The public knows that Taoism does not eat beef, which is closely related to the three dislikes mentioned by Sun Simiao. The well-known "Four Don't Eats" among the people is an article titled "The Legend of Zhang Tianshi's Four Don't Eats" in the 3rd issue of "Chinese Taoism" in 1989. Please pay attention to the word "legend", which shows that there is no clear and reliable documentary record of this, so Called a legend.
But this legend can indeed be traced. The three annoyances pointed out in "Shangqing Lingbao Dafa" are wild geese, dogs, and black worms. I hate geese in the sky, dogs in the earth, and black worms in the water. "Sun Zhenren Zhenren's Hygiene Song" said: "The geese are in order, the dogs are righteous, and the black carps are facing north to know the courtesy of ministers. People eat them without courtesy and righteousness, and the gods of heaven and earth are not happy." Therefore, Taoism formed the precept of "Three Dislikes" tradition. The "three disgusts" are the geese that are disgusted by the sky, the dogs that are disgusted by the earth, and the carps that are disgusted by people mentioned by Sun Simiao. There is also a saying in the records that the turtles are disgusted by the water.
Four things not to eat: geese, dogs, mullet all appeared, and turtles, which many Taoists are taboo about eating, also appeared.
Sun Simiao popularized science in "Essential Prescriptions for a Thousand Gold": Dog penis has a sour taste and is non-toxic. It is mainly used to treat injuries and cause the husband to suffer from impotence. The brain is responsible for wind paralysis of the head, sores in the lower part, and polyps in the sores. The meat tastes sour, salty, warm, and non-toxic. It is suitable for the kidneys, calms the five internal organs, and repairs injuries and strains. If a dog dies without its tongue, eating it will harm people. Dogs have a lot of madness in spring, and if their nose is red and dry, it means they have a mad desire. Their flesh is not allowed to be eaten.
Not only did he talk about the benefits of eating dog meat in detail, he also pointed out which dogs were mad and should not be eaten.
He also teaches others how to eat beef for health. "If a black cow dies on its own, eating its meat will harm people. All cows that die when they are hot cannot eat them. Eating them will cause intestinal carbuncle. People will suffer from nail and foot disease." If you eat the tendons in the hooves of cows, you will get thorns in the flesh."
He also praised the cow's "meat: it tastes sweet, flat, and non-toxic. It mainly quenches thirst and relieves salivation. It is soothing and beneficial." Strength, nourishing the spleen and stomach qi."
It is also said that the fat of Dayan is sweet, flat, and non-toxic. It is mainly used for wind, dryness, and poor blood and Qi. Meat: sweet, flat, and non-toxic. Taking it for a long time will help you grow your hair, sideburns, beard, and eyebrows, and it will nourish your qi and prevent hunger, lighten your body and withstand the heat.”
As a Taoist priest, Sun Simiao talked about the dog and goose meat that he recommended not to eat in his works. There are benefits to eating this, and then we also talk about the benefits of eating beef.
The reason is that whether we Taoists do not eat beef or the three dislikes raised by Sun Simiao, we do not think that this meat man is not good to eat, but feel that it is righteous and believe that we cultivators should With these moral qualities, the so-called "like-minded people love each other" so they don't eat.
Of course, there are ancient social reasons for not eating beef. Cows are an important means of production.
But Sun Simiao himself is also a doctor, and he has the responsibility to tell the public that these meat people are not poisonous and have benefits, but it is best not to eat meat in special circumstances such as death from illness. As a great philosopher and writer, Zhuangzi would not only talk about the principles of eating beef, let alone killing cows to make sense, Taoists would not find it wrong.
What's more, when Zhuangzi was around, Taoism did not form a religious order, let alone unified precepts. In addition, the book "Zhuangzi" contains a large amount of cultivation content, which has been well inherited by Taoism.
But Taoist priests will not tamper with "Zhuangzi" and change the killing of cows to killing pigs and chickens, and Zhuangzi's writing of killing cows will not affect his status in the hearts of Taoists.
This is Taoism! We don’t eat beef out of moral integrity. In addition, cattle were an important means of production in ancient times. We have this taboo in order not to damage production. But we will not force others to follow our own preferences, nor will we think that others who kill cows and eat meat are bad people. Even for the benefit of the public, Taoist priests who study medicine will objectively tell everyone that beef and other meat that Taoists do not eat are good.
It is different from some vegetarians who preach that eating meat will make you sick, and extreme animal rights activists who demonize meat to prevent themselves from eating meat. As a Taoist, I don’t deceive myself. Although beef is good, I don’t eat it.