Some people say that dog meat can't be served at banquets. what do you think? Why?

As the old saying goes, dog meat is not served. The "seats" where dog meat is not served on the table refer to "big seats", which are generally used for ceremonies, banquets and entertaining guests. Compared with other carnivorous livestock, the weight of dogs is too light and the grade of dog meat is not enough, so dog meat is not generally elegant. In China, as early as 3,000 years ago, during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, dog meat was the special food of the Zhou Emperor, and most ordinary people ate "dog broth" made of dog meat.

At first, dogs were the most popular sacrifices at memorial ceremonies. However, dog meat is not always available at every memorial service. So the ancients took a flexible approach and replaced it with straw dogs. This is the origin of hanging straw dogs instead of soup. Thanks to straw dogs, poor families can also worship their ancestors calmly. This custom has been preserved among the people.

1600 years ago, during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the lofty status of dog food plummeted. Northern nomads entered the Central Plains. Because dogs are hunting equipment and everything that guards their owners, they have great respect for dogs, so they don't eat dog meat, and dog meat dishes gradually disappear from people's tables. From the beginning of the12nd century, during the Chongning period of the Song Dynasty, dog dishes were once extinct because they stopped killing dogs. Later, in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the power of Manchu not eating dog meat gradually became stronger, and dog meat was even more inedible. There are many sayings among the people. Some people say that dog meat is not as cheap as beef, mutton and pork. In addition, in China people's language, words related to dogs are often derogatory, so "dog meat can't be served on the table" is often used as a metaphor for being unqualified or disappointing.

For example, Xu Shen's Four Books said, "It's really dog meat that doesn't serve the table. How can he do this now? Don't live up to expectations! " In Lee Joon's Biography of Li Shuangshuang, Li Shuangshuang criticized her husband and said, "Why can't you roll noodles or steam steamed bread? Without ostentation and extravagance, there is honor and no honor! I don't see people like' persistence, retrogression' and' dog meat doesn't serve'! " Therefore, this statement is widely circulated among the people, resulting in no dog meat dishes in most parts of China.

According to the folklore in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, Han and Liu Bang often ate dog meat before they became emperors. When he left his hometown, all his neighbors treated him with dog meat. Instead, Liu Bang thought he looked down on him and ordered all the dogs to be beheaded. So dog meat can be eaten locally, but it is not allowed to sit. Shandong Taierzhuang, which is adjacent to Xuzhou, can attend the banquet because Taierzhuang is grandma Liu Bang's hometown.

Some scholars have verified that it is difficult for Buddhist disciples to eat dog meat any more because Buddhists advocate "don't kill and don't let go" and Liang Wudi Xiaoyan advocates lifelong vegetarian diet. Second, Taoism has taboos. Li Shizhen said, "Tao hates dogs and doesn't eat them." The third is the superstition of the ruling class. According to "Old News of Quyi", "At the beginning of worshipping Ning, Fan Yue said,' The position of the god dog in the zodiac is the core monument of your majesty's birthday, and the capital should stop it by killing the dog." Upon hearing the news, Song Huizong immediately issued a decree prohibiting the killing of dogs, and stipulated that anyone who stopped killing dogs would be rewarded with "20,000 yuan".

In addition, there is a legend among Manchu people that the yellow dog crow saved Nurhachi's life, so Manchu people stopped eating dog meat. After the Qing rulers entered the customs, the Han people had to agree. Check the imperial meals in the Qing palace, including the Manchu-Han banquet, and no dog meat was found. Over time, many people gradually don't know what dog meat tastes like. Although some Han Chinese still eat dog meat, they are afraid of the taboos of Manchu rulers, so there is no place for dog meat at grand banquets.