[youlan]

"Daily Life in Traditional China: The Tang Dynasty" by Charles Benn:

Cannibalism was another last resort for surviving famines. In the winter of 618-619 the army of a warlord, some 200,000 troops in all, surrounded a district south of Luoyang and exhausted all the stores of millet there. The price of grain rose to 10,000 coppers per peck, and one could not find any to buy even at that price. Famine broke out, so the natives began to devour each other. The rebel soldiers were also starving, so they took to abducting children, whom they steamed and ate. That led the warlord to conclude, "Of all the delicious things to eat, none surpasses human flesh. As long as there are people in neighboring districts we have nothing to fear from famine." He had a large bronze bell with a capacity of 200 bushels inverted, stewed the flesh of children and women in it, divided the meat, and gave it to his officers. The worst famines occurred in cities under long sieges. In 757, when An Lushan's forces surrounded a town and its provisions ran out, the inhabitants ate all of the horses, birds, and rats they could find. Then they turned to paper, tree bark, and tea leaves. Afterward they ate their children, breaking and roasting their bones to get at the marrow. The general in command of the armies in the city slew his concubines in front of his troops, in order to feed his men. He forced them to eat the flesh of his women. When that food ran out, he rounded up all the women, and finally the young and old men in the city, to supply his soldiers. In all, 20,000 to 30,000 people died to feed the troops.

Sometimes cannibalism was not an act of survival but a form of punishment. That was especially true in cases of disloyalty to the throne. In 643 a general had a governor chopped in two at the waist for treachery. Then he ripped out his heart and liver, and ate them. The emperor was upset because the general had not asked his permission in advance, but he did not punish the officer. Devouring the flesh of rebels, traitors, and barbarians was quite acceptable.

Chastisement need not involve high crimes. A chieftain in southeastern China during the late seventh or early eighth century threw a feast to entertain some guests, and ordered a dandy to serve the ale. The fop committed some offense that enraged his master, who ordered him dragged out and murdered. Then the chieftain had the poor fellow's remains boiled until they were tender, and served the soup to his guests. Some time later, as the level of the broth dropped, the dandy's hands appeared in the bowl. The sight shocked the guests, who clutched their throats and vomited.

Vengeance was also a motive for cannibalism. Sometimes a son felt compelled not only to assassinate his father's murderer, but to devour his heart and liver.

And some men just developed a taste for human flesh. In the late seventh or early eighth century, a marshal got a moneylender and his slave, who had arrived at a hostel in his city, drunk; murdered them; and carved up their flesh. He mixed the meat with mercury and fried it in oil together with their bones, which he had pulverized. Afterward he wanted to eat the moneylender's wife as well, but, aware of his intentions, she fled. The county commandant investigated the matter thoroughly and uncovered the facts of the case. In due course the supreme court in the capital handed down a verdict ordering local officials to beat the marshal to death.