Gospel of The Clean Plate
At noon they weed with hoes; Their sweat drips on the soil. Each bowl of rice, who knows? Is the fruit of hard toils.
This poem by Tang Dynasty (618-907) politician and poet Li Shen (772-846) paints a vivid picture of farmers working in their fields, indicating Li’s compassion for those who work hard all year round despite the hardships of life and weather alike. It might also be some of the most famous lines for Chinese parents to quote when explaining to their kids the food on the table did not appear there overnight and they must cherish every bite.
“For our parents and.
