Ancient Chinese Farewell Etiquette

Break willows to say goodbye. Breaking willows to say goodbye is a traveling custom in ancient China, which is reflected in literary works such as poetry, opera, and novels. "Sanfu Huangtu·Bridge": "Ba (Ba) Bridge is a bridge across the water in the east of Chang'an. Han people saw off their guests here and broke willows to say goodbye." This is the earliest written record about breaking willows to say goodbye. Therefore, it is generally believed that this custom was formed in the Qin and Han Dynasties.

As for the origin of this custom, it is said that it is taken from "Plucking Wei" in the "Book of Songs": "In the past I went, and the willows clung to me; now I come to think about it, the rain and snow are falling." "Willow" It is homophonic with "stay" and is used to express the feeling of reluctance to leave. In addition, as the saying goes, "If you plant flowers intentionally, they will not bloom, but if you plant willows unintentionally, they will create shade." The willow tree has a strong vitality, and the willow tree will live when it is inserted into the soil. Wherever it is inserted, it will live wherever it is inserted. Willow trees are inserted every year, and they will become shade everywhere. Falling willows to say goodbye also implies the hope that those who travel far away can live tenaciously in their foreign country.

At the same time, breaking willows to say goodbye is a wish for travelers to have a safe journey. The ancients regarded the willow tree as a "ghost tree" that can ward off evil spirits and attract ghosts. Jia Sixie of the Northern Wei Dynasty's "Essential Art of Qi Min" contains: "On the first day of the first lunar month, if you take a willow branch and place it on the door, all ghosts will not enter the house." Pedestrians who carry it can make ghosts appear. Be intimidated and stay away to ensure a safe journey.

There are countless poems about breaking willows to say goodbye: "Song of Falling Willows" written by Northerners: "Looking at the Mengjin River in the distance, the willows are dancing. I am a child of the Lu family, and I don't understand the songs of the Han family." "Farewell Poem" written by Anonymous: "The willows are green and drooping, and the poplar flowers are flying in the sky. When the willow branches are broken and the flowers fly away, I would like to ask the passers-by whether they are returning home?" Zhang Jiuling's poem "Breaking Willows": "Break the willows delicately, hold this Send love. One branch is not worth much, pity is the spring of my hometown. "Wang Zhihuan's poem "Farewell": "The willow tree is green and the river is broken. It must be because of the separation."... These all illustrate the meaning of farewell. Popular custom.

Music as a gift. This was mostly a way of farewell among literati in the Tang Dynasty. Li Bai sang in "A Gift to Wang Lun": "Li Bai was about to travel in a boat, and suddenly he heard singing on the shore." Xu Hun's "Farewell to Xie Ting": "A song of labor explains the boating, red leaves, green mountains and rapids." And Bai Juyi was in "Pipa Xing" even describes the importance of music during farewell.

Before this, "Jing Ke Assassinates the King of Qin" also wrote about the way of farewell with music: "On the Yishui River, my ancestors took the road. Gao Jianli built the building, and Jing Ke sang in harmony, which was the voice of change and conquest. The soldiers all shed tears and sang again, saying: "The wind is rustling and the water is cold, and the strong man will never return once he is gone!" When the sound of the feathers returned, the soldiers were all angry, and their fingers were raised. Then he drove away and ignored him."

Drinking to say goodbye. This also often appeared in farewells in the Tang Dynasty, which can be seen from Tang poetry. Famous lines in farewell poems - Wang Wei's "Farewell to the Second Envoy of the Yuan Dynasty to Anxi": "I urge you to drink another glass of wine. There will be no old friends when you leave Yangguan in the west." Li Bai's "Farewell to Jinling Winery": "The wind blows the willow flowers and fills the shop with fragrance. , Wu Ji pressed wine to encourage guests to taste it, etc. Wine is the favorite of literati, and it is indispensable on farewell occasions.

In addition, the time for the ancients to say farewell was mostly early morning or evening, which is also found in poetry.

The ancients had so many farewell customs. In contrast, modern people have no special form of farewell. They just simply send a text message or make a phone call. . The custom of farewell is gradually falling away in modern society. The same separation but different expressions may be because people are too busy now, or maybe people are becoming more and more indifferent.