In ancient China, locust plagues were one of the most harmful natural disasters to agricultural production. According to incomplete statistics, from 707 BC to 1911 AD, there were more than 500 locust plagues. Locusts feed miscellaneously, he eats all parts of plants, leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, often causing the harvest of crops, thousands of miles of land. So when locust plagues occurred in ancient times, why did the common people rather starve to death than choose to eat locusts?
In fact, this statement is wrong, ancient people still have records of eating locusts. The Book of Wu once recorded that "Yuan Shu was in Shouchun, the people were hungry and poor, and they ate mulberries, locusts and locusts as their meals", and even Emperor Taizong of Tang personally ate locusts. But even so, there is no record of large-scale locust eating in history, why?
On the one hand, people have specific cultural and religious ideas about locusts, subject to traditional cultural and religious beliefs. The locust plague is considered a natural disaster, considered a divine punishment and warning, so people may follow religious beliefs, believing that eating locusts will get dissatisfaction and curses from the gods, and in some places there are even worm temples to show people's awe.
On the other hand, subject to eating habits and prejudices, eating habits and prejudices of ancient societies may also be one of the reasons why common people did not want to eat locusts, which in some cultures were considered unclean or unfit food, so people refused to eat them, even in times of famine. Although locusts are a food rich in protein and other nutrients, they may not taste as good, and in times of famine, fuel, oil and seasonings are scarce, so people cannot ensure safe and suitable consumption of locusts, so they choose not to eat them.
Finally, due to social pressures and moral constraints, in ancient societies, the behavior of individuals was often constrained by social judgments and moral concepts. Eating locusts can be seen as unseemly or socially unsanctioned, so some people would rather starve to death than violate society's moral code.