Abstract on Chinese table etiquette: Abstract: Table etiquette occupies an important position in traditional Chinese culture. It is also a means of social interaction. During the meal, people's self-cultivation and etiquette can be reflected in their words and deeds. come out. Correct table manners not only appear elegant and generous, but also give people a good impression. However, in today's fusion of Chinese and Western, many Chinese food etiquette are often ignored, leading to embarrassing scenes. Therefore, mastering some table manners is particularly important in social life. Keywords: Keywords: table manners, taking a seat, eating, leaving the table, tea culture, wine culture, differences between China and the West. Since ancient times, Chinese people have always attached great importance to food. There is an ancient saying that "food is the most important thing for people". Chinese food culture can be said to have a long history. On the other hand, as a country of Eastern etiquette, table manners are a reflection of China’s thousands of years of traditional culture. According to relevant historical records, at least in the Zhou Dynasty, my country's dietary etiquette has taken initial shape. After continuous development and changes, it gradually formed a system and had a certain influence on Western table culture. "Eating is about joy." Chinese people enjoy the lively atmosphere of collective meals or banquets. The dining table is an important place to test one's self-cultivation. Eating is a way for Chinese people to coordinate interpersonal relationships. In China, the most important social activity for people is to treat guests to dinner, and there are many different activities. Some successful people spend most of their time eating. A person who cannot participate in social activities for a long time may be eliminated by society or become "useless". people. The "group sharing" mode in which everyone shares a plate of food and drinks a bowl of soup triggers a joyful atmosphere and coordinates interpersonal relationships between toasts and chopsticks. But there are still many things to pay attention to in a formal Chinese banquet. 1. Taking a seat: "After all the guests have gathered, guide the guests to their seats, with the left as the top, as the chief. There are two seats relative to the first seat, three seats below the first seat, and four seats below the second seat." Invite the guests to their seats first, and then invite the leader The person sits next to the guests, one by one, and finally sits on the seat closest to the door. If it is a round table, the one facing the door is the host and guest, and the positions on the left and right of the host and guest are based on the distance from the host and guest. The closer the host and guest are, the more respectable they are. At the same distance, the left side is more respected than the right side. If it is the Eight Immortals table, if there are seats facing the door, the right seat on the side facing the door will be the host and guest. If it is not facing the gate, the right seat on the side facing east is the chief. If you are bringing a child, place the child next to you after you sit down. When seated, enter from the left side of the chair. After sitting down, sit up straight and do not lower your head. Keep the distance between the dining table and your body at 10 to 20 centimeters. After taking a seat, your feet should be placed near your seat and should not be extended at will to avoid disturbing others. Sit in an upright posture and do not support your chin with your hands or place your elbows on the table. Notes: Notes: ① The host must be careful not to place guests close to where the food is served. ② After sitting down, don’t move your chopsticks, don’t make any noise, and don’t get up and move around. If something happens, say hello to the host. Before using chopsticks, you should express your appreciation to the host or person holding the spoon for their superb skills, thoughtful arrangements, warm invitation, etc. ③ If it is a larger banquet, there is usually a chairperson. Guests are not allowed to sit down rashly. When seated, they should pay attention to whether the seat cards on the table correspond to their own. ④ If there is a host or receptionist when you are seated, you should follow their arrangements. 2. Meal 1. Serving Chinese food in the order of: appetizer → hot dish → stir-fry → main dish → soup → fried rice → pasta → fruit. Appetizers are usually four, sometimes as many as ten, cold dishes that are served ahead of the meal. Sometimes four kinds of hot dishes can be served after the cold dishes, but most of the hot dishes are omitted. When the guests sit down and start dining, the restaurant staff can notify the kitchen to prepare the dishes. When about 1/3 of the cold dishes are left, the restaurant staff can serve the first hot dish. When the previous dish is almost finished, the restaurant staff must serve the next dish. They cannot serve too much at one time so that the banquet cannot be accommodated, and they must not leave empty dishes on the table and let the guests sit at the table. , which can easily embarrass the guests, and also easily cause the guests to have no food to drink in time after drinking, making them easy to get drunk.

