The so-called vegetarian diet in monasteries generally refers to vegetarian delicacies in Buddhist monasteries and Taoist temples, and is a "vegan school" of vegetarian dishes in China. According to Notes of Qing Dynasty, in Qing Dynasty, "temples and palaces are famous for their vegetarian dishes, the capital is Fayuan Temple, Zhenjiang is Dinghui Temple, Shanghai is Baiyun Temple, and Hangzhou is Xia Yandong".

According to records, Shaolin Temple served more than 20 emperors with Shaolin vegetarian food, including Emperor Taizong, Yuan Shizu and Emperor Gaozong. In September 629 AD, Emperor Taizong personally led Wei Zhi, Qin Qiong and others to visit Shaolin Temple, remembering the kindness of thirteen stick monks that year. Emperor Taizong entertained him with 60 vegetarian dishes. 1April, 292, Yuan Shizu went to Shaolin Temple to visit his good friend, the great monk Fuyu, and there was a "Flying Dragon Banquet" specially prepared for him, with as many as 90 dishes.