A Nation of Etiquette

Name: A Nation of Etiquette
ISBN: 9787514325829

李正蕊Modern Press · ChinaFeb 2017

3.6

Word count: 70K words
Chapters: 34
ISBN: 9787514325829

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Summary

This book focuses mainly on ancient ritual systems and etiquette culture. It covers ancient ritual system culture and ancient etiquette culture, including the Five Rites: auspicious rites, mourning rites, military rites, guest rites, and celebratory rites. It is richly illustrated with diagrams and annotations, visually intuitive and pleasing to the eye; the color production is rich and varied, the design exquisite, and the style elegant. It is very suitable for general readers to read and collect, and also suitable for libraries at all levels to equip and display.

Editor's review

The Land of Etiquette and Ceremony, co-authored by Xiao Dongfa and Li Zhengrui, takes Chinese ritual civilization as its main thread and systematically traces the evolution of etiquette from the pre-Qin period to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Rather than simply listing ritual norms, the book examines etiquette within a broad historical, social, and philosophical perspective, revealing how etiquette, as a cultural gene, shaped national character and social order. Xiao Dongfa has long been engaged in publishing culture research, and Li Zhengrui focuses on traditional Chinese culture; their academic backgrounds ensure the rigor and depth of the content. The modern interpretations of the Rites of Zhou, the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial, and the Book of Rites are especially impressive, preserving the original meaning of the classics while giving them reference significance for contemporary life. Readers can clearly sense that etiquette is not only an external code of conduct but also an internal expression of value identification and emotion. This combination of historical research and humanistic concern raises the book above ordinary cultural reading and makes it a key to understanding the operating logic of Chinese society.

Who it's for

A good fit for

History enthusiasts interested in the evolution of traditional Chinese culture and ritual systems
Professionals in cultural research, sociology, or education who need to understand ritual culture
General readers who wish to improve their cultural literacy and gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of Chinese civilization
Young readers looking for connections between traditional culture and modern life

Not a good fit for

Pragmatists expecting a practical guide to specific modern social etiquette
Readers impatient with historical documents and academic discussion

Reading tips

Readers may begin with Chapter 3, "The Integration of Rites and Customs," to learn how etiquette permeated daily life
Read alongside classical passages from the Analects and the Book of Rites to appreciate the author's interpretive perspective
Pay attention to the "Further Reflection" sections at the end of each chapter, which often raise thought-provoking modern questions

About the publisher

Modern Press China · Founded in 1982

Founded in 1982, Modern Press is a Chinese publisher that serves general readers across a diverse range of subjects. Judging from its catalog, its publishing focuses on classical poetry, Eastern philosophy, psychological research and application, popular science, and modern poetry, along with history, biography, and children's books. The Book of Songs, the illustrated vernacular edition of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, The Complete Poems of Dai Wangshu, and Buddhism in the Vegetable Roots reflect efforts to make traditional culture and poetry accessible; works by Carl Gustav Jung such as The Development of Personality and Understanding Your Psychological Type, together with titles from the Ivy International Education Alliance, show sustained attention to psychology and educational reading; and Stephen Hawking's works and the illustrated two-volume Brief History of Everything and A Brief History of Time indicate a commitment to popular science. Its authors include figures such as Qu Wanli, Xu Ke, Dai Wangshu, and Jung, and its publishing emphasizes retelling classics and accessible, illustrated presentation. Because public information is limited, this summary is based only on the titles in our catalog.

版权信息
序言
文明古国——礼仪之邦
敬畏自然促成礼的形成
大禹铸九鼎和周公制礼乐
儒家先贤记录“五礼”
礼制之冠——五礼之吉礼
圜丘配祭成为祭天的礼仪
敬畏天地而形成五帝之礼
泰山上昭告天下的封禅礼
祭日月星辰和山川的礼仪
国家象征的社稷祭祀之礼
代代传承的宗庙祭祀之礼
祭祀先蚕和籍田的劝农礼
祭祀先圣先师的尊师之礼
毕恭毕敬——五礼之凶礼
丧葬中的招魂和入棺之礼
隆重的停棺和下葬之礼
古代凶礼中的相关礼仪
军中仪式——五礼之军礼
鼓舞将士斗志的出征之礼
将士得胜班师的凯旋之礼
威武之师的仪仗校阅之礼
古代军队训练的田猎之礼
邦国外交——五礼之宾礼
加强诸侯关系的朝觐之礼
遣使朝觐天子的朝聘之礼
天子与诸侯的会同之礼
士族的礼仪行为规范
亲和万民——五礼之嘉礼
成人和婚姻的冠婚之礼
饮宴群臣的隆重飨燕之礼
维护宗族关系的乡饮酒礼
培养君子风度的射礼

FAQ

How is this book different from ordinary etiquette guides?

The book focuses on the historical origins and cultural connotations of etiquette rather than specific behavioral norms for modern occasions; it is closer to a work of cultural history.

Is the content too academic to read?

The author balances academic rigor with readability. Although there are citations, the language is plain, and readers with a high school education or above can understand it.

Does the book cover ethnic minority etiquette or comparisons between Chinese and foreign etiquette?

It focuses mainly on the Han Chinese ritual system, with only limited coverage of ethnic minority etiquette and Chinese-foreign comparisons, which are not the book's focus.

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About the author

李正蕊 Author

Li Zhengrui is an author about whom limited public information is available. Twenty-seven of her works are held in the collection, spanning culture, examinations and inspirational personal growth. Judging from the existing titles, her writing combines popular knowledge with youth education. She has contributed to traditional-culture books such as The Divine Craft of Stone Carving: Ancient Stone Carvings and Culture and Art and The Land of Propriety and Rituals, as well as time-travel and science-themed reads for young readers, including Traveling Through Time at Scenic Sites and The Road to Space. She has also compiled educational readers such as the upper-primary volume of the Youth Reader on the Socialist Core Value System, and has written inspirational works on personal growth such as Settling Reality and Outrunning the Trend. Her style favors accessible expression and the transmission of knowledge, turning culture, etiquette and values education into material suited to students and building a body of work in popular and extracurricular reading for young people.