Su Shi and Gourmet Food — A Scholar’s Palate

Abstract

Su Shi, an outstanding scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty, is renowned for his exceptional literary talent and unique life philosophy. Not only did he achieve great success in poetry, prose, calligraphy, and other fields, but he was also a lover of life and an expert in cooking. In his poems and essays about food, he not only describes the deliciousness of food but also integrates his love for life and pursuit of beauty, making him a representative gourmand among ancient Chinese scholars. This paper aims to provide a simple reading and categorization of Su Shi’s works that mention food, analyzing the gourmet sentiment reflected in his literary creations, as well as how food reflects his life philosophy and attitude toward life