At Home with Chinese Cuisine by T P Hong Page B

is exactly what the majority of Chinese do, with a longstanding tradition of applying the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to their daily dietary choices. 39
     
    The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon (HuangDiNeiJing) is the primary source of reference for TCM and is the earliest Chinese text to offer dietary advice. 40 Qi, yin and yang, the concept of correspondence between nature and human, and Wu Xing (the Five Elements Theory) are four of the conceptual foundations of the philosophical framework of the book. These four concepts have been brought into play in many aspects of Chinese life not only in food preparation but also in disease prevention and treatment, music, architecture design (FengShui), martial arts, and more. It is also in food preparation, which is relevant to our discussion here.
     
    As we step into the world of TCM, we need to understand the fundamentals. First and foremost, it is the concept of Qi ( 氣 ). Qi is defined as “the basic element that constitutes the cosmos and, through its movements, changes and transformations, produces everything in the world, including the human body and life activities”. 41 It is the invisible energy of life that is in a constant state of flux. The blowing of wind, the flow of water, and the change of seasons are all the manifestation of the energy maintaining the momentum of movement. For the human body, Qi is the intrinsic power or vital energy within us to keep our bodily functions going and sustain our lives. There is the innate Qi that exists from birth inside us, and there is the acquired (postnatal) Qi that is formed after birth from, for example, the food we eat and the air we inhale.
     
    The second fundamental is the concept of yin and yang ( 陰陽 ). 42 They are the opposite, yet interdependent qualities of Qi that interact and complement one another in a constant quest for harmony. They represent two inter-related aspects of one single phenomenon and their transformation into each other in the constant flow of the universe. Yin is the manifestation of Qi that is cold and dark; yang will then be the heat and light. An example is the perpetual cycle of day (yang) follows night (yin), and vice versa. For us human beings, when all of the yin and yang aspects of Qi are in harmony, we are thought to be in good health.
     
    Daily Diet: Variety, Seasonality and Food Properties
    There is a well-adhered-to dietary recommendation in T he Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon about incorporating multiple food sources in the daily diet for the maintenance of health. The text identified four food sources, each with five varieties of choices available at the time of the writing of the book. The four food sources are grains and pulses, fruits, meats, and vegetables. It suggests that grains and pulses, unrefined in those days, should be eaten as the staple for the nourishment of our body, accompanied by seasonal fruits as supplements. The meats have added benefits but need to be consumed in moderation. The seasonal vegetables play a substantial part in the daily diet to supplement and to keep one regular.Multiple food sources and variety in daily food choices is one of the key messages here.
     
    In recent years, the health benefit of having multiple food sources in our daily diet has been recognised by many governments and has been incorporated into the design of food pyramids that give dietary suggestions. The advice to have five-a-day, eight-a-day, or twelve-a-day is all about variety in daily food choices for a balanced diet.
     
    From the perspective of TCM, a balanced diet is a diet that provides the body with balanced yin and yang energies in different seasons of the year. Having a variety of food sources is the first step in the right direction. One also needs to find out how the body reacts to seasonal changes and what natural produce one should be eating.
     
    The concept of correspondence between nature and human ( 天人合ㄧ ), articulated in The