⑤ If there are people of higher status or older people present, be sure to respect the elders first to show respect. If no special person is present, it is best to toast in order and avoid favoring one over another. ⑥ There is no business discussion on the table. Everyone knows it after drinking and there is no need to bring it up. 6. Clothing etiquette As the saying goes, "dress according to the occasion." Dressing must depend on the occasion. It is often wrong to stick to the same set of clothes forever. The basic principles for choosing clothing for a banquet are the three principles of time (T), place (P) and occasion (O), which is the "TPO" principle. The principle of time means that when wearing clothes, you should consider the characteristics of morning and evening, the four seasons, and the time. Pay attention to cold and warm insulation, and keep pace with the times. The place principle means that clothing should be appropriate for the place you are going. The principle of occasion means that clothing should conform to the atmosphere of the occasion. Notes: Notes ① If there are guests wearing hats, they should take off their hats after entering the venue and put them in a suitable place. ② When attending banquet events, you should not wear sunglasses. If there are special circumstances, you should explain and apologize to the host or guests. 7. Differences in Chinese and Western table manners 1. Differences in the atmosphere at the table: Chinese people pay attention to liveliness when dining. They chat and toast at the table, completely abandoning the quiet appearance on weekdays; while Westerners’ table manners are very Quiet, different from his usual enthusiasm, he cuts the food on his plate silently. 2. Differences in seating arrangements: In China, the left is respected and the right is secondary; the top is respected and the bottom is secondary; the middle is respected and the side is secondary. In the West, the right is respected and the left is secondary. 3. Differences in tableware: The tableware used by Chinese people generally includes chopsticks, plates, spoons, bowls, etc. At a formal banquet, the water glass is placed on the upper left side of the dish plate, while the wine glass is placed on the upper right side. Chopsticks and spoons are placed on special seats or paper covers. Public chopsticks and spoons are best placed on special seats. On the Western dining table, tableware mainly includes knives, forks, spoons, plates, glasses, etc. The arrangement of the tableware is more complicated than that of Chinese food. The plate is placed in the center, the fork is on the left and the knife is on the right. The tip of the knife is upward, and the knife edge is inward. In front of the plate Hold the spoon horizontally, place the staple food on the left, tableware on the right, and place the rest as appropriate. The number of wine glasses in Western food is equal to the type of wine. From left to right, there are strong wine glasses, wine glasses, champagne glasses, and beer glasses. 4. Differences in the order of serving: The order of serving Chinese food is: cold dishes, drinks and wine first, then hot dishes, then staple food, and finally sweets and fruits. The order of serving Western food is usually: bread and butter first, then cold dishes, then seafood soup, then main course, then dessert, and finally coffee and fruit. 5. Different ways of stopping the dishes: On a Chinese dining table, after the meal is finished, the chopsticks should be placed neatly on the table to the right of the bowl, and everyone should wait for everyone to put down their chopsticks and then leave after the host signals to disperse. In the West, after finishing the meal, you can put the fork with the bottom side upward, the blade side of the knife inward and close to the fork, and place it parallel to the dinner plate. Try to put the handle in the dinner plate. This will avoid falling and make it easier for the waiter to clean up. . 6. Differences in dietary concepts: The first purpose of diet is the same, which is to meet physiological needs, but what about the second purpose? There is a saying in China that "food is the first priority for people, and taste is the first priority in food." Chinese food seeks the enjoyment of "taste" most, and is particularly particular about the preparation of food. There are various preparation methods to achieve the enjoyment of taste, but the loss of nutrients is Huge. The second purpose of Western food is health and nutrition, and its preparation method is relatively simple. 8. Conclusion Table manners can make the banquet process orderly and harmonious, avoid some embarrassing situations, make people advance and retreat appropriately, and can also make the guests and hosts have a happy conversation, achieving the purpose of coordinating interpersonal relationships. The reference and application of table manners can, on the one hand, adapt to one's own status and status, and on the other hand, make necessary preparations for one's own development. In recent years, influenced by overseas markets, table manners have also been regarded by many as one of the important factors in the investment environment. Good etiquette is the prerequisite for good interpersonal relationships. It is a good opportunity to display your accomplishments and talents, and helps coordinate interpersonal relationships and achieve career success. The table manners mentioned above are all relatively formal and need to be paid attention to at formal banquets. However, in ordinary family banquets or gatherings of relatives and friends, because the atmosphere is relatively relaxed and comfortable, being too polite will appear unfamiliar and rigid, which will embarrass relatives and friends.

