Qianqing Palace
New Year’s Eve is the traditional reunion day for Chinese people, and ordinary people have a reunion dinner on this day. For the emperors of the Qing Dynasty who lived in the imperial palace, they could not deviate from human nature. They also had to hold a family banquet with the queen and their concubines in Qianqing Palace on New Year's Eve. Because the emperor and his concubines usually eat different meals, the Qianqing Palace family banquet has a special reunion meaning compared to the common people.
It should be noted that the clan banquet (pro-vassal banquet) between the emperor, princes and clan kings was held on the second day of New Year's Day, and it was not the standard Qianqing Palace family banquet. No matter whether it was a ceremony or a banquet in the palace, there was never a scene of men and women gathering together. Only the emperor, a male, could have banquets with the women in the palace, and the prince, as their son (except for those who were very young), was not allowed to participate. In fact, compared to the folk reunion dinner, there is no palace banquet that can truly be called a family banquet.
Since December 24th, Qianqing Palace has begun to create a New Year atmosphere. The Wanshou sky lanterns were installed around Danbi in the Qianqing Palace, and the sky lanterns were lit every night. Behind the Wanshou lantern, there are longevity couplets hanging on the left and right. Each couplet is embroidered with gold threads on both sides. The Wanshou lights shine on the Baolian and its gold characters, making the dark night particularly bright and creating a strong atmosphere of joy for the coming of the New Year.
On the eve of the Qianqing Palace family banquet, relevant personnel were busy setting up the banquet scene according to etiquette. The Zhonghe Shao music is displayed under the eaves of the Qianqing Palace, the Danbi Da Le is displayed inside the Qianqing Gate, and the Zhonghe Shao music is displayed under the eaves of the Jiaotai Palace. In the Qianqing Palace, banquet tables for each person were arranged in a strict hierarchical order: there was a golden dragon banquet table in front of the emperor's throne, on the left side of the ground, facing the west seat and east, there was the queen's banquet table, and the other concubines' banquet tables. Ranked left and right. The tableware they use is also different.
At Youshi (6 p.m.), the emperor entered the banquet. The queen and others saluted the emperor at their seats. After the ceremony, the queen and others took their seats for the meal. After a while, the emperor and his concubines began to enjoy the banquet. While enjoying the performance, they drank fruit and wine. When the emperor drank wine, the concubines took their seats and knelt down to worship. After the performance of the promised banquet, the concubines went to thank the banquet and knelt down to worship. The emperor stood up and left, and everyone from the queen to the queen returned to the palace. During the above banquet, various kinds of music were played in turn.
The family banquets in the Qianqing Palace were extremely luxurious. According to the records of the Qianqing Palace family banquets in the 44th year of Qianlong's reign (1779), the emperor's banquet table initially included 109 bowls (plates). The total number of soups, meals and banquets included in the banquet can reach 153 items. Although some of these delicacies are given as rewards after the banquet, they still produce a huge waste.
In addition to New Year's Eve, whenever there are festivals such as the emperor's longevity, the Qianqing Palace will also hold a family banquet.
On New Year's Day, at the Qianqing Palace family banquet, the emperor's royal banquet is set in front of the throne, the queen's throne is set to the left and behind the royal banquet, and there are banquets for the emperor's concubines, concubines, concubines, and concubines on the left and right, facing east and west, facing north. During the New Year, the emperor also had a Qianqing Palace family banquet with the princes and clans. During the Xian, Tong and Guang dynasties, they all held banquets with close relatives and vassals at Qianqing Palace during New Year's Day.