Taoist diet

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Taoism
Outline History
Concepts Taoist philosophy Tao De Wuji Taiji Yin and yang Bagua Wuxing (five phases) Bianhua Fan (reversal) Wu wei (non-action) Ziran Xian (immortal) Zhenren True form Three Treasures Jing Qi Shen Hun and po
Practices Three Treasures (virtues) Five Precepts Ten Precepts Meditation Alchemy Neidan Waidan Bugang Chu Diet (Bigu) Sexual practices Art Fulu Priesthood
Texts I Ching Tao Te Ching Zhuangzi Huainanzi Taipingjing Xiang'er Liezi Sanhuangjing Huahujing Qingjing Jing Baopuzi Daozang
Theology Hongjun Laozu Three Pure Ones Yuanshi Tianzun Lingbao Tianzun Daode Tianzun Four heavenly ministers Jade Emperor Ziwei Emperor Tianhuang Emperor Houtu Queen Mother of the West King Father of the East Three Great Emperor-Officials Eight Immortals Chang'e Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Yellow Emperor Guan Yu Li Hong Body god
People Laozi Zhuang Zhou Lie Yukou Heshang Gong Wei Boyang Zhang Daoling Gan Ji Zhang Jue Zhang Lu Ge Xuan He Yan Wang Bi Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove Guo Xiang Sun Hanhua Wei Huacun Ge Hong Bao Jingyan Kou Qianzhi Lu Xiujing Tao Hongjing Cheng Xuanying Chen Tuan Zhang Boduan Sun Bu'er Wang Chongyang Qiu Chuji Zhang Guoxiang Zhang Sanfeng Zhu Quan Fangshi
Schools Huang–Lao Way of the Taiping Xuanxue Shangqing School Way of the Li Family Lingbao School Chongxuan School Quanzhen School Dragon Gate) Wuliupai Way of the Celestial Masters Way of the Five Pecks of Rice The Southern Celestial Masters The Northern Celestial Masters Zhengyi Dao Chinese ritual mastery traditions Yao Taoism
Sacred places Grotto-heavens Sacred Mountains of China Wudang Mountains Mount Penglai Mount Kunlun Taoist temple White Cloud Temple Louguantai Cebu Taoist Temple Taoist Temple (Hanford, California)
Institutions and organizations Chinese Taoist Association Celestial Masters Taoist priests
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Part of a series on
Chinese cuisine
Regional cuisines Four Great Traditions Chuan (Sichuan) Lu (Shandong) Yue (Guangdong) Huaiyang (Jiangsu) Eight Great Traditions (+all above) Anhui Fujian Hunan Zhejiang Ten Great Traditions (+all above) Beijing Shanghai Twelve Great Traditions (+all above) Henan Shaanxi Fourteen Great Traditions (+all above) Hubei Liaoning Sixteen Great Traditions (+all above) Tianjin Yunnan New Eight Great Traditions Gansu Hangzhou Jilin Liaoning Ningbo Shaanxi Shanghai Shanxi Beijing and the vicinity Beijing Imperial Aristocrat Tianjin Other regional styles Teochew Guangxi Guizhou Hainan Haipai Hakka Hong Kong Jiangxi Macanese Manchu Northeastern Putian (Henghwa) Qinghai Taiwan Tibetan Xinjiang
Overseas cuisine Australia Britain Burma Cambodia Canada Caribbean Philippines India Indonesia Japan Latin America Perú Puerto Rico Korea Malaysia New Zealand Pakistan Singapore United States
Religious cuisines Buddhist Islamic Taoist
Ingredients and types of food Main dishes Desserts Noodles
Preparation and cooking Stir frying Double steaming Red cooking
See also Customs and etiquette List of Chinese desserts List of Chinese dishes List of Chinese restaurants List of restaurants in China
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Taoist dietary practices are deeply rooted in the philosophical concepts of Yin-Yang, Qi (vital energy), and the pursuit of balance and harmony. While various schools of Taoism offer differing teachings, Taoist practitioners—particularly those in monastic and spiritual traditions—view diet as essential for maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health. Central to these practices is the belief that food not only nourishes the body but also influences the flow of Qi, supporting the alignment of the practitioner with the natural rhythms of the Dao (the Way). Taoist diet emphasizes simplicity, frugality, and moderation, advocating for natural, minimally processed foods that help cultivate balance. By avoiding excess, practitioners seek to maintain harmony between internal and external forces, promoting longevity, clarity, and spiritual cultivation.