Diet And Confucian Spirit

Why did Confucius say we should eat slowly and it is not necessary to be full? The advise had been praised by Confucianists for many years. Why saints mentioned diet repeatedly besides the period of sacrifice? How does diet reveal the profound Confucianism? What is the subtle relation between diet and a country.The condition of the people’s diet can reflect political transparency. Solving the food and clothing problems, individuals should overcome their undue desires. Diet is very important, not only because it maintains us, but because it is the beginning of etiquette. Saints warn us that we must abide by the precept that our diet has to accord with etiquette, furthermore, as the core of Confucian ideas, Ren stipulates the attitude of diet. Whether eating rough food is happy or not depends on what we understand Ren. It means you love food, you obtain happiness. According to Confucian ideas, the education of etiquette and music is not identical with our daily life. This paper on diet and etiquette should be a preamble and a shadow revealed intentionally by Tao. The preamble leads us to experience Confucian spirit hidden in diet and etiquette. Maintenance means material effects people, however, cultivation means we must walk into our lives in order to change our life like making a stone become shining jade. When the natural qualities of men get the better of the results or education, they are rude men. When the results of eduction get the better of the natural qualities,they become literati. This is the beginning of the etiquette.