논어에 언급된 공자(춘추)시대의 음식문화

Food Culture of Confucius Era Described in the Analects

The Analects is a record of teaching and discussing various fields of life around the time of Confucius in China around 500 BC. This paper examines the philosophical and dietary aspects of the Confucius and the common people in the Confucian era mentioned in the Analects. Confucius emphasized and practiced dietary habits and hygienic eating manners that were not defective with respect to dignity and temperance as a citizen. Confucius was vigilant about the life of eating a satisfying meal and doing nothing. Confucius also recommended not eating any food that was altered, contaminated, less or too much heated, or unripened. He said that excessive intake of food ingredients, meat and alcohol would be harmful. The dietary attitudes and recommendations referred to by Confucius seem to be sufficient to be recognized mostly in terms of modern food science and nutrition. Especially today, we face hygienic, frugal and health- conscious food culture that we face the problem of food shortage and environmental pollution.