Carp in Tang

Why Couldn't Carp Be Eaten in the Tang Dynasty?

The emperors of the Tang Dynasty were surnamed Li, and the Chinese word for "carp" (鯉) is pronounced the same as "Li" . In ancient China, avoiding taboo words—especially those associated with the emperor—was a serious matter. As a result, eating carp was viewed as symbolically "eating Li," which was considered highly disrespectful to the emperor.

- The Status of Carp: During this period, carp were seen as the "noblest of fish." Everyone, from the emperor to officials, nobles, and common people, loved raising carp—especially red carp—and even bred many new varieties. 

- Delicious but Dangerous: Though carp were a tasty delicacy, their name’s similarity to the emperor’s surname made eating them a risky act, as it fell within the realm of cultural taboos. 

- Official Ban: It’s said that the Tang Dynasty even issued an order banning the cooking of carp to enforce this taboo.

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Summary

In the Tang Dynasty, despite being widely cherished, carp became a forbidden food because their name sounded like the emperor’s surname, "Li." This example of banning food due to its sound reflects the deep cultural respect for the emperor and the tradition of avoiding taboos in that era.