| Summary: | 碩士 === 玄奘大學 === 中國語文學系碩博士班 === 104 === This paper mainly investigates Su Shi’s life when he was relegated to remote
locations in Huangzhou, Huizhou, and Danzhou following the partisan politics during
the Northern Song dynasty. By becoming a gourmand, Su Shi was able to forget about
his difficulties resulting from his relegation and transformed these challenges into a
greater state of openness.
The food is the basic foundation for human survival. Many works prior to the
Qin dynasty such as the Book of Odes, the Book of Rites, and Chu Ci (Verses of Chu)
included many verses, descriptions, and records of dietary habits ranging from deeply
religious banquets which were are held in the sacrificial rites for honoring the
ancestral spirits and reflected the political, economic, and religious aspects of society
as well as the lifestyles of commoners during those times. Human diets changed for
over a thousand years since the Pre-Qin era. The Northern Song dynasty was famous
for its prosperity and vibrant economic development. The rich exchange between
northern and southern cultures transformed dietary habits in the general society.
Everyone, from royalties and aristocrats down to the common folk, was affected by
this new wave of gastronomic innovations. Poetry and prose written by the literate
elite naturally established some connections with food and drinks. Such compositions
revealed the gastronomic habits of the literate elites during the Northern Song period
and their essential values and means of dealing with others in their daily lives.
This paper is divided into 5 chapters. Chapter 1 describes the motivation and
purpose of this research; Chapter 2 investigates Su Shi’s extended relegation
following the partisan politics of the Northern Song era; Chapter 3 describes his
experiences in working the land while he lived in Huangzhou and how he enjoyed his
new status as a farmer, as well as his relegation to Lingnan where he tried many wild
game and called himself as a Lingnan native. Chapter 4 studied Su Shi’s dinners and
lifestyle after he obtained an official post and how he later started drinking to alleviate
stress. This Chapter observed changes to his mental state and means by which he
diverted his sorrows and disappointment after enduring setbacks to his political career
and eventually adopted a stance of naturalistic personal fulfillment. Chapter 5 then
focused on Su Shi’s illnesses during his relegation in remote locations and how he
adjusted his diet for therapeutic purposes and lived out the rest of his life in peace.
Su Shi's life was filled with setbacks and challenges, yet he never lost his
determination and often exhibited an open and carefree approach to life. He loved
being alive and cared for people and events around him, and his proses and poems on
food and drink allowed us to observe his unique and highly valued philosophy as well
as the powerful views he harbored about life.
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