Tofu originated in Han dynasty China some 2,000 years ago.
Chinese legend ascribes its invention to prince Liu An (179–122 BC).
Tofu and its production technique were introduced into Korea and then Japan during the Nara period (710–794).
Some scholars believe tofu arrived in Vietnam during the 10th and 11th century.
It spread into other parts of East Asia as well.
This spread probably coincided with the spread of Buddhism because it is an important source of protein in the vegetarian diet of East Asian Buddhism.
But they could not have known that, having no idea of modern, scientific biochemistry.
Lucky hit, or what?
China developed in splendid cultural isolation until the arrival of Buddhism from India and then, centuries later, the explosion of modernity into the world that was the same event as the explosion of European imperialism-colonialism.
Harrington was wrong; he thinks there is a Japanese civilization distinct from the Chinese.
He makes the same mistake about Latin and Orthodox Christianity.
That explosion of modernity came late to the world of Chinese civilization, Japan included.
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