But this does not mean that we can abandon table manners on such occasions. Some necessary etiquette will make you appear more decent and generous, and also make relatives and friends feel respected and valued. Therefore, in daily life, we must be polite and generous, but not rigidly adhere to this and grasp the scale. References: 1. "Table Manners and Eloquence" by Duan Jie and Chen Qian, China Economic Press, 2008.1.1 2. "Successful Manners (2) Table Manners and Dietary Advice" by Zhang Mary, Guangzhou Publishing House, 2005.9.1 3. "Modern Chinese Food" "Etiquette" by Lin Ying and Mao Yongnian 4. "Talk about Food Etiquette" by Tan Sujun and Zhou Shucun, Shanghai Science Popularization Press 2008.5.1 Shanghai Science Popularization Press 2004.1.1 5. "New Practical Etiquette Tutorial" edited by Zhou Xiao Murong, Tsinghua University Press 2008.7 6 "Introduction to Chinese Food Culture" by Li Weibing, Hua Qianlin, China Business Press, 2006.6

Civilized Time on the Table: Source: Qingyuan Daily News Time: July 16, 2011 Source: Qingyuan Daily ■Life Etiquette Week Min Chinese food is one of our most proud traditional cultures. Speaking of the rich variety of food, the complexity of cooking, and the exquisite styles, if the Chinese call themselves second, it is estimated that no other country in the world has the courage to claim to be first. But do Chinese people know how to eat? It will definitely offend people to say this, but as more and more countries and regions become tourist destinations, Chinese people’s taste in eating seems to be as famous as Chinese food. In Thailand, Australia and other places, Chinese tour group tourists are usually arranged to eat at lower-end local restaurants. First, travel agencies save costs, and foreigners do not pay attention to table manners. Another important factor is that. Some people attribute the problem to the difference between Chinese and Western food. However, if you look at the domestic and foreign media's criticism of some Chinese people for "dressing casually, making loud noises, grabbing food and wasting food, and leaving the table in a mess", you can see that uncivilized dining has something to do with eating Chinese food or Western food. It doesn't matter. Some people also say that the tradition of our dining table culture is "lively". Some books on civilized etiquette write: "Our country's dietary etiquette is relatively developed" and "China is a country of etiquette, and dietary etiquette has a long history." There are many explanations like this. But while we carry forward the delicious food from generation to generation, we have almost forgotten some of the fine traditions of our ancestors. "Business" is not the cultural tradition of Chinese food. During the Warring States Period, there was a saying that "eat without speaking, sleep without speaking". The earlier "Book of Rites" records Confucius' words, "The beginning of husband's etiquette begins with food" (food etiquette is the basis of all etiquette systems). To put it bluntly, "being civilized and polite starts with eating." Among them, there are many warnings such as "Don't grind the rice" (don't rush to eat), don't chew the food (don't make a sound when chewing), don't sharpen your teeth (don't pick your teeth while eating), etc. It seems that they are still worth learning after thousands of years. Table manners are rich and very trivial. The unsightly eating habits listed by the respondents are all common in our lives. Generally speaking, table manners include taking food in a measured manner, paying attention when ordering and buffeting, and the amount of food should be enough to finish eating; not making any noise when eating and drinking soup; using various Eastern and Western tableware appropriately , don’t commit taboos; you should also be careful not to make noises while eating and answer phone calls frequently. In general banquet occasions, it is best to put your mobile phone on silent mode, otherwise it would be very rude to answer the phone as if you were guarding against a thief. Table manners do require special attention. Food is the most important thing for people. Everyone spends a lot of time at the dining table every day, and many social activities also take place at the dining table. Therefore, it is said that when you sit, you should have the appearance of sitting, when you stand, you should have the appearance of standing, and when you eat, you should have the appearance of eating. It can be seen from the survey that most people pay more attention to table manners, but not everyone can do it in every detail. These seem to be trivial problems, but they can reflect a person's education and quality and affect a person's image.

(The author is the president of the Qingyuan Etiquette Culture Exchange Association, a visiting professor at the Beijing Etiquette Institute, and the general manager of Qingyuan Elegant Culture Communication Co., Ltd.)

