The Meaning of Diplomatic Visits

AnonymousBashu Publishing House · ChinaJul 2024

4.2

Word count: 1.1K words
Chapters: 2

Summary

The rites of diplomatic visits: a high minister (shanggong) is accompanied by seven attendants (jie), a marquis or earl by five, and a viscount or baron by three, thereby making clear the distinction between noble and base. The message is relayed through successive attendants, for a gentleman, in the presence of one he honors, dares not address him directly. This is the utmost of respect. After declining three times, the message is relayed; after declining three times, he enters the temple gate; after bowing three times, he reaches the steps.

Editor's review

"The Meaning of Diplomatic Visits" is a chapter of the Book of Rites (Liji) devoted to explaining the principles of the pin (diplomatic visit) ceremony. This edition, published as a separate chapter by Bashu Press, suits readers who wish to read the ritual classics closely. The chapter begins with the number of intermediaries (jie), explaining the graded distinctions—seven for senior dukes, five for marquises and earls, three for viscounts and barons—grounding distinctions of rank in concrete ceremonial numbers, then proceeds layer by layer through the transmission of orders, yielding, bowing, and advancing to the steps, presenting the gentleman's attitude of honoring those he honors and of not speaking bluntly but showing the utmost respect. Its value lies not in detailing institutional particulars but in pointing out the respect and yielding behind ceremonial formalities: numbers, deferential refusals, and bowing are not empty formalities but the outward expression of inner respect in practicable actions. Readers can thereby understand how pre-Qin ritual learning carried ethics in form, and may read it alongside the pin ceremony chapter of the Yili to appreciate the division of labor between commentary and classic. Read it slowly and carefully, noting names, numbers, and the order of actions rather than rushing to grasp the overall meaning.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in pre-Qin ritual learning and the Book of Rites who wish to read a single chapter closely
Students of literature and history studying ancient pin ceremony institutions and ceremonial numbers
University teachers and students needing the ritual classics as annotation or teaching reference

Not a good fit for

General readers expecting a practical guide to modern social etiquette
Beginners lacking a foundation in classical Chinese who want only light reading

Reading tips

Read through once, marking key terms such as the number of intermediaries, transmission of orders, yielding, and bowing, then review section by section.
Read alongside the pin ceremony chapter of the Yili, noting how the commentary explains the respect and yielding behind the ceremonies.
Keep simple notes, charting the order of ceremonies and distinctions of rank in a table for easier comparison and memory.

About the publisher

Bashu Publishing House China · Founded in 1983

Bashu Publishing House is a publisher centered on collating and publishing classical Chinese cultural texts, with its main publishing areas covering classical literature, Eastern philosophy, ancient poetry, and educational classics. Its library currently holds 1,075 titles, including representative works such as Dream of the Red Chamber, the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Gathering, Renjian Cihua, and Out to the Frontier, involving authors such as Cao Xueqin, Wang Xizhi, Wang Guowei, Wang Changling, Liu Xie, and Yan Yu. These reflect the publisher's focus on literary classics, poetry criticism, and philosophical readings. Its publishing character lies in working around ancient texts and canonical works, with attention to textual collation and presentation. Public information on its more detailed publishing background and series plans is limited; this introduction is based only on the library's book information.

版权信息
聘义第四十八

FAQ

What is this chapter, "The Meaning of Diplomatic Visits," mainly about?

It centers on the pin ceremony: it explains distinctions of rank through the graded numbers of intermediaries, then discusses the transmission of orders, the three yields, the three bows, and advancing to the steps, emphasizing that the gentleman honors those he honors and does not speak bluntly, embodying the utmost respect in concrete ceremonies. Its focus is the respect and yielding behind ceremonial formalities.

Can I read it without a foundation in classical Chinese?

You can try, but you will need annotations and reference works. This chapter has many terms for objects and ceremonies; it is advisable to first consult modern annotated translations or related explanations of the Yili, understanding words such as intermediary, transmission of orders, yielding, and bowing sentence by sentence, then return to the original, rather than seeking the overall meaning from the start.

How does reading this chapter help in understanding the Book of Rites?

It displays a typical way the Book of Rites' commentary is written: rather than laying out the full institution, it selects several ceremonies to explain their principles. Understanding this chapter helps appreciate how form and respect support each other in ritual learning, and provides a method for reading other single chapters.

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About the author

Anonymous Author

Anonymous is not a real personal name but a general Chinese designation for authors whose names are unknown, lost, or unsigned. Neither nationality nor dates of birth and death can be verified, and available public information is limited, so the works attributed to this name are the only basis for description. The collection holds 2,078 works under Anonymous, spanning medicine, classics, historical readings, ancient poetry, classical literature, and philosophy. Representative works include The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon: Lingshu, Mencius, The Book of Documents, Nineteen Old Poems, Complete Song Ci, and The Peacock Flies Southeast. Most of these works took shape through long transmission and editing, emerging either from collective folk creation or from authors whose names were lost over time. In ancient China, the Book of Songs, the Great Learning, and many popular storybooks and plays were signed Anonymous because their authors could not be traced. Anonymous works cross the classics, histories, philosophical writings, medical texts, and poetry; their subjects are broad, and their styles vary from archaic simplicity to clear naturalness, making them important and influential sources for understanding ancient Chinese thought, medicine, and literature.