@article{ART003132137},
author={HAN-SHIN KIM},
title={The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs},
journal={인문논총 },
issn={2005-6222},
year={2024},
volume={65},
pages={149-165},
doi={10.33638/JHS.65.7}
TY - JOUR
AU - HAN-SHIN KIM
TI - The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs
JO - 인문논총
PY - 2024
VL - 65
IS - null
PB - Institute for Human studies, Kyungnam University
SP - 149
EP - 165
SN - 2005-6222
AB - In premodern Chinese society, cattle occupied a uniquely special position among animals, primarily due to their role as draft animals (耕牛) and their close relationship with humans. This led to the emergence of a compromise solution: the taboo against consuming beef began to act as a surrogate for a broader prohibition on meat consumption. This compromise reflected a balance between those who advocated for dietary restrictions on religious or ethical grounds and those who argued for the necessity of slaughtering animals for personal culinary enjoyment or religious sacrifices. However, during the Song dynasty, as the commercial trade and consumption of beef, hides, and horns expanded, the existing taboo on cattle had to adapt to these new practical realities. The practice of distributing beef through sacrificial rituals at temples, as discussed in this paper, was a delicate compromise that allowed the fulfillment of commercial demands without violating the established social taboos. In essence, within Song dynasty China, the tension between societal desire for beef and the social prohibitions against it was mitigated by the space provided by popular religious practices.
Although the role of these popular beliefs might differ from the traditional functions of organized religion, they were widely supported by the populace because they helped ease social conflicts and satisfy the desires of the faithful.
KW - Song Dynasty;draft cattle;taboo;state laws;popular religions
DO - 10.33638/JHS.65.7
ER -
HAN-SHIN KIM. (2024). The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs. 인문논총 , 65, 149-165.
HAN-SHIN KIM. 2024, "The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs", 인문논총 , vol.65, pp.149-165. Available from: doi:10.33638/JHS.65.7
HAN-SHIN KIM "The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs" 인문논총 65 pp.149-165 (2024) : 149.
HAN-SHIN KIM. The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs. 2024; 65 149-165. Available from: doi:10.33638/JHS.65.7
HAN-SHIN KIM. "The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs" 인문논총 65(2024) : 149-165.doi: 10.33638/JHS.65.7
HAN-SHIN KIM. The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs. 인문논총 , 65, 149-165. doi: 10.33638/JHS.65.7
HAN-SHIN KIM. The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs. 인문논총 . 2024; 65 149-165. doi: 10.33638/JHS.65.7
HAN-SHIN KIM. The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs. 2024; 65 149-165. Available from: doi:10.33638/JHS.65.7
HAN-SHIN KIM. "The Social Dilemma Surrounding Beef Taboos in the Song Dynasty: Beef Prohibition, Consumption, and the Role of Popular Beliefs" 인문논총 65(2024) : 149-165.doi: 10.33638/JHS.65.7
