In China, the tradition of eating only vegetables lies in the confluence of its soybean and rice culture with its religion and philosophies. Historically, the choice of foods has been influenced by the religious beliefs inspired by Buddha and the behavioral philosophies of Lao Tzu and his Taoism and of Confucius. Lao Tzu and Confucius were contemporaries, but while Confucius laid out precise principles of behavior and manners, Taoism rested on intuitive behavior, on a person seeking and hopefully finding an individual way. However, all of these belief systems were, and are, intrinsically linked with food.
