China has a long history of eating dog meat, and it even became a delicacy of wealthy families in ancient times.

As the earliest domesticated animal, dogs have been human hunting assistants since the Neolithic Age (about 1, years ago). Broken dog bones have been found in most Neolithic sites in China. From this point of view, when dogs first became "human friends", they could not avoid the fate of being eaten after death.

After entering the civilized era, pigs, cows and other animals were listed as "six animals" together with dogs. Because dogs have the characteristics of easy feeding, strong reproduction and easy slaughter, eating dog meat has become increasingly common. In Shang and Zhou Dynasties, dog meat was a kind of food that only nobles could enjoy, and it appeared on the menu of the banquet of the Emperor of Zhou. By the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the original etiquette system could not be maintained, and ordinary people began to eat dog meat.

since the sui and Tang dynasties, the main meat of the upper class has been pork and mutton, and dogs have been kept as pets. For example, Su Dongpo once asked the dog killer that dogs "should be buried when they die, and they can't bear to eat their meat, so why kill them when they can?" Unlike the lower classes, they rarely have the opportunity to eat meat, and they need to rely on dogs who have died of illness and old age to satisfy their cravings, and regard dog meat as a kind of cheap meat. Over time, the upper class became more and more disdainful of eating dog meat, and dog meat became a kind of lowly meat, so ordinary people had to accept the rule that "dog meat is not served on the table" and "dog meat is eaten behind closed doors".

during the Republic of China, there was a ban, but it could not be continued.

During the Republic of China, there were bans on eating dog meat in some places, but it was based on hygiene reasons. For example, in Guangdong, the government has expressly stipulated that "dog meat is dry and strong, which is extremely inappropriate for health" and "killing dog meat is forbidden", so "on the summer solstice, the inspector strictly conducts inspections. If there is any violation, it will be arrested and investigated. " In fact, the impact of this ban was limited. By 1936, some people published an article in Beiping Morning Post, saying that "only people in Guangdong and Guangxi know the exotic flavor and delicious taste of dog meat".

even for literati, eating dog meat is a very common thing. Even for literati, eating dog meat is a very common thing. In January 1942, cultural celebrities such as Mao Dun, Zou Taofen, Hu Feng and Hu Sheng left Hong Kong and passed through Guangdong, where they were hosted by the Dongjiang guerrillas. Mao Dun recalled that at that time, the guerrilla leader Zeng Sheng "I'm sorry to say that I can't get good food, but there is dog meat" and asked them if they ate it. Mao Dun and others have never eaten dog meat before, but "when I heard this, everyone laughed and cheered." Mao Dun commented on this meal of dog meat, saying, "I really enjoyed it" and "I think it is better than any delicacies"

China people eat dog meat not because they don't love animals, but because of the difference in the amount of meat in different living areas

anthropologist Marvin Harris said that it is self-evident that "pets are not delicious", but actually "those animals that are regarded as pets" As for why westerners don't eat dog meat, his explanation is, "It's not because dogs are their favorite pets". "Fundamentally, it's because dogs as carnivores are an ineffective meat resource. Westerners are rich in other animal food sources, and dogs can provide people with many services that far exceed the value of dog meat and livestock when they are alive. ""In contrast, the culture that eats dog meat generally lacks a large number of animal food sources to choose from, and the services provided by dogs when they are alive are not enough to exceed the value of products provided after they die. " The history of China people eating dog meat provides a good footnote for this theory.

"dog lovers" need to keep a clear head, and let them eat dog meat if they like.

So, as a modern person, how should we face eating dog meat? Liang Shiqiu, who is famous for "talking about eating", has an essay called "Dog Meat". The first sentence at the beginning says "I have never eaten dog meat, and I never want to eat it". In his view, "scholars have their own interests. Those who love to eat dog meat are allowed to eat by him, not other people's business. Some people say that the degree of animal protection in a country determines the overall quality of the international community, but this is a wrong and extreme view in itself. Westerners think that dogs are human's best friends. When they hear that people in China eat dog meat, they immediately stand on end and denounce China as barbaric. There is no distinction between the types of dogs. Those "vegetable dogs" are originally for people to eat. In fact, "killing fat dogs is no different from killing fat pigs and sheep. I don't see any difference between civilization and barbarism." Some people don't eat pork, some people don't eat mutton, and some people don't eat dog meat, so they don't have to be angry. " Dog lovers and dog lovers should respect each other. About not openly robbing dogs and smashing shops.

Some people say that most of the dog meat in the market comes from the theft of some criminals. Indeed, we should resolutely resist dog meat from illegal sources and strengthen legislative control. However, it would be unreasonable to legislate against eating dog meat because of this.

Guangdong and Guangxi have a long history of eating dog meat, and there are various cooking and eating methods. In early Guangxi, the most famous is the "Dog Meat Festival" in Yulin, Guangxi. In Guangdong, Leizhou white-cut dogs are the most famous, and shops selling white-cut dogs can be seen in Leizhou and even in Zhanjiang city. In the folk, it is said that dog meat can cure stomach cold, and there is a popular saying that "dog meat rolls, and the gods can't stand!" .

However, not all Cantonese people like to eat dog meat. First of all, in some Cantonese traditional concepts, business people can't eat dog meat. Secondly, dog owners generally don't eat dog meat. Dogs are companions, always around, just like relatives. Indeed, people are emotional animals, and if they get along with something for a long time, they will inevitably have feelings, and naturally they will not become a dish in the rice.