Washoku 和食 & Shōjin Ryori 精進料理

In March we focus on Chōwa 調和 - the search for Balance. Chōwa can be practiced in every aspect of daily life. Since we are helping the Liver and Gallbladder with cleaning the body and mind in March, let’s talk about practicing Chōwa in nutrition: 'Washoku'. Wa 和 combined with ‘Shoku' 食 (nutrition), means balanced / Japanese food.

According to Akemi Tanaka, Washoku instills in us a deep respect for all natural processes necessary for a dish's ingredients, enhancing our connection to nature's cycles.

Washoku is the search for Balance in taste, nutritional value, seasonal vegetables and fruits, and the beautiful layout of the dish. In addition to the mental and physical benefits that eating seasonal veggies has for us, it is also better for nature. In Japan, eating strawberries in the middle of winter is even considered wasteful and self-indulgent.

Zen Buddhist cuisine - 精進料理 - is a wonderful example of Washoku practice. 

The characters spell Shōjin Ryori, a ‘dedicated kitchen’. Dōgen Zenji, the founder of Soto Zen Buddhism, got inspired by vegan cuisine in China in the thirteenth century and introduced it in Japanese Zen monasteries. According to Tanaka, we can learn a lot from Shōjin Ryori if we want to protect nature, live nonviolently, and eat healthy and balanced meals. For example, in the Zen kitchen, only vegetable ingredients are used and all edible parts of plants are used to prevent waste. Since the meals are so light and nutritious, it saves the digestive system a lot of work, leaving the Zen monks with more energy for focus during meditation.

March is the last month in which we eat winter vegetables to keep the body warm, as it can still be quite cold outside. From April, nature gives us more different fruits and vegetables. In March and April, spring cleaning is important for the body and mind. You do this by eating light meals with a lot of green (the color of the Wood element) and bitter vegetables (chicory, nettle). These have a cleansing effect on the liver and gallbladder and promote digestion. Fruits with a slightly sour taste promote the flow of Ki 気 (life force). Lemon water and peppermint or chamomile tea help to relieve stagnation in the Liver and Gallbladder Meridian. In addition, it is good to cut down on animal products, fat, salt, coffee, and alcohol. Too many heavy, fatty foods clog the liver and gallbladder and hinder their ability to keep Ki and blood flowing properly. Eating cooling summer products such as cucumber and strawberry, or cold salads, deplete your Ki in the colder months. Giving the digestive organs a rest in the spring can better clean your body and mind to prepare you for an energetic summer.