Royal banquets are actually "eating scenes". The key point is that the ceremony is grand and grand, and the participants feel honored. This is probably the golden rule popular at home and abroad. The birthday banquets of the Queen Mother and Emperor of the Song Dynasty can be said to be in line with this rule. The best proof of the law.

"Tokyo Menghua Lu" records the detailed process of Huizong's birthday banquet in the late Northern Song Dynasty. "Mengliang Lu" records the birthday banquet of the Empress Dowager of the Southern Song Dynasty and the birthday banquet of Emperor Duzong. It has been followed before and after, and is generally consistent without any change. "Mengliang Lu" even more clearly reminds us that "we all abide by the etiquette from the beginning of the country, and we dare not change it after many dynasties." This is a rule set at the founding of the country that no dynasty dares to change in the future. Change.

So, what exactly is the highest-profile birthday banquet in the palace that has been held for generations? Take Huizong's birthday banquet of the Song Dynasty as an example. According to "Tokyo Menghua Lu", the tenth day of every year is Tianning Festival - Huizong's birthday. However, if all officials come to the court to celebrate his birthday and then attend the birthday banquet, then On the twelfth day. Before the emperor and his ministers "enter", the tables, chairs and props must be arranged at the banquet site by various departments such as the Hanlin Department and the Royal Chef who specialize in catering for the palace. The specific arrangements clearly indicate the hierarchy:

< p> Of course, the emperor's throne is located in the middle of the palace. In front of the seat is the "imperial tea bed", which is also the dining table. On the table are artificial flowers made of jewelry, several plates of rare fruits, and a fruit plate for viewing only, with candied fruits on the plate. A pagoda made of fruits and carved melons.

Opposite the throne, there are four rows of seats. The first one is a high stool, covered with brocade mats. In front of each seat is a low table with carved or candied melons and fruits on the fruit plate. The prime minister, The prince and others sat down with the envoys from Liao, Goryeo, and Xixia. The next three rows were changed to low stools, and the three people shared a low dining table, and those seated were also important officials of the imperial court.

The rest of the ministers and the lower attachés from various countries were seated outside the main hall and under the eaves of the side halls on both sides. They were all seated at a table for three people. On the table were placed ring cakes, oil cakes, and jujube towers. The "looking at the plate" is purely for decoration and is not allowed to be eaten. In addition, there are lower-ranking officers who arrange their seats behind the "Mountain Tower". It was truly a treat for the emperor, and all the people attended the banquet. There were many people, and the scene was extremely grand.

The entire banquet lasted so long that it had to be divided into an upper and lower banquet, called the "front banquet" and the "rear banquet". The first half of the first half is for drinking five glasses of wine, and the second half is for four glasses of wine. Each round includes three glasses of wine. The head of a government department first toasts to the emperor, and the ministers drink with him; then he toasts to the prime minister, and the emperor and ministers drink with him; finally, a toast is given to the officials of other departments symbolically. The official toasts, and everyone toasts together.