Chapter 29 5. Rights and Obligations

Let's look at "Township Drinking Ceremony" first. The so-called "township drinking ceremony" was originally a "political consultation meeting" in the form of a banquet.Those who were invited to participate were basically "old comrades", and the discussions were also about major military affairs, such as "determination of troops".Therefore, it is likely to be a legacy of military democracy in the tribal era, equivalent to the "Senate" in ancient Greece and Rome, but without voting rights.But later, I didn't even have the intention of consulting. I just regularly and irregularly invite social elites to eat, drink and watch performances, and it has become a club of "CPPCC members".

So, how did this "ritual" last from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty? Because it makes sense. The meaning lies in "respecting the elders, providing for the elderly, and respecting the virtuous".According to regulations, people from all walks of life participating in the township drinking ceremony, those over 60 years old sit, and those under 50 years old stand.There are also different dishes to enjoy, and the older you are, the more you eat.This is tantamount to declaring to the whole society that the elders should be respected, the old should be supported, and the sages should be respected.Therefore, at the reception, it is necessary to "order teeth" (ordered by age) and "play music", such as "Poetry·Xiaoya·Deerming" by "I have a guest".

In fact, the virtues of Zhou people are nothing more than "respect" and "kiss".Zunzun means respecting those who should be respected; kissing means loving those who should be dear.If people respect and love each other, society will be harmonious and peaceful.Therefore, even though the later township drinking ceremony has no substantive content, it must be persisted, because this in itself is virtue. Obviously, there must be virtue in courtesy, and courtesy in virtue.On the contrary, being rude is immoral, and being rude is immoral.Virtue is the purpose, and etiquette is the means; Virtue is inner cultivation, and etiquette is the code of conduct.Therefore, also expressed as rights and obligations.

For example, "Crown Ceremony". The crown ceremony is also called "wedding crown ceremony", which is actually the "coming of age ceremony" for the children of nobles.According to the system of the Western Zhou Dynasty, when a child was born for a hundred days, he had to be "named" by his father, indicating that he had officially gained life and became a member of the family.If it is a boy, he starts studying at home at the age of six, which is "home learning".Entering boarding school at the age of ten is "elementary school".Entering "Biyong" at the age of fifteen, this is "university".After graduating from university at the age of 20, a wedding crown ceremony will be held to officially become an adult.

The wedding crown ceremony is held for both men and women, only fifteen for women and twenty for men.There are two things to do at this point.The first is to put the hair on the top of the head, which is called "hair bundle".Then women insert hairpins, which are called "笄" (pronounced Ruji); men wear hats, which are called "crowns".The second is to ask the guests to give them a "word".The name is a humble name, and the word is a respectful name.The former is used to address juniors, students, children, and oneself, while the latter is used to address others of the same generation and above.With words, you can socialize, which of course means being an adult.

After there are characters, boys can be called "shi", also called "husband", that is, "adult man". The male university should be married, and the female university should be married, so the crown ceremony is also an engagement ceremony.Because the marriage between a man and a woman is at the same time as the hair binding, it is called "a married couple with hair".If the girl does not have a suitable partner yet, she will not be engaged for the time being, and she will not be able to write, which is called "waiting in the boudoir". But it is the "crowning" that is of great significance.

Crowned a total of three times.For the first time, "Zi Guan" (Zi Guan) was added, which was used to participate in political activities.The second time to add "皮弁" (引弁 reads like a change), this is a hunting suit and a military uniform, so a sword is also required at the same time.The third time to add "Juebian" (jue read like a bird), which is used to participate in sacrificial activities, also known as "the crown of the ancestral temple". If you add a crown, you have the right to participate; if you add a skin, you have the right to serve in the army;Where there are rights, there are obligations, not to mention that "the major affairs of the country are only sacrifices and military affairs."Therefore, after the three crownings, the youngsters who have just won the crown will still have to meet the monarch and elders, and the guests who preside over the ceremony will also deliver precepts.This is the most important moral education class.

Obviously, hair binding and crowning are equivalent to the "circumcision" of the Jews, and both mean social norms and constraints.Moreover, these two etiquettes also tell children what a real person is and how to become a real person in an unforgettable way. At the same time, our nation has also come of age. So, can we rejuvenate? of course can.

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