Chapter 22 The second quarter meeting ceremony

Scholars were the lowest rank among the nobles in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and they were also the class with the largest number of nobles.Scholars are probably educated, knowledgeable, and talented, and they were the most active class in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods.Therefore, most of the etiquette system in the pre-Qin period was formulated based on the behavior of scholars.There are also many etiquettes for meeting ceremonies between scholars and nobles at all levels. "Rituals" has a chapter dedicated to "Meeting Rituals". When a scholar meets his venerable, he must bring a gift to show his respect, which is called "Zhizhi".According to the provisions of "Meeting Rituals for Scholars", the "Zhi" of a scholar is a pheasant, that is, a pheasant.Why use pheasants?Zheng Xuan's commentary said that it was taken from the pheasant's meaning of "making friends sometimes, but there is no relationship".The ancients believed that pheasants "have a handover sometimes, but when it comes to parting, the male and female are not mixed" (Jia Gongyanshu, "Rituals·Scholar Meeting Rituals"), and scholars should also keep their faith like pheasants.Since the pheasant must be used dead (meaning "to die for the king"), if it is in summer, in order to prevent rot, dry pheasants are used, which is called "ju [juju]".Because innocence is not polite, so other classes must also be sincere when they meet.As for the varieties of Zhi, they are also divided according to grades, which are different.When the emperor met the princes, he wanted to give wine, that is, wine made from turmeric grass and black millet.The jade wares used by the feudal lords are differentiated according to the grades of Gong, Hou, Bo, Zi, and Nan.The public Huan Gui (Kui is a long triangular-shaped jade article with the upper end), and the top of the Gui is decorated with the shape of pillars, which symbolizes the backbone of the state.Hou Yongxin Gui, decorated with the shape of a human body, symbolizes prudence and protection.The uncle bows the kui, and the kui is decorated with the shape of four bodies, which symbolizes loyalty, respect and respect.The son used the grain biscuit (the biscuit is a flat and round jade with a hole in the center), and the shape of the valley is decorated on the biscuit, which symbolizes that the grain is used to support the ancestral temple to support the people.Pu Bi is for men, decorated with cattail grass, which symbolizes the meaning of peace for the people (Pu Ke makes seats, and the seats are safe).As for the meeting of other classes, "hold the skin and silk, the noble hold the lamb, the doctor hold the geese, the scholars hold the pheasant, the common people hold the duck (duck), and the businessman hold the chicken." ("Zhou Li · Chun Guan · Da Zong Bo")

When the scholar and the scholar met for the first time, the master wanted to say goodbye, expressing that he did not dare to humiliate the master and came to visit.After repeated entreaties from the guests, the host welcomes them out of the gate and salutes each other.Then the host enters from the right with three bows, and the guest also enters from the left.The guest presented the gift, the host thanked him three times, and finally "received" in court.The reason why they don't accept gifts in the hall is because the king receives favors in the hall, and scholars cannot compare with the king.After receiving the favor, the host asks the guest to return to visit. When they meet again, the host returns the favor brought by the guest, and the guest accepts the favor after accepting the favor.If it is a scholar who sees a doctor, the host will return the sincerity when he walks out of the gate after the guest visits him.Only when the minister sees the king will he stop paying back his sincerity.But if it is a minister of this country who meets the king of another country with sincerity, then the king will also send a guest (responsible for receiving guests) to return the sincerity.

When you meet, you always have to talk, and even the content of the talk is stipulated in the "Meeting Rituals of Scholars": "Speak with the king, talk with envoys (that is, appoint ministers); talk with adults (referring to senior officials), talk with the king; talk with the old To speak, to make disciples; to speak to the young, to speak of filial piety to one's father and brother; to speak to the public, to speak of loyalty, trustworthiness and kindness; to speak to officials (referring to those below the rank of officials), to speak of loyalty and trustworthiness." It is required to "begin to look at the face, look at the middle, and look at the face at the end".That is, at the beginning, you should observe the other person's face to see if you can speak; you can't keep staring at the other person's face when you are talking, and your eyes should only stop at the collar of the other person;During the entire conversation, it is required to "not change", that is, to have a serious face and a straight body, and not to change the posture casually, so as not to be considered lazy and not open-minded by the other party.When not speaking, it is required to "look at your feet when you are standing, and look at your knees when you are sitting." Do not wander your eyes or listen attentively.

When sitting with Dr. Qing and other "gentleman" places, when you see signs of fatigue such as "short stretching (yawning, stretching)", changing sitting posture or seats, and asking about the morning and evening of the interrogation time, whether the meal is ready, etc., you will also feel tired. Should have resigned voluntarily.When exiting, the host stood up and saw him off, but he refused to say goodbye.Generally speaking, there are "three speeches" when a farewell person is delivered to the door: the first speech is called "Li Ci", and the second speech is called "Gu Ci", and the third speech is not allowed to be sent again, which is called "Final Ci".

The etiquette of meeting people in the soil reflects the thought style of treating people with humility, which has been followed by later generations.For example, offering a greeting to see you for the first time has the same meaning as "Zhizhi".It is also the etiquette of "three speeches" to ask the host to stay for a while when saying goodbye.

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