飲食是人生的主要活動，不僅反映出個人的生命態度及自我定位，更成為窺見時代文化的窗口。以文化的角度視之，魏晉士人的飲食生活，折射出文人對於飲食的定位，以及對美感追求的風尚。當代名士追求品味、美感的飲食活動背後，所展現出的文化深層內涵，反應出整個時代的氛圍與風潮。《世說新語》體現的是魏晉的時代縮影，是一本載錄此時士人思想意識、生活習性最全面、最完備的著作。因此《世說新語》中飲食的記錄，可還原當代士人的飲食活動及其中飲食的符號表徵。可見飲食的地位在此時已有相當程度的提高，名士以其飲食活動表徵自我身份地位，或用以呈現個人獨特的才情。時人肯定了飲食經驗與藝術文化同樣具有美感性質，此一轉化過程與當代美學文化的發達，不無關係。在享用美食之際，除了體認到飲食所具有的深沉美感，更進一步成為名士用以反應其生命見解的媒介。

Eating and drinking are main activities of life. They not only reflect one’s attitude and self-confidence, but also open a window for people to observe the authentic culture of a time. The Diet Culture of Wei-Jin scholars reflected their understandings toward life, as well as the fashion of pursuiting delicacy. Famous scholars of the time sought for taste and aesthetic perception through their dietetic activities. Shi Shuo Xin Yu is an epitome of Wei-Jin Dynasties. It is the most comprehensive and complete book that record the thinking and habits of the intellectuals of the age. By analyzing the dietetic documents in Shi Shuo Xin Yu, it is possible to understand the in-depth meanings of the dietetic symbols. Must say the state of Diet had upgraded to a certain level in this ara. Famous scholars utilized dietetic activities to suggest their social statuses or express their brilliance of mind and abilities. It is believed that people in this period assured the enjoyment of dining experience as well as of arts. This kind of transformation was related to the prosperity of Aesthetics. While having a fine dining, famous scholars perceived the profound beauty of diet, which they took as a mean to reflect their life philosophy.