philosophy of tranquility and inaction also advocates a diet concept of abstinence and health. Many reclusive literati with lofty ideals advocate nature and believe that eating meat makes people's Qi turbid, while eating vegetarian food makes people clear their Qi. Therefore, they pursue Qi Qing and pursue the principle of vegetarianism.

Original Buddhism did not require monks to be vegetarians, but to adapt to the situation. Therefore, there is no commandment prohibiting eating fish and meat in the rituals. Therefore, today’s monks of Southern Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism and Northern Buddhism Japanese monks are allowed to eat fish. In the early days when Buddhism was introduced to China, it was too late to form Chinese characteristics. The vegetarian diet of Han monks was first proposed by Xiao Yan, Emperor Wu of the Southern Dynasties, more than 1,400 years ago. Therefore, vegetarianism is a unique requirement for Han Buddhist monks.

Emperor Xiao Yan of Liang Dynasty was a devout believer in Buddhism and sacrificed himself for Buddhism three times. Because he was familiar with Buddhist scriptures, and in accordance with the provisions of the Buddhist scriptures to "abstain from killing living things", in the tenth year of Tianjian, that is, in 511 AD, Emperor Wu of Liang wrote four "Essays on Cutting Out Wine and Meat" and collected them at the "Fengzhuang Gate" of the imperial palace. More than 1,000 monks and nuns sang this text. This article first put forward the idea of ??prohibiting monks and nuns from "eating all meat", and strictly controlled it with the coercive measures of "King's Law and Questioning", thus forming a vegetarian system for Han monks, which has been maintained to this day. At the same time, Emperor Wu of Liang also advocated vegetarianism among his subjects, and stipulated that the offerings to the ancestors of the gods of heaven and earth were not allowed to use pig heads, but sacrifices made of flour. Since Emperor Wu of Liang stipulated that monks should eat vegetarian food, Buddhism has been the most vigorous advocate of vegetarianism. Many Mahayana Buddhist scriptures clearly stipulate that meat of all living beings cannot be eaten, and use the viewpoints of karma and retribution and reincarnation to demonstrate the wrongness of eating meat. Therefore, vegetarianism has formed a long-standing Buddhist tradition. edge.

In the past, vegetarianism was often associated with fasting and chanting Buddha's name, and Buddhist pure vegetarianism was the mainstream of vegetarianism. However, in recent years, the promotion of concepts of health, environmental protection, compassion, and peace has made folk vegetarianism fashionable and even personal. Elegant taste, strong modern consciousness and a symbol of urban civilization and progress.

Vegetarian raw materials used to be mainly vegetables and tofu; now they have developed into soy protein, wheat protein, konjac, fungi and seaweed extracts. Vegetarians mainly eat grains, beans, vegetables, fruits, dried fruits and seeds.

The main manifestations of the popularity of vegetarianism are the prevalence of personal "vegetarianism" and the rise of vegetarian restaurants in various places. The modern vegetarian restaurant combines imperial vegetarianism, Buddhist vegetarianism and vegetarianism from various major folk cuisines, and even introduces many Western food recipes. There are two main schools of vegetarian restaurants. One is imitating meat, emphasizing realistic images and "flavorful and delicious"; the other is completely vegetarian, but seeking original and innovative flavors and trying not to use semi-finished products. In comparison, the latter seems to be more fashionable. In order to produce pure and excellent vegetarian dishes, many vegetarian restaurants often hire Buddhist vegetarian chefs; many of the shopkeepers are lay people. The layout of the restaurant is quiet and elegant, dedicated to the Buddha. The names of restaurants and dishes will use Buddhist allusions, and the background music will use Buddhist music. , the utensils will also reflect the characteristics of Buddhism. In short, the overall setting and detailed arrangements will be close to Buddhism. At the same time, rare books on Buddhist culture will often be circulated and printed.

Modern Minsu actively incorporates Buddhist elements, adhering to Buddhist food traditions and cultural connotations, integrating the fineness of Gongsu, the naturalness of Minsu, and the purity of Buddhism, with strict material selection and production. Exquisite, elegant naming, cooking techniques, learning from the best of others, harmonious unity of color, aroma, taste, shape, spirit, dish, quality, nourishment, sound and environment, it can be called "new vegetarian food".

In short, Chinese vegetarian food has gone through various changes in terms of concepts, materials, and forms of expression. However, the affinity between "new vegetarian food" and Buddhist culture can still be seen. ?