TO GO WITH STORY: CHINA-FOOD-LIFESTYLE-PHILISOPHY BY CAROL HUANG IN BEIJING
This photo taken on July 24, 2013 shows a Confucius cuisine shrimp dish at a restaurant in Jinan, Shandong Province. The fine-dining trend is a reflection of how the ruling Communist party which long saw the sage as a reactionary force, has now drafted him into its modern campaign to boost China’s cultural standing and commerce. The philosopher lived from 551 to 479 BC, and his teachings of hierarchy, order and deference had deep resonance in the feudal societies of China and the region. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)