For a long time in ancient times, the separate meal system was used for eating, but after thousands of years, the joint meal system gradually replaced the separate meal system. Because Japan learned something from chemistry in Tang Wen, Japan has continued its food distribution system to this day. Why is the separate meal system replaced by the mixed meal system? During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, everyone ate a piece, but sometimes the food was unevenly distributed or there were different dishes. If everyone sat together and ate the same food, then these problems would not happen. Perhaps it is for these reasons that independent food systems are gradually being abandoned.
In fact, the Song Dynasty was not only the gradual decline of the grain distribution system, but also the change of many customs in China. For example, kneeling basically withdrew from daily life in the Song Dynasty. First of all, what is the catering system? The dining system doesn't mean that we can't eat together, but that we can eat at the same table. However, the dining system does not allow you to use any tableware together. All the food belongs to one person. Chopsticks and forks must not touch other people's food. Otherwise, it is very impolite.
Today we often say a word called "catch them". This word means to get benefits that originally belong to others. The word originated in the Spring and Autumn Period, when Zheng invited nobles and ministers to eat soft-shelled turtles. However, at the banquet, Zheng deliberately made things difficult for his son Song and refused to let him drink turtle soup. The humiliated son Song angrily walked to Zheng's desk, dipped his finger in turtle soup, put it in his mouth and left. Zheng's behavior made him very angry. He even said that he wanted to kill people and plotted to get rid of Zheng. As a result, a "turtle murder case" broke out on Zheng's head. The word "catch them" was born here.
Zhou Li's food sharing system has formed a dietary habit or culture among the nobles. The pre-Qin period was the period when nobles came to power. This system of sharing food is well implemented. During the Qin and Han dynasties, with the disappearance of nobles, some pseudo-nobles adopted the system of sharing food. However, in the Eastern Han Dynasty, aristocratic families, that is, powerful families, rose. In the past, the aristocratic food distribution system was handed down from these aristocratic families. Emperor Yang Guang of Sui Dynasty lost his throne because of suppressing aristocratic families. The monarch of the Tang Dynasty found that no ordinary people in a noble family could better exercise their imperial power. The emperors of the Tang Dynasty used the imperial examination system of the Sui Dynasty to gradually purge the aristocratic families from politics. In the Song Dynasty, with the disintegration of aristocratic families, most of them were people who entered politics in the imperial examination. Of course, they will not use the system of sharing food with aristocratic families and clans, and the system of sharing food has gradually occupied the food culture.
Generally speaking, in ancient China, at least from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the diet was divided and combined. It is not a separate meal system before the Song Dynasty, but a combined meal system after the Ming Dynasty. Of course, the system of ancient dignitaries, ceremonies and banquets were separated in the early days, just like the banquet example mentioned at the beginning. As for when this dining system became popular at banquets, it is estimated that it began in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. The same is true for ordinary families who don't have so many pots. Compared with the dignitaries in the southern dynasties, the tribal leaders in the northern dynasties also lacked clay pots in the early days. As there is no pot, they are used to eating around the stove. Later, he entered the Central Plains and established the Northern Dynasties. After more than 200 years of subtle influence, this system has gradually been accepted by Han dignitaries and become a custom. After that, according to different situations, dinner parties are held, including joint meals and separate meals.