Pi-ku Chin., lit. “abstaining from eating grain”; Taoist practice indispensable for the attainment of immortality. The practice is based on the notion that the five types of grain forming the staple diet of the Chinese i.e., rice, barley, wheat, millet, and beans also are the nourishment of the three worms (san-ch’ung), who are the cause of illnesses and thus shorten a person’s life span. Another reason why they are considered to be harmful is that they are the essence of Earth. In the Taoist view the physical damage and diseases caused by eating these grains can be passed on from one generation to the next.
Abstinence from eating grain, in order to be successful, must be accompanied by other methods, i.e., the practitioner is not allowed to drink alcohol or eat meat and should avoid all fatty food.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Zen. Shambhala Publications, Inc.
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