What are the systems of divided food system and shared food system in history?

The shared meal system (shared meal system) began in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and our current combined meal system (shared meal system) was gradually formed from the Sui and Tang Dynasties. The mainstream view is that this formation process roughly began in the Sui and Tang Dynasties and was initially completed in the Song Dynasty.

Separated meal system, as the name suggests, is a dining method where everyone eats separately, and each person’s tableware is separated from the public food; while shared meal system means that everyone eats around the table and uses their own tableware* **The same way of eating with public food.

Why did the change in dining patterns occur? The political knowledge formed in the academic circles was due to the emergence of high tables and large chairs, which in turn promoted the formation of the dining method. In fact, the change in furniture only provides an opportunity to change from a separate meal system to a shared meal system.

The changes in dining styles are not only related to changes in furniture, but also to ancient ritual and music systems, people's values, and historical development background. Let’s introduce how to change the meal-sharing system to the shared meal system.

1. The formation of the meal-sharing system is related to the pre-Qin etiquette system

The Shang and Zhou dynasties had a complete set of etiquette systems, and eating etiquette was the basis of all etiquette. "Book of Rites" says: "At the beginning of husband's etiquette, food and drink began." The food etiquette system had formed a fairly complete system in the Western Zhou Dynasty.

The feudal system and the patriarchal system were also formed during this period. The levels of these two systems were very clear, and eating etiquette had detailed regulations, including how to eat, what to eat, and even the way to eat and the tableware. There are strict rules on how much.

In order to adapt to these strict eating etiquette systems, the meal-sharing system came into being. This way of dining can show the status of the diners through the difference in food and tableware, and all classes are not allowed to overstep it.

At that time, people wore loose clothes and sat cross-legged on the banquet. Each person had a dining table in front of him, with various foods placed on the table. Banquets (seating utensils) were spread under the table. The number of seats was also important for status. The symbol is that the emperor usually has five seats.

In the meal ceremony, after the banquet, the guests should kneel and stand in front of the dining table, arrange the tableware and food, and hand them to the servants. The meal-sharing system was still bound by Confucian etiquette during the Qin and Han dynasties, although it experienced the impact of the collapse of etiquette and music.

Traditional etiquette and morality encourage people to still respect the way of sharing meals per person. With the strengthening of imperial power, the restrictions on eating etiquette are still very strict. In addition, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty only respected Confucianism, which made Confucian etiquette more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.

During the Qin and Han Dynasties, eating tables and plates were very popular. Those with legs were called "cases" and those without legs were called "plates". The dining method is still to sit cross-legged at the table, one person per person. In archeology, many Han tombs have murals of meal sharing.

2. The influence of ethnic integration on food etiquette during the Southern and Northern Dynasties

During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Confucian etiquette system was impacted by metaphysics. As the barbarians continued to enter the Central Plains, the living habits of the Han people changed. Changes are also taking place. In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, people wore robes and belts to adapt to sitting on the floor.

The wide train of the clothes is convenient for squatting, and this kind of clothing can only be adapted to eating in separate meals. The furniture at that time mainly consisted of low seats, couches and tables. The height of these furniture also determined that only separate meals could be implemented.

After the Tang Dynasty, people's seating furniture and clothing have undergone great changes. The sleeve trains were tight and narrow for convenience, the height of the couch and desk also increased, gradually evolving into today's high tables and stools, and the sitting posture also changed from sitting cross-legged to sitting with the feet down.

Tight and narrow clothing makes it easier to eat a portion of food, high tables and large stools facilitate multiple people eating around the table, and the downturned sitting posture makes people more comfortable, all of which create conditions for sharing meals. The emergence of these conditions is inseparable from social development.

During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, surrounding barbarians entered the Central Plains one after another to establish political power. The styles of Hu clothes, Hu food, and Hu beds were novel and practical, and were quickly accepted by the people of the Central Plains. The living habits of the Hu people have a huge impact on the Central Plains people.

The tops and bottoms began to transform into tops and bottoms, and crotchless pants gradually turned into crotchless pants. During the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty, Hu beds began to be introduced into the palace, and the sitting posture of sitting with the feet down was also introduced. High beds and tables were gradually accepted.

With the strengthening of national integration, people's traditional concepts have also quietly changed. The achievements of national integration during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties gradually matured in the Tang Dynasty. The gradual transformation from the separate meal system to the shared meal system also occurred during the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

3. The shared meal system was formed in the Sui and Tang Dynasties and finalized in the Song Dynasty

During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, people’s clothing, food, housing and transportation underwent revolutionary changes. Many of the living habits of modern people are based on this. formed at the time. Shared meals have gradually evolved into shared meals, but this period is only a transitional period.

The characteristics of dining in this period are that there are separate meals in the shared meal, the feet are lowered and the legs are crossed in parallel, and the height of commonly used furniture is also higher than before. High tables, high stools and Hu beds have also become popular among the people, and people have become accustomed to sitting with their feet down.

These conditions prompted people to gradually become accustomed to eating around the table. The Tang people's enthusiasm for banquets also contributed to the formation of the communal dining system. In the Tang Dynasty, etiquette restrictions were gradually relaxed, and the food etiquette system was also weakened.

In the Tang Dynasty, the number of people gathering around tables in banquet halls gradually increased, highlighting the lively and harmonious atmosphere. According to research by furniture history experts, in the late Tang and Five Dynasties, tall furniture had been widely used, including tall tables and chairs.

After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, people’s pursuit of harmony and excitement during banquets became even stronger. The sitting posture and seating furniture, which were introduced to the Central Plains in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, were fully accepted by people in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties, and by the Song Dynasty.

The Song Dynasty was the period when the shared meal system was finalized and consolidated, and the modern way of sharing meals had been formed. Tall tables, chairs and stools in the Song Dynasty have become daily furniture for all walks of life, and the sitting posture of slouching is also a common habit of people.

Interested friends can take a look at "Along the River During Qingming Festival", which shows that there are large tables and high chairs in the restaurant. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the dining style of shared meals was completely finalized. Drinking and banquet activities have greatly increased, and the banquet culture of inviting wine and food has developed.

To sum up, sharing meals has a long history in our country, just like our current shared meals. The meal-sharing system was determined by the etiquette and music system at that time, and it was also adapted to people's living habits at that time. Due to the integration of ethnic groups and changes in social concepts, the shared meal system that pursues a harmonious atmosphere emerged and has been followed to this day.

Friends who admire the Western shared meal system may not be aware that the shared meal system has emerged as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties and has lasted for more than two thousand years. The dining method is not static, it has evolved with the times. changes due to social development.