What is the meaning of the saying 'If you don't put three dishes, chopsticks don't make five, and you don't sit at six'? table manners

China is an ancient civilization with a long history and has attached great importance to etiquette since ancient times. Because etiquette is not only a person's self-cultivation, but also a kind of respect for others.

Speaking of etiquette, it reminds the author that in my hometown, if someone has a banquet at home, he usually arranges seats based on the status of the guests. Some are young, but they have a big generation. Even a kid can be the chairman, and if he's not there, he won't start.

I believe that many of my friends who grew up in the countryside or have eaten rural banquets have similar experiences. However, what the author wants to tell you today is another table manners: do you know what it means? Does it make sense? let us see!

Let's take a look at "Dishes Don't Put Three" first.

It is estimated that many people have heard of this old rule. Its literal meaning is also quite simple. This means that when placing dishes, do not place three dishes in a line. In other words, when eating, try not to eat just three dishes.

Some people may be confused. There are three or four people in their family, and they usually eat two meals and one soup, which is exactly three people. Why can't I put three dishes?

In fact, there is also a prerequisite here, which is that when guests come to the house, do not serve three courses, let alone put three courses in a line. Since guests are coming from home, they must take guests very seriously if they still leave each other at home for dinner. But if you only serve three dishes, it will make the guests feel like they don't value them.

Meanwhile, in ancient times, only prisoners could eat three dishes before execution, and because of the cells and because of the poor conditions of the cells, the three dishes were arranged in a row. Therefore, if you serve a guest with three courses, it will make people feel that it is a food "cooked meal".

In some places, when offering sacrifices, they usually prepare three dishes and often arrange the three dishes in a row, so it would be unlucky to serve guests with three dishes. Some places are right "San" and "San" which are a homophone and the meaning behind it is that this food has the potential to drive away guests.

Let's take a look at "Chopsticks Don't Make Five".

It's a little hard to understand. Can't put five pairs of chopsticks on one table? But in fact, it's not. Its deep meaning is that guests come to the home. In this way, be careful when placing chopsticks. Try to make the chopsticks the same length. Do not entertain guests with long and short chopsticks.

Because there is a word among the people - three long and two short. If the chopsticks on the table are of different lengths, it is easy to think that the word "three long and two short" mainly refers to unexpected disasters or accidents, and is also a euphemism for human death. Three long and two short add up to five, so there is a saying that "chopsticks are not five".

In fact, this also reflects the host's attention to the guests from some details. Because if you are an important guest, you are sure to pay great attention to detail and not use two chopsticks for the guest.

In addition, people also attach great importance to chopsticks. The chopsticks are round and square, symbolizing the round sky and place. In addition, the length of standard chopsticks is 7.6 inches, which means that people have seven emotions and six desires, which shows that they are fundamentally different from animals.

Also, when using chopsticks, do not hit the plate with the chopsticks. In the past, children were scolded or even punished by elders when they tapped the plate with chopsticks. At the same time, it is also taboo to insert chopsticks vertically into the rice. We must pay attention to this.

Finally, take a look at "Seats Don't Sit Six".

This means trying not to sit at a table of six, either four or eight, and avoid six people sitting at the same table for dinner.

In the past, the author's hometown also had such pressures. If someone had a banquet at home and there were only six people, he would arrange for two more people to come, or two people at another table. The reason is that we used to eat at a square table.

If two people sit at a table, usually two people sit on the left and right, and one person sits above and below. This layout looks like a turtle. Although the tortoise is a folk auspicious beast, no one wants to be a tortoise. Also, things related to turtles are usually curses.

However, this was also in the past, usually when entertaining guests. Many homes now have long and round tables, so this old rule doesn't apply.

While times are developing, many rules have been gradually phased out. But for some seniors, they still take these old rules very seriously. Especially when it comes to socializing, table manners are very important.

You may not care because of a small gesture, but if the other party takes it seriously, it will leave a bad impression on you. So even old rules, some old rules should be heard and understood.