Let’s talk about Japan’s Zhongyuan gift-giving

A major feature of Japanese life is the variety of traditional etiquette. We Chinese are used to sending New Year's cards to each other during the Spring Festival, and we also receive cards during the dog days of summer in Japan. When I opened them, I found out that they were "summer dances" sent by my Japanese friends - sending greetings because of the arrival of summer; not long ago The next day, I received another card. When I opened it, it turned out that it was the same person who sent me the message "Seeing the Dance in the End of Summer" – I sent my greetings because summer is almost over. From the Chinese point of view, although it is not strange to be polite to many people, such excessive politeness is really unnecessary.

Among these traditions, there are two most solemn gift-givings. One is called "Jumu", which means giving gifts to friends, teachers, etc. when the New Year comes, and the other is giving gifts in this season, which is called "Jumu". "Zhongyuan". The time for giving "Zhongyuan" gifts in Japan runs throughout July. The recipients of gifts are mainly elders and people who have cared for them.

Everyone can understand giving gifts in the New Year and saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new. So, what is the purpose of giving "Zhongyuan" gifts in summer?

Because when Japan gives out Zhongyuan gifts, shopping malls are as lively as the mooncake war before the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Although many Chinese people in Japan feel that the time is slightly different, they often confuse it with the Mid-Autumn Festival. . When I accidentally asked a Japanese friend, I realized that this is not the same thing at all.

In Japanese companies, subordinates often send Zhongyuan gifts to superiors. The author once asked a Japanese acquaintance in a joking manner - Does this mean there is suspicion of bribery? Unexpectedly, this Japanese acquaintance responded - Zhongyuan Li is actually used for bribery!

It turns out that in ancient Japan, the "Zhongyuan Rite" really had the color of bribery. The so-called "Zhongyuan" comes from the Taoist legends introduced to Japan from China. Ji Xian Lu says: "Zhang Daoling was in Longhu Mountain, cultivating the Three Yuan Dynasty's silent dynasty." Taoists began to worship the Three Yuan Emperors from Zhang Daoling in the Han Dynasty, saying that after the heaven and earth were established, the three emperors Tianyuan, Diyuan, and Shuiyuan were responsible for governing the three realms of heaven, earth, and water, examining the merits and demerits of heaven and man, and managing the misfortunes and blessings of all living beings. It is also said that the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the birthday of Emperor Tianguan of Shangyuan; the fifteenth day of July is the birthday of Emperor Zhongyuan Diguan; and the fifteenth of October is the birthday of Emperor Shuiguan of Xiayuan. These three days are called Shangyuan Festival, Zhongyuan Festival and Xiayuan Festival by Taoists respectively. The Taoist Scriptures say: The Heavenly Official bestows blessings, the Earthly Official forgives sins, and the Water Official relieves misfortunes. Coincidentally, ancient Japanese government officials also followed Zhou Rites and called themselves "local officials". Therefore, people who committed crimes often used the excuse that July 15th was the birthday of the Zhongyuan Earth Official Emperor, and sent gifts to government officials, also known as "local officials", to pray for forgiveness. The government at that time also regarded bribery on this day as legal gray income for officials, and did not strictly manage it. Over time, Xia Tian formed the habit of giving "Zhongyuan Gifts" to his bosses, elders and people who have taken care of him. According to ancient Japanese customs, almost all gifts must be given in return, with the exception of giving gifts to people who take care of you. This is because it originally belongs to the category of bribery and is not a normal gift.

Of course, in today’s Japan, giving a “Zhongyuan gift” only expresses respect and gratitude to the recipient, and has nothing to do with bribery. If you use the excuse of Emperor Zhongyuan's birthday to bribe a prosecutor or judge, you will still be arrested.

In fact, there are at least two other theories among Japanese folk about the origin of Zhongyuan Rite.

One is the "Obon Festival related theory". According to Buddhist etiquette, Japanese people celebrate the "Obon Festival" in summer to worship their ancestors and deceased relatives. During sacrifices, some Japanese people gradually felt that they should also express respect for their living elders, so they sent them gifts, gradually forming the habit of "Zhongyuan Rite".

The other is the "Bashuo Theory". Like China, a tribute system existed in ancient Japan. Starting from the Muromachi Shogunate era, the time for paying tribute to the emperor and shoguns has been set on August 1st, which is called "Hassaku". Officials who set out to deliver tributes from various places will start their journey in July. They also have a duty to help local officials and help them bring gifts to the superiors who have taken care of them. This custom has been followed to this day and has become the "Zhongyuan Rite".

Taken together, the formation of "Zhongyuan Rites" in Japan does not come from one source. The above three statements have certain truths.

In ancient times, the "Zhongyuan Ritual" mainly gave away precious jewelry and local specialties. Today, food with local characteristics has become its main body. Its contents are diverse, including tea, seaweed, wine, snacks, seafood, mushrooms, salted fish, and even pickles.

In the Zhongyuan merchandise counters in major shopping malls, there are usually open shelves with various packaged gift samples on them, with prices and numbers next to them. Usually, the packaging of Chugen gifts is exquisite and elegant, and is wrapped with special wrapping paper called "Mizuhiki". The price takes into account the proximity between the customer and the gift recipient, ranging from less than a thousand yen to tens of thousands of yen. In calculation, it is more than The normal price of goods is 20%-30% higher. However, Japanese people who are particular about formality are mostly unwilling to buy gifts themselves and mail them, and are willing to pay 20% to 30% more for "authentic" gifts.

If the customer is interested in a certain gift, he can open the package and take a closer look. After deciding to purchase, he only needs to remember the number and go to the counter to explain it to the waiter.

Usually, in Japan, shopping malls that sell "Zhongyuan Gifts" provide free shipping services. This used to puzzle me. Because some products are already in season (in a shopping mall near the author’s residence, this year they offered a Sichuan dish including Mapo Tofu as a “Chinese Yuan gift”, and business was quite prosperous), so shipping within this city is quite reasonable. If you send it from Hokkaido to Kyushu, how can you withstand such a bumpy journey? The delivery location is free regardless of the distance. That means it doesn’t cost anything to deliver it to my door, and it doesn’t cost anything to deliver it to Sapporo, which is thousands of miles away.