"When people in ancient China spoke of the 'five tastes, ' they were talking not only literally about the five tastes recognized in Chinese gastronomy--sour, bitter, sweet, pungent, and salty--but also metaphorically about all the ingredients and flavors at a cook's disposal. They were part of the dynamic process of the cosmos, like the five elements and the constant flux of yin and yang. A chef was a kind of magician, someone able to harness the virtues of the five tastes and combine them harmoniously in a dish, observing the Chinese philosophy that good health and pleasure are inseparable when it comes to food."