Etiquette, Customs, and Conduct in Society

Name: Etiquette, Customs, and Conduct in Society
ISBN: 9787514333572

Xiao DongfaModern Press · ChinaMay 2025

3.0

Word count: 71K words
Chapters: 34
ISBN: 9787514333572

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Summary

This book covers such topics as the awe of nature that gave rise to rites, Yu the Great casting the nine tripods, the Duke of Zhou establishing rites and music, and the Confucian sages' recording of the "Five Rites."

Editor's review

Rites, Customs, and Conduct in Society, published by Modern Press and compiled by Mr. Xiao Dongfa, focuses on the etiquette, customs, and codes of conduct in traditional Chinese culture, systematically tracing the evolution of rites and customs from ancient times to the present and their practical significance in modern society. As a scholar long engaged in cultural research, the author draws on solid academic grounding to turn a vast and complex body of ritual knowledge into clear, accessible narrative. He not only introduces the origins and forms of specific customs such as weddings, funerals, festivals, and sacrifices, but also explores in depth the ethical concepts and social wisdom embedded behind these external norms. Against the backdrop of increasingly complex interpersonal relationships and a reexamination of traditional cultural values in contemporary society, this book offers a valuable cultural frame of reference. It is not a simple etiquette guide, but rather guides readers to understand how rites and customs, as cultural genes, shape our behavioral logic and value judgments. For readers who wish to deepen their cultural understanding, enhance personal cultivation, or maintain cultural self-awareness in cross-cultural interactions, this book is both informative and thought-provoking—a work of traditional culture worth reading quietly, whether as an introduction or for deeper study.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in traditional Chinese culture and folk customs who wish to systematically understand the origins of rites and customs
People engaged in culture, education, or social work, or those who frequently attend social functions
Readers who feel confused in interpersonal interactions and hope to find guidance on conduct from traditional wisdom
Students, especially those in literature, history, and philosophy, who can use it as supplementary reading

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a quick, direct, ready-to-apply guide to modern business etiquette or communication skills
Readers who are wholly critical or dismissive of traditional culture and have no interest in understanding its inner logic

Reading tips

It is recommended to first read through the table of contents to grasp the overall framework, then select specific chapters of interest for deeper reading
While reading, relate the content to observations in your own life and reflect on what has changed and what has not in traditional rites and customs in contemporary society
The book involves many historical allusions and textual references; taking notes as appropriate can help deepen understanding

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

This book is about ancient etiquette—is it still useful for modern life?

This book does not simply restate ancient ritual prescriptions; it focuses on analyzing the social psychology and cultural logic behind the formation of rites and customs. Understanding this underlying logic helps us more deeply understand contemporary interpersonal relationships, social norms, and even our own behavior—its wisdom has reference value beyond any single era.

Is the content of this book obscure and difficult to understand?

The author strives to explain things in plain language and supports the text with concrete examples. As long as you have a basic interest in traditional culture, reading it poses no great obstacle. It is more like a scholar's cultural tour than a daunting academic monograph.

How is this book different from other etiquette books on the market?

The core difference lies in perspective and depth. This book focuses on cultural interpretation and tracing historical context, aiming at "knowing why," and helps readers build a cultural cognitive framework. Many modern etiquette books, by contrast, focus more on behavioral norms and techniques in specific situations and are more in the nature of "operating manuals."

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About the author

Xiao Dongfa Author · China · 1949–2016

Xiao Dongfa (1949–2016), whose ancestral home was Tianjin and who was born in Shenyang, was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Peking University, and director of its Institute of Modern Publishing. An important scholar in editing and publishing studies, he focused on the history of Chinese books, publishing history, and yearbook studies. He edited the History of Chinese Editing and Publishing and Chinese Libraries of Book Collecting, and led the National Social Science Fund key project A General History of Chinese Publishing, laying a solid foundation for the organization and narration of Chinese publishing history. Beyond academic writing, he attended to Peking University's institutional history and humanistic traditions, writing works such as Character: From the Imperial University to Old Peking University, Exemplars: Former Residences and Anecdotes of Peking University Notables, and Scenes: Yanyuan Landscapes and Cultural Heritage, which recount campus memories and personal stories with warmth. His works also touch on the four treasures of the study, garden architecture, and academic writing standards. Some 491 of his titles are held in the library, spanning language and culture, biography, and architecture, and combining scholarly rigor with accessible readability.