Pork

The significance of pork as a valued meat goes back a long way, at least to the time of Confucius, in the 5th century BC. The Master himself probably had a weakness for it, but even if he didn’t, he certainly fell victim at least once to its being used as a strategic ploy to gain access to him. A scheming minister, Yang Huo, who had usurped power from his master, the reigning duke of Lu (modern Shandong), wanted to be received by Confucius, so as to appear to have gained the support of the sage. When Confucius refused to see him, he sent as a present a steamed piglet, but at a time when he knew that Confucius would not be in the house. At the time, etiquette required that if a minister sent a present to a scholar who was not at home to receive it, the latter would be obliged to acknowledge it by calling upon the former in person. In discharging his obligation, Confucius chose a time when he reckoned the minister would not be at home either. But, as fate would have it, he came across Yang on the way, who immediately cornered him for a face-to-face discussion, firing at him questions that he had to answer.