Analects 10.8 · Xiang Dang
“He did not object to rice that was finely polished, nor to meat that was finely minced.”
Meaning, context, and how to apply it today
食不厭精 膾不厭細 (shí bù yàn jīng, kuài bù yàn xì) means “He did not object to rice that was finely polished, nor to meat that was finely minced.” It is a passage from the Analects of Confucius, Book 10 (Xiang Dang), Chapter 8.
食不厭精 膾不厭細
- Pinyin
- shí bù yàn jīng, kuài bù yàn xì
- Translation
- He did not object to rice that was finely polished, nor to meat that was finely minced.
- Source
- Analects, Book 10 (Xiang Dang), Chapter 8
What does this passage mean?
The book Xiang Dang records the daily life of Confucius as observed by his disciples, and this passage opens the section on food. He did not object to rice that was finely polished or to meat that was finely minced. The text goes on to note that he would not eat rice that had gone sour or fish that had spoiled, nor anything of bad color or smell, anything out of season, or anything not properly cut. This describes not a luxurious palate but a clean and proper way of eating; Zhu Xi explained it as taking full care in nourishing the body. It shows Confucius’s conviction that even eating has its propriety and measure.
How can we apply it today?
Because we are busy, we eat anything, any way. We eat standing up, eat while watching a screen, and swallow without tasting. Confucius’s principle at the table is not gourmandise but care. Choosing fresh ingredients, preparing them cleanly, and eating in season is a way of respecting one’s body and keeping the basics of life. How we eat carries over into how we live. Sitting down to one properly prepared meal a day and eating it slowly seems a small thing, but it is a declaration that you will not treat yourself carelessly. Care for the body is where care for the mind begins.
Questions to reflect on
- ·How many times a day do you eat with care?
- ·Does the way you eat resemble the way you live?
- ·What small habit could you change today to respect your body?
Character-by-character breakdown
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Strokes | Radical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 食 | shí | eat; food | 9 | 食 (eat) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 厭 | yàn | dislike | 14 | 厂 (cliff) |
| 精 | jīng | refined | 14 | 米 (rice) |
| 膾 | kuài | minced meat | 17 | 肉 (meat) |
| 不 | bù | not | 4 | 一 (one) |
| 厭 | yàn | dislike | 14 | 厂 (cliff) |
| 細 | xì | fine | 11 | 糸 (silk) |
Frequently asked questions
Q. What does “He did not object to rice that was finely…” mean?
食不厭精 膾不厭細 (shí bù yàn jīng, kuài bù yàn xì) means “He did not object to rice that was finely polished, nor to meat that was finely minced.” It comes from the Analects, Book 10 (Xiang Dang), Chapter 8.
Q. Where does this passage appear in the Analects?
It is Analects 10.8: Book 10 (Xiang Dang), Chapter 8.
Q. How can this teaching be applied today?
Because we are busy, we eat anything, any way.We eat standing up, eat while watching a screen, and swallow without tasting.Confucius’s principle at the table is not gourmandise but care.