The fact that monks in China can't eat meat is related to an emperor more than 1,511 years ago. He is Xiao Yan, the great ancestor of Nanliang, who is known as the "Emperor and Bodhisattva".

In China, because Liang Wudi admired Buddhism very much in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and he was also a Buddhist believer, he was possessed. He became a monk twice, but because no one in the DPRK was able to preside over the affairs of the court, the ministers redeemed him twice and let him continue to be emperor. At that time, what he admired most was that monks should not drink or eat meat, and truly not kill anything, which was the true loyalty to the Buddha.

Later, he also wrote "Breaking Wine and Meat" for this, and enforced it in Buddhism, which also formed a feature of Buddhism in China, not eating meat or drinking alcohol. Once again, the monks in China took this as a rule, not to drink or eat meat.

Extended information:

The significance that monks can't eat meat:

Xiao Yan's promotion of Confucianism is mainly used to regulate people's behavior. He vigorously set up Confucian educational institutions, cracked down on the gentry's influence, opened up a rising channel for the children of poor families, and then promoted various Confucian norms and etiquette, so as to make loyalty, filial piety and righteousness.

In the field of religion, Xiao Yan strongly advocates worshipping Buddhism. It must be pointed out that Xiao Yan's worship of Buddhism has both his own belief and realistic political considerations. In the troubled times of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the country was in turmoil, and the people lived in dire straits, with no spiritual sustenance, and Buddhism played a great role in comforting people's hearts.

Xiao Yan's admiration for Buddhism is unmatched by emperors of all dynasties. He upgraded Buddhism to the status of state religion. At the beginning of his reign, he built two temples in the name of his parents-Daaijing Temple and Dazhidu Temple. Later, in his career as emperor, Xiao Yan gave his life to become a monk four times. At the same time, under his rule, Nanliang began to build temples, the so-called "481 temples in the Southern Dynasties", most of which were built during the reign of Liang Wudi.