Chinese Culture at the Dinner Table

Southern Weekend 2006-03 -09 16:19:00

The Eastern Han Dynasty tomb mural "Banquet and Hundreds of Plays" was unearthed from the north wall of Tomb No. 2 of Dahuting in Mi County, Henan Province. The figures in the picture are sitting on the ground on both sides of the venue, feasting When watching a play, every guest has the same round vessel in front of them. Although it is difficult to know the food inside, it must be the same. This is a grand scene where the ancients shared meals.

Sichuan Han Dynasty portrait brick "Feasting Picture" unearthed in Chengdu. The characters in the picture are sitting on a banquet with a table in front of them and food placed on it.

Henan Eastern Wei Dynasty stone carving "Hu Bed". The characters in the picture are sitting on The bed is a bed, and the tableware is placed in front of the table. The bed replaces sitting on the floor, but the table is still as low as before. This uncoordinated dining posture is the main reason for the emergence and development of high tables with large tables. Motivation.

Many people believe that the Chinese should change the way of eating around the table to the Western way of eating on separate plates. In fact, China has been sharing meals since ancient times, and it only evolved after the Northern Song Dynasty. Today's shared dining system

Chinese culture at the dining table

□Zen Feng'er

Recently, Mr. Zhang Wuchang has published several articles in succession, proposing ideas on Chinese culture Criticism. He believes that "No matter science, literature and art, the Chinese can't compare with Europe"; "No matter science, literature, music, sculpture, architecture, painting, etc., the descendants of the Yan and Huang people can't compare with others, and they lose in disgrace." .I am really surprised that these words came from Mr. Wuchang!

It is an indisputable fact that Chinese culture has led the world for thousands of years. It is also an indisputable fact that it has lagged behind Western countries in modern times. .But the relationship between the rise and fall and the reasons behind it are all extremely complicated topics. I think that to talk about such a big topic, one should at least have a comprehensive understanding of Chinese and Western cultures, but it cannot be seen from Zhang's article. What does it know? Talking about things that one does not really understand may be a characteristic of modern popular culture. Therefore, it is not just Mr. Zhang Wuchang who is like this. We are all used to the thunder and thunder everywhere.

Let us find a simple example.

Many people believe that the sharing system of Western food is more civilized and hygienic than the Chinese sharing meal system. The Chinese should change the eating method of eating around the table to the Western sharing system. Not only people like me and Mr. Wuchang who don’t have much opportunity to study can’t figure out how to eat on a plate, but even China’s great politicians and great scholars from Peking University have made such remarks. But we really know How did we eat in history?

If you take a closer look at history, you will find that China has been sharing meals since ancient times. It was only after the Northern Song Dynasty that it evolved into the current shared meal system. The history of shared meals is longer than shared meals. Much more.

From ancient murals, we can see that during dinner parties, people sat behind their respective tables, with a considerable distance between them. Each had the same set of meals, and each ate his own meal. This is a typical meal-sharing system. The famous Hongmen Banquet is done in this way.

The change from meal-sharing to shared meals began in the Tang Dynasty and was completed in the Northern Song Dynasty. This change is a sign of social development and progress. Results.

The evolution of distribution methods

This is the most basic condition for the transition from separate meals to shared meals. When food is relatively scarce, "per capita distribution" is a more appropriate distribution Principle. To obtain an average, it is necessary to divide the food into several equal portions before eating, which forms the original meal sharing system. After all, people have different tastes, tastes, habits, and different needs. After the food is relatively abundant, , people have the conditions to choose according to their different preferences, that is, "each takes what he needs". This is the most suitable distribution method for sharing meals.

The evolution of residential architecture

In the beginning, the kitchen and dining room were integrated. People were accustomed to setting up a fire pit in the house and placing the cooking utensils on the fire. When the food was cooked, it would be distributed by fixed people and everyone would eat around the fire. This is the cooking center. , it is also a dining place. By the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the division of labor between the kitchen and the dining room had become widespread. This division of labor promoted the refinement of meal production and reduced the number of diners.

Many eating processes that had to be completed before. For example, cumbersome and laborious work such as cutting and deboning large pieces of cooked meat can now be completed in the kitchen, and the restaurant displays finely processed meals. We can imagine, Before this division of labor, if a shared meal was used, four or five people in an ordinary family (in fact, families in ancient times were not divided into families, usually more than four or five people) would dance and cut the same plate in the same utensil. Food seems to be asking for trouble, but with this division of labor, people only need to get the food they want from the same food container.

