Visiting relatives and friends often means entering other people's rooms. Because the life customs of the ancients are very different from today, and the etiquette is different. For example, the concept of "sitting" is very different in ancient and modern times. Although there were chairs, tables, couches and other furniture in ancient people's rooms, before chairs appeared, people usually sat on the floor.
There is a straw mat on the indoor ground, and all indoor activities are carried out on it, especially sitting and lying, which are inseparable from straw mats. "mat" is also a kind of mat, woven with bamboo and laid under it. "When applying for seats, those who arrive at the ground first are called banquets, and those who are more important are called banquets" (Zhou Li Chun Guan S. Ji Yan). The combination of banquet and banquet actually refers to the double seat on the ground floor, and later refers to banquet.
Mat is a seat, of course, you can't step on it, so no ancient people walked on it without shoes. Before entering the room, you must take off your shoes [giant, grass and hemp shoes], shoes, shoes [chicken, wooden shoes] and cymbals [low-DI leather shoes] before entering the room.
In the Spring and Autumn Period, after the Chu army defeated the Jin army in Bibi, it ruled the Central Plains in the northern part of Xingyang, Henan Province. He appointed Shen Zhou as his special envoy and hired him in Qi. From Chu State to Qi State, it passes through Song State. According to the etiquette system, you have to "borrow the Tao" to cross the country (The Book of Rites Bride), but Chu Zhuangwang asked Shen Zhou not to "borrow the Tao" from the State of Song, but to cross the country directly. This disobedience immediately aroused the dissatisfaction and disgust of the Song people. Shen Zhou crossed the Song Dynasty and was stopped by the Song people. He thought it was a provocation and insult to Song State and put Shen Zhou to death.
When the news reached Chu, King Zhuang was angry, rolled up his sleeves and went out without shoes. When the waiter saw this scene, they chased Zhuang Wang in his shoes and didn't catch up with him until the front hall. It can be seen that Chu Zhuangwang must take off his shoes before "sitting". The ancients not only "sat down" without shoes, but also could not walk barefoot.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, once, Wei Hou (the king of Wei) was drinking with doctors. Teacher Chu Phonon only took off his shoes, not his socks, and entered the banquet. When Wei Hou saw it, he flew into a rage. Master Chu Phonon quickly explained that he has a foot disease and it is not convenient to take off his socks, otherwise you will feel sick when you see it. Wei Hou is still angry, and the doctor has explained and persuaded him. Wei Hou still believes that this is absolutely not allowed. Until Chu Shi Phonon came out helplessly, Wei Hou crossed his hands and cursed "I want to break his feet."
In ancient times, this has always been considered as a very polite move to the host. With the appearance of chairs and other furniture, people gradually changed this etiquette. Therefore, there is such a provision in the Book of Rites Quli: "Sit on the elders, not in the court."
After the ancient people went to the table, they also paid great attention to the posture of "sitting", that is, kneeling on the ground, landing on both knees and resting on their heels. If your knees are on the ground, your hips are not on your heels, and your body is straight, you are kneeling. If you stand up on your knees and straighten your waist, it is also called [bogey, long kneeling]. If you change from sitting to kneeling, it means getting up and leaving. However, if you lie on your back, it is an act of contempt and arrogance.
Sitting on a dustpan means that when sitting, your hips are on the ground, your legs are stretched forward, and your body looks like a dustpan. At the end of the Warring States Period, Jing Ke, an assassin, was entrusted by Prince Dan of Yan State to assassinate the King of Qin. The poor dagger saw it, but missed the king of Qin. In the case of serious injuries, Jing Ke knew it was impossible to succeed. He leaned against the post and laughed, "lying on his back and cursing." It is this sitting posture that shows contempt for the king of Qin.
In general, especially in the imperial court and government, people pay great attention to the coordination between sitting posture and surrounding environment, that is, the so-called "sitting posture". If you are in a solemn and serious environment, sit upright (tidy up your clothes and sit upright); If it is an easy-going place, people can sit back a little when sitting; When eating and drinking, try to move your body forward to facilitate eating.