**The cultural meaning of "knocking on the table three times" when thanking the host when pouring tea in tea culture.
China's tea culture has a long history, which is said to have begun more than 4,700 years ago in the Shennong era.
Until modern times,"Tea as a gift"The custom is still an important part of Han culture. Over the years, many subcultures have been formed in tea culture, such as tea ceremony, tea art, tea ceremony, etc.
One of the most important elements of tea culture is:"Tea ceremony"。Many people may ignore some basic etiquette for drinking tea, but these etiquettes are an important manifestation of a person's etiquette, culture, and upbringing.
For example,"The tea is full of deception, the guest first and then the host, and the head is anxious and pitiful"、"Tea is half full"etc. are extremely important and should be observed in daily tea drinking.
There is also an interesting phenomenon that when pouring tea for guests, we often encounter some polite guests who knock on the table with their hands while the host pours tea. Or we, as guests, knock on the table when we take the tea from the host.
That's what tea culture is"Knock"。
The south is the main tea-growing region, so the tea drinking customs in the south are more extensive and refined than in the north. In Guangzhou, Fujian, Jiangsu and other places, in the tea culture"Knock"Etiquette is so popular that it is almost a household name.
There is information that"Clasp hands"It is said to have appeared in the Qianlong period. We know that during Qianlong's reign, he often made special trips to inspect the southern region.
At that time, Qianlong was on a private visit to Weifu, and the entourage entered the teahouse. Since he was dressed as a servant, he had to pour tea for the minister. However, the minister knew that Qianlong was the Ninth Five-Year Emperor, so how could he accept such treatment?
If he kneels down to thank him, he will definitely expose Qianlong's identity and affect his private visit to Weifu. Therefore, the minister thought of use"Gestures"to replace kneeling. He used gestures to express his gratitude to Qianlong for kneeling three times and knocking nine times quietly.
Since then,"Shave your face"It is widely spread in Guangdong.
Still"Bow and shave your face"There is a lot of attention to the use of greetings, and they cannot be used casually.
Respect the old and love the young. 
If the visiting guest is older or of higher status than the host. In this case, the young man offers tea to the elder, while the older taps the table with his index or middle finger. This is equivalent to nodding and is a courtesy of an elder to a junior or a superior to a subordinate.
Usually, the elders only pat the table once;If the elder slaps the table three times in a row, it means that the elders appreciate the juniors.
Tea is poured among peers.
It is a relatively common etiquette to pour tea and water between peers or between superiors and subordinates. If the relationship reaches the level of old iron, too much etiquette will seem pompous.
If you don't know each other well, or if it's a general return gift, you should tap your index and middle fingers on the table three times at the same time. It means making a fist and bowing, and knocking three times means bowing three times.
Pour tea from old to young.
When the junior goes to visit the elder or the leader on official business, and the elder pours you tea, you should do it"Wave your hands"。
The specific method is to make a fist, with the middle of the fist facing down, and the five fingers at the same time on the table three times. Then, raise the tea bowl with both hands as a sign of respect.
Five fingers together, the middle of the fist downward, indicated"Take a bow"with"Respect"。Nowadays, many young people rarely know this rule, but this is where a person's cultivation lies.
Finally, it should also be mentioned to drink tea, in order to avoid'Take a sip'or'The bottom of the cup is crystal clear'This is the biggest difference between drinking tea and drinking, usually a small cup of tea is divided into three cups to drink, which is the process of taste and the embodiment of self-cultivation.
At the same time, smoking is strictly prohibited when drinking tea. If you really can't help it, after sipping five bubbles, after consulting the master, you must ask for permission before swallowing the clouds and spitting out the fog. Otherwise, it would be rude.