Comments on: Fun Facts on Life in Heian Period Japan http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/09/21/fun-facts-on-life-in-the-heian-period/ My life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile. Sat, 11 Jun 2011 01:53:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Doug http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/09/21/fun-facts-on-life-in-the-heian-period/#comment-4631 Doug Thu, 23 Sep 2010 04:23:24 +0000 https://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=8940#comment-4631 Hi Johnl, You're absolutely right. I remember in college a professor explaining that because polished white rice was considered more elite, the upper classes of the Court exclusively ate it, and thus often had Vitamin B deficiencies particularly beriberi. Then again, speaking from experience, eating brown rice isn't really that good. You can do it from time to time, but the preparation takes longer, and often doesn't keep well. Haiga rice seems a happy medium though, as does cooking your rice with other things like millet and such. :) Hi Johnl,

You’re absolutely right. I remember in college a professor explaining that because polished white rice was considered more elite, the upper classes of the Court exclusively ate it, and thus often had Vitamin B deficiencies particularly beriberi.

Then again, speaking from experience, eating brown rice isn’t really that good. You can do it from time to time, but the preparation takes longer, and often doesn’t keep well. Haiga rice seems a happy medium though, as does cooking your rice with other things like millet and such. :)

]]> By: johnl http://japanlifeandreligion.com/2010/09/21/fun-facts-on-life-in-the-heian-period/#comment-4629 johnl Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:54:15 +0000 https://nihonshukyo.wordpress.com/?p=8940#comment-4629 I have heard that the polished white rice was considered very luxurious, and only for the upper classes. Ordinary people ate buckwheat (soba), millet (awa) and other grains. I suppose the two meals were morning and evening? But I immediately thought of the eating pattern of Buddhist monastics, which is also two meals per day. However, it is early morning and before noon for monastics following the vinaya strictly. I don't think many in Japan follow this now, although I heard that some refer to the evening meal as 'medicine,' since foods that were considered medicine were allowable later in the day. I have heard that the polished white rice was considered very luxurious, and only for the upper classes. Ordinary people ate buckwheat (soba), millet (awa) and other grains. I suppose the two meals were morning and evening? But I immediately thought of the eating pattern of Buddhist monastics, which is also two meals per day. However, it is early morning and before noon for monastics following the vinaya strictly. I don’t think many in Japan follow this now, although I heard that some refer to the evening meal as ‘medicine,’ since foods that were considered medicine were allowable later in the day.

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