3. BUDDHIST CUISINE IN THE LIVES OF MONKS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN VIETNAM AND JAPAN

Abstract

The rituals and rules surrounding meals for Japanese Buddhist monks present a fascinating research topic. We have compiled and analyzed documents from various studies, including fieldwork results from Japanese temples detailing aspects of monks' meals such as the refectory, eating posture, utensils, foods, and recitation of Buddhist scriptures. Additionally, we compared these findings with the lifestyle of monks in Vietnamese temples, offering a fresh and engaging perspective on Japan, Japanese culture, and Buddhist philosophy.