What does the saying 'If you don't put three dishes, chopsticks don't make five, and a table doesn't make six' mean?
For five thousand years, many household proverbs have been born. It not only reflects the life experience accumulated by the ancients, but also reflects all aspects of social life at that time.
As the saying goes, it embodies the daily etiquette culture of the ancients, such as strange people who do not know etiquette, know etiquette not strange people, extravagant weddings, lose both sides and so on.
This article will introduce a common saying about table manners, which is still in use so far, it is the common saying that it is table manners. "If you don't put three dishes, chopsticks don't make five, and a table doesn't make six."
The importance of table manners
China has cultivated an excellent food culture since ancient times, which is widely respected at home and abroad. But there is not only delicious food on the small table, but also all manner of etiquette and norms.
As a country of etiquette and civilization, the Chinese have never dared to ignore any table manners and invite foreign guests from state banquets to any table manners.
For example, the most common table manners in daily life: the seat at the table is reserved for the elders or people of the highest status in the family. Only when all the food is put together can the person sitting at the seat formally eat with chopsticks.
In the process of eating, you can't make noises such as chirping, knocking on tableware and chopsticks, and keep your hands on the table at the same time.
Although these rituals may seem tedious, they are extremely important in the eyes of the Chinese. It not only reflects the thoughtful politeness of the host, but also expresses respect for the guests and shows the friendship of the landlord.
At the same time, the rules of etiquette formed at the dinner table extend unwittingly to other areas of life.
Back to the topic, about "if you don't put three dishes, chopsticks don't make five, and a table doesn't make six." This sentence tells us what kind of table manners should be observed, which will be described one by one below.
If the dishes are not placed in three, they must be placed in double
In ancient times, double numbers were mostly symbols of auspicious numbers, such as 6 and 8, which also meant that good things come in pairs, perfect and so on.
Therefore, this requires us to reunite in the dining table culture, and good things come in pairs. For example, we often hear words such as four dishes and one soup, and eight dishes and one soup.
Therefore, the number of dishes on a table, the Chinese require, whether it is meat dishes or vegetables, the total must be an even number, not a singular number, especially the singular "three".
Because of the homophonic sound of the three harmony, it gives people an unlucky feeling of separation and dissolution, and it is easy to make guests have mustard. While this custom appears to have no scientific basis, the rules are used to this day.
Therefore, we might as well observe life more, pay attention to the banquets of some major occasions, whether the number of tables is even.
There is also a saying that vegetables are only used in sacrificial activities, because the ancients put pigs, cattle and sheep on the altar in sacrificial activities.
In order to prevent conflicts with sacrificial activities, it is necessary to strictly abide by the three dishes on the table, otherwise it will be against the ancestors.
At the same time, the Chinese also pay attention to the beauty of symmetry, such as the central axis design of Beijing and the design of ancient clothing patterns.
The same is true for the placement of the dining table. The reason why the number of dishes is required to be an even number is to facilitate the owner to form a symmetrical beauty in the placement of the dishes.
When you eat, you should pay attention to the color, flavor, and taste, and the neat and beautiful placement of dishes can make people pleasing to the eye and increase appetite.
Chopsticks are not the length of five fingers
Next comes the second point: not five chopsticks. We may find it strange that chopsticks must be used in pairs, and five chopsticks cannot appear. Why should I stress again that five pairs of chopsticks cannot appear on the table?
In fact, these five do not refer to the number of chopsticks, but the corresponding idiom "three long and two short", implying that the number of chopsticks should be uniform and not different in length.
As a unique tableware in China, chopsticks have been valued by the Chinese people since ancient times. It is also an indispensable part of the Chinese table.
So the number of chopsticks is also a science.
If the chopsticks are not the same, not only is it not beautiful, but it is also very inconvenient to use. When entertaining guests, if there are a pair of chopsticks with different lengths on the table, it will leave a bad impression on the guests.
There are also wars caused by a pair of chopsticks in history.
It is said that during the Yuan Dynasty, a Han man named Fan Mengrui worked in the yamen. Because of the low status of the Han people in the Yuan Dynasty, when they were born in the Mongolian yamen, they often pocketed his salary and invited him to dinner.
During the meal, the yamen gave Fan Mengrui a pair of chopsticks of different lengths. Fan Mengrui felt that the yamen did not respect him, and the grievances over time finally broke out.
In a fit of rage, he killed the yamen who bullied him, occupied the entire yamen, and named himself "Henan Commander" to lead the oppressed people to revolt.
A pair of small chopsticks can cause such a big incident, so people dare not ignore table manners.
The etiquette of chopsticks not only needs to be neat in length, but also needs not to knock bowls and plates with chopsticks when eating. Knocking on the bowl is like a beggar begging for food, which is unsightly.
When using chopsticks to pick up dishes, you must not collide with other people's chopsticks, and you must be courteous to others.
The design of the chopsticks is also very particular. The head of Chinese chopsticks is square and the bottom is round, symbolizing the round place.
The head at the bottom should be very smooth, symbolizing peace. Unexpectedly, two small wooden sticks have such a big problem, and have to praise the wisdom and orderly table culture of the ancients.
No more than six people at the table
The last point is that the number of diners on a "six is not enough" table cannot be six.
This can't help but make people wonder. The above-mentioned number on the table is not to pay attention to pairs. Why is the number six here again taboo.
This has to mention the shape of the ancient dining table. Most of the ancient dining tables were square Eight Immortals tables. If you sit six people, it's mostly two people on each side and one person in front and back.
This looks a bit like the shape of a tortoise, which was an unlucky intention in ancient times, so six people were generally not arranged to sit at the table.
But now most tables are round tables, no matter how many people can be evenly distributed, there is no such taboo.
Of course we don't have to stick to the rule of two people sitting on one side when we come across a square table, so no seating for 6 is less strict now, after all, big guys should eat neatly at the table is a reunion.
From the detailed interpretation of this proverb, it is not difficult to find that the Chinese dining table culture is broad and profound, which is worthy of future generations to learn and inherit.
Confucius has a saying: If you have friends from afar, don't tell me if you don't.
Table banquets are the most common hospitality gifts. Chinese always try their best to entertain friends. A delicious meal can delight guests. Plus, orderly etiquette makes guests feel right at home.