Confucius' Health Preservation - The Way of Eating and Behaving

Confucius, like ordinary people, could not do without food, clothing, housing and transportation. Life is trivial and full of minor details, but he believes it is closely related to health and longevity. Over time, it will surely have many effects on the human body, so it should not be taken lightly. Confucius once emphasized that there is no way to maintain good health, saying, "It is not my destiny; I have taken it." It is pointed out that "there are three kinds of deaths for people", "those who sleep in an uncomfortable place, have an irregular diet, and overwork or overrest", are important causes of premature aging and death. Only the wise and benevolent people, if they always behave with propriety, act with righteousness, and rejoice with time, do no harm to their nature. Even if they live a long life, isn't that appropriate? Therefore, Confucius paid great attention to the relationship between food, clothing, housing and transportation and health and longevity. In terms of clothing: During the hot summer days, Confucius wore a single layer of coarse or fine kudzu cloth, which was both sweat-permeable and cool. He always wore pajamas when sleeping and "always wore bright clothes" when taking a bath. The cushion is made of "fox fabric", which keeps warm in winter and moisture-proof in summer. In terms of diet: Confucius was very particular about hygiene. He did not eat moldy grains, spoiled rice, rotten fish or meat, food with bad color, food that smelled bad, undercooked rice or other improperly cooked food, food with improper seasonings, food that was out of season, food that was randomly cut, or wine or cooked meat bought in a busy market. It is evident that he pays attention to the minute details. Have some ginger after meals to aid digestion, but don't eat too much. Confucius' general principle of diet was "Do not seek to be full when eating", "do not be tired of fine food, 脍 do not be tired of fine food", and "vegetarian food must be varied". It is quite scientific to frequently change the variety of dishes to ensure that they do not harm the spleen and stomach, are easy to digest and rich in nutrition. Confucius was not opposed to drinking alcohol, but only to the extent of not getting drunk. He doesn't take medicine casually either. Once Ji Kangzi gave him an expensive medicine, but he said he didn't know much about it and was unwilling to try it. In terms of accommodation: Confucius only required that the sleeping place be suitable and opposed the pursuit of comfort and ease. He strongly stated, "A gentleman does not seek peace in his abode," and "A scholar's home is not enough to be called earth!" He angrily scolded Bu Yu, who slept in during the day, saying, "Rotten wood cannot be carved, and a wall of dung cannot be dirtied!" However, Yan Hui, who studied hard under difficult conditions, was highly praised. He advocated frugality and opposed extravagance. His daily life was poor, often with simple food and tea, but he took great pleasure in it. In his humble abode, he was so absorbed in his work that he forgot to eat and was so happy that he forgot to worry, to the extent that he was unaware that old age was approaching. In terms of behavior: Confucius was good at walking for exercise. The description in "The Analects of Confucius: The Village Party" fully demonstrates Confucius' carefree and efficient demeanor. He advocated the three precepts: "When one is young and the blood and qi are not yet stable, one should be cautious about lust." It is extremely vigorous and full of vigor and vitality. One should avoid fighting. When one is extremely old and their blood and qi decline, it is important to be cautious. Colour harms the essence, fighting harms the form, and gaining drains the spirit. It was precisely because Confucius paid meticulous attention to food, clothing, housing and transportation, and did not pursue comfort and ease, that he was able to enjoy good health and a long life. He did not Revere wealth and honor, which was highly commendable among the noble class at that time. His principle of "never neglect small matters", preventing diseases before they occur and strengthening the body in daily life, once again fully demonstrates his view on health preservation that "great virtue is bound to live a long life".