송시 속 미식 추구 - ‘와사세륵(臥沙細肋)’을 중심으로

Abstract

The Song Dynasty, a period of profound cultural and social transformation, saw a burgeoning interest in refined tastes among the intellectual elite. One of the most notable expressions of this trend was the growing preference for Wasa-Selu (臥沙細肋), a premium breed of lamb from Sha-Yuan沙苑 in Tongzhou同州, Shanxi陝西, renowned for its tender texture and fine grain. This lamb became a symbol of luxury dining, epitomizing the heights of gourmet cuisine during the Song period. The demand for Wasa-Selu among the Song literati reflects a broader cultural movement in which the elite sought not only intellectual refinement but also culinary excellence. It came to represent elevated social status and sophisticated taste, often appearing in Song Dynasty poetry as a metaphor for refined sensibilities and gastronomic aspirations. This study explores how Wasa-Selu is depicted in Song poetry, examining its symbolic significance as both a luxury food item and a cultural marker of the intellectual elite’s discerning tastes. By analyzing these literary references, the study sheds light on how the consumption of Wasa-Selu reflects the Song elite’s broader cultural and intellectual pursuits, and how food culture intertwined with literary expression to underscore the era’s quest for both aesthetic and culinary perfection.