Chapter 9 Chapter Seven Apprenticeship

According to the "Book of Rites Internal Rules", when a child is ten years old, he will go out to study with a teacher, whether he is entering a private school or entering a school such as Xiang [Xiang Detailed] Xu, he must perform the ceremony of apprenticeship.In the pre-Qin period, when meeting the teacher for the first time, he gave "shuxiu" (that is, ten strips of dried meat) as a gift, and held corresponding meeting etiquette to express his respect.Later, the age for children to go to school was mostly advanced to seven or eight years old, and the greeting ceremony for teachers was no longer limited to dried meat, but the ceremony of apprenticeship continued. However, according to the status and economic status of the children's families, the complexity of the ceremony varies. Just the difference.

Although the ancient official families imparted some cultural knowledge to children during the tutoring stage, the real education began with the formal apprenticeship.The first teacher bears the responsibility of enlightenment for children, and is customarily called the mentor.The ceremony of meeting the mentor, also known as the Enlightenment Ceremony, has always been valued and is generally more solemn.In the area of ​​Jiangsu and Zhejiang, the Enlightenment Ceremony must be held on an auspicious day.On this day, ten flavors, such as hair vegetables, glutinous rice balls, pork liver, and small carp, will be displayed in the middle hall from the grandma of Enlightenment students. Ten bowls are divided into ten bowls, which are called "Ten Kui". Food.After eating, the Enlightenment students bowed down to the teacher on the red carpet.Then, Master Meng taught Meng Tong to describe the printed three characters "Shangdaren" with a pen. After writing, Master Meng circled the three characters to express his affirmation. Money and other gifts from apprentices to show respect.Afterwards, a banquet was held in honor of the teacher, and after the banquet, the teacher was sent out according to the etiquette.After the teacher left, Mengtong would still visit his elders and relatives and friends under the leadership of his parents, and receive the "fameng money" presented by the elders. He Zhuangyuan was taken in by Mengtong.At this point, the entire Enlightenment Ceremony is considered to be over.

The etiquette and customs of apprenticeship reflect the respect for teachers who teach and solve puzzles, which is one of the fine traditions of the Chinese nation.Many family precepts and commandments in ancient times emphasized the need to respect teachers and regard teachers as fathers. The so-called "one day is a teacher, one life is a father".There was even a saying in the past that "if you don't respect your husband, you will be destroyed by heaven and earth".