On the stage of the imperial examination system in the Ming Dynasty, the status of a person means privilege and glory. Not only were they exempt from taxes and servitude, but they also enjoyed the privilege of servitude. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. What kind of eye-popping extravagance and extravagance did they display at the Luming Banquet? What kind of extravagant behavior did the people do at that time? What kind of social reasons are hidden behind this? Let us find out.
1. The privilege of lifting people's status
Lifting people is one of the most sought-after fame in the imperial examination system of the Ming Dynasty. Once you win the lift, you can get all kinds of privileges that are far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
First of all, they no longer need to pay taxes and forced labor, and they can live a life without food and clothing. In the Ming Dynasty, the weight of taxes and forced labor was a nightmare for every household, and ordinary people had to pay money and grain and sell their labor, and the burden could be imagined. Once you win the lift, you can completely get rid of these shackles and live a carefree life.
Secondly, a man can make a slave and a maid and enjoy special honors. In the Ming Dynasty, it was the privilege of the nobility to make slaves and maids, and ordinary people had no right to do so. Once you are selected, you can hire servants and live like a crane, and you don't have to worry about household chores anymore.
In addition, the dress of the lifters is very different from that of the common people. They could wear a cyan round-necked robe, a gauze hat, a silk belt, and soap boots, all of which were the preserve of civil officials during the Ming Dynasty. Ordinary people can only wear silk linen narrow-sleeved short-bow shirts, hats on their heads, and straw sandals on their feet, which are similar to the dress of the lifters.
In addition, juren can also have a very high social status at the local level. They were regarded as a member of the ruling class. Wherever you go, you will be respected and called "Master". Even if a small mistake is made, someone will cover it up for them and avoid being implicated.
It can be seen that the privileges brought by the status of people make them far from being comparable to ordinary civilians. They have lived their lives from then on
Second, the luxurious scene of the deer feast
The Luming Banquet is one of the four major banquets of the imperial examination, which is specially designed for the new imperial examination people. This event is not only a stage for people to show off their style, but also a great opportunity for them to show off their wealth.
On the day of the banquet, the inside and outside of the governor's yamen were lit up with lights, and the atmosphere was very lively. Miles away, you can hear the jubilant scene of gongs and drums, singing and dancing. The governor personally presided over the meeting, and officials and gentry from all walks of life gathered, and the grand scene can be imagined.
The banquet officially began, and the people of the new imperial examination were dressed in embroidered robes and gauze hats, first of all, the performance of the "Five Classics". The five Kui stars represent the Book of Changes, the Book of Books, the Book of Songs, the Book of Rites and the Spring and Autumn Period, and they either chant poems against each other or dance the elegant Kui Star Dance, showing a solid foundation.
This was followed by the recitation of the poem "Deer Song". Dressed in red satin robes and accompanied by the tunes of the musicians, the people of the new imperial examination recited this ancient poem with auspicious meaning. The poems are beautiful and beautiful, and the reciters are even more round, pushing the atmosphere of the audience to a climax.
After the poetry and dance, it is time for the banquet to be the main event - the wine and food fights during the banquet. I saw that there are all kinds of delicacies, delicacies from the mountains and seas, and there are so many varieties that it is enough to dazzle people. And the most remarkable thing is the gold and silver vessels.
People compete with each other and put out their most expensive gold and silver utensils, some of which are even carved with elaborate patterns. They poured their wine and drank it loudly, showing their wealth and status. Some of them even cast full-body gold and silver statues, which were placed in the banquet, attracting admiration.
In addition to gold and silver vessels, exotic beasts were also a way for people to show off their wealth. At the banquet site, some of them had elephants with lifelike sculptures, some brought camels from far away from the frontier, and some brought a parrot that could learn to speak, which made the audience laugh.
After three rounds of drinking, singing and dancing resumed. The crowd invited a group of dancers and musicians to dance, play and sing during the banquet. Some people even hired masters with superb fireworks skills to set off colorful fireworks at the banquet site, rendering the atmosphere more lively and extraordinary.
3. New elements of lifting people to cover luxury
In addition to gold and silver utensils and exotic beasts, there are many more remarkable luxuries at the Deer Feast. People are doing their best to show their wealth to show their status and identity.
Among them, the most eye-catching are the invited dancers and musicians. These dancers are not only beautiful in appearance, but also in their dancing skills, dancing to the accompaniment of musicians, rendering the atmosphere extremely lively. They are either wearing light gauze shirts or silk skirts, and their postures are graceful and graceful, and every movement is just right, which makes people applaud.
Some of them even invited some of the world's leading dancers to perform live solo dances for the guests. I saw the dancer dressed in embroidered robes, wearing a feather crown on his head, and a gold belt around his waist, dancing to the sound of gongs and drums. They either danced like swallows flying, or they were vigorous and chic, and they fully showed the essence of the dance, so that everyone present was amazed.
In addition to the dancing girls, the performances of the musicians are equally breathtaking. They either played the flute melodiously and beautifully, or played the drums and piano with emotion, rendering the scene as if it were fascinating. Some of them even invited the world's first-class celebrities to sing a song for the guests. Just listen to the voice tactfully and listen to it, interpreting the lyrics and songs vividly, which makes people fascinated and dreamlike.
In addition to the performances of the dancers and musicians, there is also a remarkable luxury - that is, the colorful fireworks. Some of them specially invited masters with superb fireworks skills to set off colorful fireworks at the banquet site, reflecting the night sky brilliantly. With the sound of firecrackers, brilliant fireworks bloomed in the air, sometimes like meteors flying, sometimes like colorful clouds circling, shrouding the entire banquet scene in a brilliant atmosphere.
These dancers, musicians, and fireworks all show the extravagance and extravagance of the people. They spared no expense, invited world-class artists to perform for the guests, and even set off expensive fireworks, completely ignoring expenses, just to show off their strong family assets and solid status.
Fourth, the analysis of social causes
The extravagance of people at the Luming banquet is by no means accidental, but the social system and atmosphere of the Ming Dynasty.
First of all, the imperial examination system created a privileged class. Once they were killed, they could obtain various privileges such as exemption from taxation and forced labor, slavery and servitude, which were far beyond the reach of ordinary people. These privileges not only freed people from the burden of labor and paying taxes, but also made them the upper echelons of society, with a high status and glory.
Secondly, the pursuit of luxury goods by the scholar class is also an important reason for extravagance and waste. In the Ming Dynasty, luxury was not only a symbol of wealth, but also a manifestation of status. Gold and silver utensils, exotic beasts, etc., have become a way for people to show off their wealth. The more extravagant they are, the more they can show their status.
Moreover, the psychology of showing off wealth also plays an important role in this. Most of them come from civilian backgrounds, and once they are selected, they can escape poverty and live a good life. Under this huge contrast, they often have a desire to show off, hoping to show off their status through extravagance, so as to gain the envy and respect of others.
In addition, the social atmosphere of the Ming Dynasty was also one of the fuses. At that time, the whole society regarded the imperial examination as the ultimate faith, and every family was pursuing fame. Once you win the promotion, you can obtain a very high social status and be respected. This kind of social atmosphere has undoubtedly exacerbated people's desire to show off their wealth, prompting them to be extravagant and wasteful at the deer feast.
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It can be seen that the extravagant behavior of people at the Luming Banquet is not a personal reason, but the inevitable result of the social system and atmosphere of the Ming Dynasty. The imperial examination system created a privileged class, and the pursuit of luxury goods by the scholar class, coupled with the psychology of showing off wealth and the social atmosphere, all contributed to the emergence of this phenomenon.