Taoist diet facts for kids
Taoism is an ancient Chinese philosophy and religion. Many Taoist followers believe that what they eat is very important. They think food affects their body, mind, and spirit. They especially focus on the amount of qi (pronounced "chee") in their food. Qi is like a life energy that flows through everything.
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Eating Habits in Taoism
Taoist teachings often suggest certain ways of eating. These practices aim to help people live a healthy life. They also help followers connect more deeply with nature and their inner selves.
Fasting and Energy
Some early Taoist practices included a special kind of fasting called bigu. This means "avoiding grains." People believed that by not eating grains, they could become healthier or even live forever. Ancient Taoist writings, like the Taiping Jing, even suggested that some people might not need food at all. They thought these people could get all their energy by taking in qi from the universe.
Why Some Taoists Are Vegetarian
Taoist groups often encourage a vegetarian diet. This means they do not eat meat. The main reason for this is to avoid harming other living creatures. Taoists believe that all life is connected. However, not all Taoists follow the exact same rules about food. Some are stricter than others.
A famous story says that Liú Ān, a prince from the Han dynasty, invented tofu. Tofu is a popular vegetarian food made from soybeans. He was also a skilled Taoist.
Modern Taoist Food Rules
Today, some Taoist diets have specific rules. Besides avoiding grains (bigu) and being vegan (no animal products at all), they also avoid certain strong-smelling plants. These plants are traditionally asafoetida, shallot, mountain leek, and a type of allium called Allium chinense. These, along with garlic, are known as wǔ hūn (五葷). This means "Five Strong-Smelling Vegetables." Some Taoists also avoid plants from the nightshade family, like potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers.
