Abstract: The author suggests a 3-stage development of the globefish-eating history of the Chinese people: 1) common folk “venturing to eat globefish even at the price of life,”; 2) the intellectual deeming it “worth trying even at the price of life,” and 3) eating globefish becoming commonplace among all people. In history, the common folk have always been the majority who ventured spontaneously to eat globefish, embodying the two-pointed meanings of primitive survival instinct and pursuit of gastronomic pleasure. Joining in of the elite class has nothing to do with survival, but with curiosity, sentimental stimulation and personality display at the beginning and pleasure to the palate later on. This course helped popularize globefish-eating. The author proceeds to explore the historical records about intoxication, prevention and disintoxication measures involved before pointing out the social causes underlying the historical limitation.;

Key words: globefish-eating history of the Chinese people, the venture to eat globefish even at the price of life, historical stage, new interpretation