What are the rules of table manners in China traditional culture?

Don't put three dishes on the table, and six people don't sit in the tortoise seat. This proverb is related to table manners. As we all know, China has been a country of etiquette since ancient times. Even when eating at the table, there are many manners to pay attention to, so we still need to know some proverbs about table manners.

First of all, say the first half: there are no three dishes on the table. Literally, there cannot be three dishes on the table. The three courses here refer to quantity, not to three courses. So what is the meaning behind this sentence? Why can't there be three dishes on the table? In fact, this has something to do with the ancient ritual habits.

In ancient times, when people offered sacrifices, they would put three plates and three wine glasses on the table, so the number 3 was associated with offering sacrifices. If three courses are served on the table, it is disrespectful to the guests. After all, a three-course meal means sacrifice. Isn't it especially good to treat guests as sacrifices?

Let's look at the second half of the sentence: six people don't sit in the turtle seat. This sentence means the rules for guests to sit in their seats. The so-called turtle seat means that six people sit at the dinner table, not two and one at the same time. This looks like a turtle, so people will avoid this sitting posture when sitting.

Such a seat is considered disrespectful to the host. There is also a saying that this sitting posture is avoided because sitting on the turtle seat is disrespectful to the turtle prime minister. After all, the immortals under the sea have always been worshipped by farmers. These immortals are responsible for the rain in the sky. Rain is very important to crops, so they dare not collide with Premier Tortoise easily.

These two common sayings are all about table manners. The older generation is still very particular about table manners. For people nowadays, these special things may not be so many, but in some rural areas, this proverb is still very particular.