Compared with the rituals of the previous dynasties, the etiquette of the Song Dynasty not only maintained continuity in some aspects, but also showed its uniqueness, paying more attention to humanity and benevolence. This trait gives it more civilized qualities.
When talking about the Song Dynasty's monarchs, ministers, military and civilians, husbands and wives, friends, and friend and foe relations, we will find that the etiquette of the Song Dynasty was more enlightened, showing the unique characteristics of the Great Song Dynasty.
When talking about the etiquette of the Song Dynasty, we can start with the relationship between the emperor and the monarchs and ministers of the Great Song Dynasty, which can show the enlightened style of the time.
There is a story about Kou Zhun that is worth mentioning. Kou Zhun served two dynasties, namelySong Zhenzong and Song Taizong。During the period of Taizong of the Song Dynasty, once he and Taizong discussed the major affairs of the world together, and they sat on the ground for this discussion, which was actually to use the saddle to kneel on the ground as a way of communication.
At that time, Kou Zhun put forward some opinions, but Song Taizong did not adopt them. Because Kou Zhun was eloquent and had some temper, he had a dispute with Song Taizong. Hearing Kou Zhun's words, Song Taizong became angry and stood up to leave.
However, Kou Zhun grabbed Song Taizong's sleeve. There are four words recorded in the history books, which have not appeared in the three dynasties of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties:"Let the emperor sit again"., which means to order the emperor to sit down again and continue the discussion.
Just imagine, this kind of scene of grabbing the emperor's sleeve and asking him to sit down and continue to discuss, in which dynasty will such a thing occur in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties?This is exactly the enlightened performance of the Song Dynasty. It is a monarch who is able to accommodate his ministers and is willing to discuss the facts with them, rather than ending them just because of courtesy. This is the embodiment of enlightenment, and the relationship between monarchs and ministers in the Great Song Dynasty was relatively harmonious.
When it comes to the relationship between the monarch and the people, it is generally believed that the ancient emperors would have strict guards to open the way and avoid the scene when they traveled, but the emperor's travels in the Great Song Dynasty were not so serious. Although there are also guards and open roads, soldiers, and ** left and right sandwiches, there are obvious differences from other dynasties. Although the authority of the ancient emperors was heavy, in the Song Dynasty, people had a kind of emperorCloseness
When recording the deeds of Fan Zhongyan, there is a story that is known. When Fan Zhongyan was young, he studied diligently at Yingtian Academy in Shangqiu, hardly asking about the world outside the window, and concentrating on studying the books of sages.
Once, Song Zhenzong's motorcade passed through Shangqiu, which attracted onlookers from all the teachers and students of Yingtian Academy. However, Fan Zhongyan still sat there and concentrated on his studies. Someone asked, "Why don't you take a look at the emperor?"Fan Zhongyan replied: "I will see him sooner or later, but I will see him in the main hall and in the court, this is my ambition." ”
What does this story show?The people around the emperor could watch when he traveled, and it can be seen from this case that the emperor of the Song Dynasty was very enlightened. That was the political atmosphere of that era. Traveling with the emperor in today's TV series,The people were prostrate on both sides of the road, the scene of respect and humility is different, which was not the case in the Song Dynasty. From this point, we can see the enlightened atmosphere of the Great Song Dynasty.
The etiquette and openness of the Song Dynasty were particularly prominent in the relationship between husband and wife. In particularWomen's social advancement, property rights and divorce rights, which were extremely rare in later dynasties, especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties.
The divorce system in the Song Dynasty was exceptionally liberal, as an example of a woman surnamed Ding, who had already been married three times, and when she was about to go through a fourth divorce, her family began to oppose it.
The family said that she took away her ancestral property after each divorce, which was not allowed. As long as she doesn't get divorced, the ancestral property won't be taken away. Later, when I came to the county magistrate, how was the judgment made?"To be separated or not to be separated, according to what Ding did. ”In other words, whether to divorce or not depends on Ding's wishes. At that time, it was up to who initiated the proposal for divorce. If the woman files for divorce, then it is up to the woman to decide.
Are you sure you want a divorce?If you are sure, okay, then leave. After the divorce, negotiate in accordance with the regulations on the inheritance of property in the divorce, how much to inherit?Full inheritance?Or is it partially inherited?No one else has the right to interfere.
This is called etiquette. Etiquette means that everyone negotiates on an equal footing, and the law is the final judgment. Something likeLi Qingzhao remarriedThere were many similar cases at the time.
Here's another exampleWang Anshi's son, Wang FangBecause of mental problems, the relationship with his wife was not harmonious, so Wang Anshi took the initiative to tell his daughter-in-law that she could choose to divorce. This shows how enlightened the Great Song society was when it came to marriage and women.
In the friendship of the Song Dynasty, that kind of equal treatment and open-minded attitude can be seen. There is an interesting story about the early days of the Great Song DynastyNie Chongyiand a famous painterGuo ZhongshuAnecdotes in between. This incident shows the scene of them teasing each other.
Guo Zhongshu wanted to make a joke, so he used Nie Chongyi's surname to make fun of him. He said, "Look at your ears, and when you meet a nobleman, you will say it." Deaf means deaf, unable to hear anything, confused. If you approach the word 'dragon', you will be deaf and deaf, and even though you have three ears, I can't see how smart you are. ”
In ancient times, if a person's surname was used to make a joke, it was usually seen as a provocation to the person. Among the scholars, however, they didn't particularly care about the jokes. Often, they will fight back in the same way, because this mutual response is a manifestation of reciprocity.
However, Nie Chongyi behaved very generously, and he just replied lightly: "Although I have three ears, they are stronger than your Guo Zhongshu's 'two hearts'." ”
What does "two-hearted" mean?It means that you have resentment in your heart, and there is dissatisfaction in the heart of your parents or the emperor, which is the second heart. He responded to Guo Zhongshu in this way and completely prevailed.
If you sort out the mutual response, response, and correspondence between friends in the Song Dynasty, I am afraid that it can be written into a small book, and there will probably be dozens of such stories. In the etiquette of the Song Dynasty, the emphasis was not on complete equality, but on reciprocity.
As a part of traditional Chinese culture, the continuous development of etiquette heralds the expansion of Chinese civilization and the extension of the national territory.
The Great Song civilization continued to infiltrate and influence the enemy and neighboring countries at that time. There is a kind called"Convergence Principle".Usually when we refer to radiation, we mean radiating outward, and radiation isThe meaning of the gathering of outsiders。There is a very famous saying in ancient China called"Cultivating virtue has been far away"., meaning that if you are morally high, people from afar will come naturally. It is by virtue of its enlightenment and the etiquette in traditional culture that the Great Song Dynasty is based on this idea.
The etiquette of the Song Dynasty covered the relationship between monarchs and ministers, husbands and wives, and friends, emphasizing reciprocity and adherence to the ontology of Central Plains culture. The core of this civilization also maintains friendly and interactive relations with the surrounding foreign countries. This kind of cultural interaction has led to more and more foreign races beginning to yearn for etiquette, which is why I think the etiquette of the Great Song Dynasty is closer to etiquette civilization.