The evolution of food diversification

Our catering is constantly advancing, and the types of dishes are becoming more and more abundant. The meal-sharing system obviously cannot adapt to the development of food diversification. If 8 people eat 12 dishes, each person's meal will require nearly a hundred kinds of tableware, so Not only is it a waste of manpower and tableware, but it also takes up a lot of space. It is almost impossible to place 12 tableware on everyone's tzutana (a low tool used to hold food in ancient times). .

The evolution of dining furniture

A long time ago we did not have tables and chairs. Before that, the ancients were used to "sitting on the ground and eating by leaning on the table", which was to use reeds. The woven mats are spread on the ground as a seat, and a table or table is placed in front of them to hold utensils and other things as a food table. When eating, they kneel and sit on the mat to eat, which is called "sitting". After the nomads entered the Central Plains, The cultural integration and influence of the Central Plains region brought new furniture. As early as the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the nomadic Hu bed (a relatively low chair) had been introduced to the Central Plains. The application of this kind of chair made the original The kneeling posture changed to a sitting posture. In this way, the short desks could no longer adapt to the changes in sitting postures and were gradually eliminated. Moreover, the houses at this time were taller than before, which just needed the cooperation of tall furniture. So the large High-top tables began to appear and develop rapidly. So, if we continue to follow the original meal-sharing system, each person must have a set of tall tables and chairs. Four or five people may be okay (it is actually very crowded), but the more people there are, the higher the table will be. It causes waste, is too heavy, and takes up a lot of space. Why not combine it into one and eat on the same plate

The evolution of work and rest time

Our ancestors have always followed the "sunrise" The natural law of "working with the sun while resting". From about the Shang Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the system of two meals a day was basically implemented, that is, "Eating time (seven to nine o'clock), Shishi Shen (fifteenth day)" From 19:00 to 17:00)". Around the end of the Warring States Period, three meals a day gradually became popular, and "banquet support" (19:00 to 21:00) was added. To eat during this time, lighting must be provided. The lighting tools at that time were by no means as bright as our current electric lamps, and their lighting range was also very narrow. A shared banquet required a lot of light sources, but it was still dim and blurry. Using shared meals can solve the lighting problem uniformly and conveniently. .

The evolution of eating utensils

Our ancestors, like Westerners today, used knives and forks instead of chopsticks. Knives and forks must be used with both hands at the same time, so the distance between people is A considerable distance must be maintained. At the same time, knives and forks are only suitable for short-distance transmission, which is probably limited to the distance from the plate on the chest to the mouth. If this distance meets the requirements of the meal-sharing system, it must be extended at least to the center of the table from the mouth. , that is to say, at least longer than the radius of the table. Obviously, the knife and fork cannot bear the transmission function of this distance. After the emergence of chopsticks, it is much more convenient to share the meal. From this perspective, we can probably understand that Westerners have so far They still use knives and forks to eat, and they maintain the shared meal system. There is mutual cause and effect.

Meal sharing is a historical progress, not only reflected in its evolution process itself, but also reflected in the huge impact on social behavior and culture In terms of impact, sharing meals brings people closer to each other, develops the virtue of caring for others and being humble in our nation, and also makes Chinese people become gentle and kind, thereby increasing the cohesion of the family and the whole Social harmony; cultivates Chinese people's communication skills, creates communication venues, and increases cooperation opportunities; meets people's needs for food diversity, as well as rich spiritual and emotional needs; and also cultivates Chinese people to be good at negotiation and good at discussion. Accommodating character.

Using this example, what I want to illustrate is that compared to literature, art, music, sculpture, architecture, and painting,

, science and technology and other advanced human activities, eating is the simplest activity. However, if you can’t even figure out such a simple issue of eating, how can you evaluate our vast and complex culture and how can you dare to make such a conclusion rashly

So far, we have not carried out a comprehensive inventory and systematic integration of Chinese history, culture and civilization. Therefore, it is inevitable and excusable that Mr. Wuchang cannot fully understand the reality of history and culture. And for It's Mr. Wuchang's own problem to make rash comments about things he doesn't really understand.