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- Panel 3-1 The character of food and the perception of the high and low among sacrificial offerings /鍾宗憲
Panel 3-1 The character of food and the perception of the high and low among sacrificial offerings /鍾宗憲
Chung-Hsien Chung
Professor, Department of Chinese, National Taiwan Normal University, NTNU
In traditional Chinese sacrifices, the highest-ranking offerings for emperors worshipping Heaven were cattle, sheep, and pigs. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, offerings to mountain gods could also include dogs, chickens, fish, grains, and wine. The reasons these foods were used as offerings to deities stemmed from various factors and have persisted through the ages. However, local customs and folk tales of different ethnic groups sometimes explicitly state that certain foods are unsuitable for sacrifice. This article will explore the relationship between food and sacrificial rites from the perspective of food characteristics and origins.
Professor, Department of Chinese, National Taiwan Normal University, NTNU
In traditional Chinese sacrifices, the highest-ranking offerings for emperors worshipping Heaven were cattle, sheep, and pigs. According to the Classic of Mountains and Seas, offerings to mountain gods could also include dogs, chickens, fish, grains, and wine. The reasons these foods were used as offerings to deities stemmed from various factors and have persisted through the ages. However, local customs and folk tales of different ethnic groups sometimes explicitly state that certain foods are unsuitable for sacrifice. This article will explore the relationship between food and sacrificial rites from the perspective of food characteristics and origins.