Qing Dynasty etiquette is to maintain the feudal hierarchy and patriarchal system of the service is the biggest feature of Chinese feudal etiquette, so the etiquette everywhere reflects the difference between respect and inferiority. And what is enough to show this dignity is probably the ritual of kneeling. In feudal society, when the courtiers saw the emperor, they had to kneel three times and bow nine times; When the people see the officials, they must bow down first; Lower-level officials should kneel and bow when they see superiors with large differences in rank; When the children and grandchildren meet the elders, they should kneel and kowtow to say goodbye; Of course, it is also necessary to kowtow to the ancestors.

The so-called three kneels and nine knocks are to kneel on both knees three times and kowtow nine times. This is the most respectful way to salute. According to the records of the "Zhou Li", there are nine kinds of kneeling rites in ancient times: one is called Ji Shou, two is called Dun Shou, three is empty head, four is vibration, five is auspicious worship, six is fierce worship, seven is Qi worship, eight is praise worship, and nine is solemn worship. China is known as the "State of Etiquette". However, in the Qing Dynasty, traditional etiquette made detailed regulations on all aspects of social life, from the country's military and political affairs, to clothing, food, housing, transportation, and gestures.

Prostration and ritual

history

In 1793, on a sultry afternoon, the 83-year-old Qianlong Emperor took a break in a summer resort. At this time, the officials sent gifts from the British king, mostly from the West, and he was quite happy to see them. Earlier, Qianlong received a letter from the British mission from coastal merchants, which said that on the emperor's 83rd birthday, he had not yet come to congratulate him, and that he had sent a special envoy to pay tribute because of the "extremely deferential and sincere words in the letter", and he had allowed the envoy Magalny and others to come to Beijing to meet him, and ordered the coastal officials to receive him properly.

Before the envoy arrived, the gifts had arrived in advance, which made Qianlong quite satisfied. Because of the emperor's will, Magalny and his entourage were politely received by officials at all levels, praised the Chinese for their "courtesy," and said to the Chinese officials: "Our envoy is ignorant of the customs of your country, and in the future, I ask all the major people to act cheaply on the owners of your country's customs, and our envoy will never have the slightest objection." ”

However, it was precisely the "etiquette" that both sides carefully observed that almost brought an end to the British mission's action to meet the "Great Emperor of China" -- the contradiction occurred on the eve of the meeting with Qianlong, and when the two sides discussed the etiquette of the meeting, the Chinese officials asked Magalny and others to bow three times and bow nine times to Qianlong, while the British mission insisted on kneeling down on one knee and kissing the hand when meeting their own king. When the dispute was raging, Magalny even threatened not to see the emperor. As the scheduled date for the audience approached, the two sides finally reached an agreement: the British mission officials would bow down on one knee to see the emperor.

Although Qianlong showed tolerance in the end and let Magalny curtsy on one leg, the meaning behind it is that the West is barbarian and does not know the number of etiquette. Since the number of rituals is incomplete, everything else is exempt from talking. other

Of course, in the late Qing Dynasty, there was also a ritual of arching, which was mostly seen among officials at the same level and between ordinary generations. As soon as the two sides meet, they arch their hands, bend down and bow their heads, and sometimes even reach the ground. This is already a relatively simple etiquette, but it is more cumbersome than bowing and shaking hands.

The transition from the ritual of bowing to the ritual of bowing and shaking hands in the late Qing Dynasty went through a long process, and the Western-style bowing and handshake, with the basic equality of personality as the main theme, came to China as a formal etiquette from the Qing Dynasty, but it was not until after the Xinhai Revolution that it became popular as a formal etiquette in China.