Banquets are common social activities in our daily lives, which contain many customs and etiquette, even in modern society, many people usually "treat each other with courtesy" in banquets to show their knowledge and cultivation; and in some ancient periods that attach importance to etiquette, the ceremony of feasting and drinking is not to mention, eating a full meal is only a secondary aspect, it is important to understand "etiquette".
Here's how interesting the ancient traditional banquet etiquette is.
In ancient times, there was a kind of noble banquet, that is, in the imperial court, after the king and the ministers had discussed political affairs, they would sometimes "feast and drink the courtiers"; or some banquet activities would be held between the envoys between the princely states. If it is such a banquet, then the main purpose is certainly not to eat, the most important purpose is to connect feelings, and the etiquette will be quite exquisite.
Banquets should reflect the "distinction between host and guest" and "distinction between dignity and inferiority", who is the host and who is a guest, whose status is noble, whose status is humble, and must be reflected in the banquet.
In terms of seating in ancient banquets, distinguished people should sit in the middle of the dining table, the main guest, the main guest is the main escort and the deputy escort on the left and right, and the two identities are also relatively high, indicating respect for the main guest. Others sit on the outside of the main and deputy escorts, and sit in order according to their status and age, in general, the closer the position is to the main guest, the more honorable the status. If the number of people at the banquet is large and the table is more, there must be a main table to highlight the central figure.
In ancient times, the dinner table should know how to respect the elderly, according to the ancient tradition, if there is a respected elderly person at the dinner table, it is necessary to take the elderly as the center, and others sit on both sides of the elderly in turn.
In the banquet, a table of people sits around, who moves the chopsticks first to pick vegetables is also very exquisite; in general, if there is a respected elderly person present, it must be held by the old man first, and then others can raise chopsticks to eat vegetables. This is important, reflecting the respect for the elderly and the harmonious atmosphere of the banquet.
However, this etiquette has been diluted in modern society, and now when we eat, it seems that we are not respected by the old, but by the small, if there are children present, others do not move, children are the first to eat vegetables, and now many people also feel taken for granted.
Another important etiquette of traditional banquets is toasting. If it is a toast to the elders or distinguished guests, it must not sit down to toast, to stand and toast; there is also a point to pay attention to, can not toast across the table, toast to go to the elders to perform a prayer and congratulations.
Regarding drinking and cupping, after touching glasses between peers, you can drink face to face, if you touch a cup with an elder, you cannot drink face to face with the elders, and you must turn around slightly to drink, which means not to fight with the elders. If the elders do not drink alcohol first, the younger generations cannot drink alcohol, and after the elders start drinking, the younger generations can start drinking.
These rituals are a bit cumbersome to say, but they should be noted on some important occasions.
When eating, behave in a civilized manner, do not swallow, and take out the most elegant side. The Book of Rites reads: "No rice, no rice, no flow, no food, no bone, no fish, no bone, no bone, no fish, no bone, no bone, no rice." Rice is not to be eaten, not to be souped, not to be squeamish, not to be prickly, not to be stingy. The meaning is very simple, that is, the unfinished meal can not be put back, do not eat and drink, do not eat sound, do not throw bones to the dog, do not grab delicious things, etc., if you really want to do these fourteen "no", it is estimated that you need to practice well.
In the pre-Qin period, chopsticks were almost not used, so there was a etiquette of "no rice", and when pilaf was eaten, the rice could not be clumped. It is also said that the tableware cannot be used wrongly, and chopsticks cannot be used when eating rice, because chopsticks are mainly vegetables in the soup. These are a long-ago rituals.
Chopsticks and spoons can not be used together, chopsticks can not be used when chopsticks can not be used, when the spoon can not be used chopsticks, why? Because if you hold chopsticks in one hand and a spoon in the other, it will make people think that you are gluttonous.
Sandwich vegetables can not be messed around, can not clip a chopsticks in the east and a chopsticks in the west, you should first choose what is delicious, and then sandwich the dish, in one fell swoop success. Don't stir the chopsticks in the bowl, and don't pick up the chopsticks together to eat, which will also make people think that you are very greedy.
The host invites guests to eat, you know, making a table of meals is not a simple thing, often busy all day or even prepared for a few days, just because it is not simple, so we must respect the fruits of the master's labor. The hosts are gracious, the guests are to accept it, and to express their gratitude; they must not sigh at the dinner table, as this will spoil the atmosphere of the banquet.
The host can not finish eating first, until the guests have finished eating, the host can eat, the intention is to let the guests eat slowly, do not worry. Hospitality should pay attention to, if the guest has finished eating the rice in the bowl, the host should take the initiative to help the guest serve the meal, why do this? The main reason is to avoid guests from eating because they are shy and not eating enough. If the guest explicitly says that he is full, the host does not have to add food to him. When the guests finish eating, the host can put down the chopsticks.
Although traditional banquet etiquette is so rich, there are some important aspects that are still applicable in today's society. If it is in the period of heavy etiquette in ancient times, the banquet etiquette is extremely cumbersome, and many things are not very applicable now, but some basic things, such as respect for the elderly, elegant manners, etc., still need special attention.
If you summarize the traditional etiquette, the core is also one sentence: "You can't just take care of your own food, but you must consider others everywhere." "Remember this sentence, and there will be no major problems in the banquet etiquette."