Confucius said: "The existence of the Flame Emperor may be uncertain, but upon careful contemplation of the significance of this honorable title, it becomes evident that even to this day, the Flame Emperor endures."
Man cannot sustain himself without the nourishment of grains; likewise, grains cannot grow without the cultivation by man. The soil, evolving through the ages, varies, influencing the nature of crops. From the time of Shen Nong to Emperor Yao, humanity has relied on grains for sustenance for over a millennium. Is there still any doubt regarding the benefits of agriculture? Many superior varieties that emerged later must await detailed explanations from Hou Ji. What is the reason for this?
The wealthy offspring devoid of learning regard farmers akin to criminals, while the erudite Confucian scholars use "farmer" as a derogatory term. Engrossed in their luxurious lifestyle, indulging in gastronomic delights, they remain oblivious to the source of their sustenance. Such individuals are abundant indeed!
The veneration of Shen Nong as though he were a deity underscores the belief that the cultivation of grains transcends mere human effort.
Throughout history, grains have not had fixed and unchanging names. The term "hundred grains" refers to the collective concept of grains as a whole. When we speak of the "five grains," we typically refer to hemp, soybeans, wheat, millet, and sorghum, but rice is notably absent, likely because the authors hailed from the northwest. Rice now accounts for seventy percent of the staple food that feeds the entire nation, while wheat, barley, yellow corn, and millet make up the remaining thirty percent. Hemp and beans have actually been used for various purposes such as vegetables, cakes, oils, and meals, yet they are still classified as grains due to the perpetuation of earlier terminology.