Does Chinese etiquette respect the right or the left?

China has paid attention to etiquette since ancient times, and the position and order must not be mistaken on important occasions.

The hierarchical system in ancient China was particularly strict. Left and right were one of the signs of distinction between superior and inferior. However, whether left or right is respected depends on different times and occasions, and the results are very different.

In fact, in the culture of thousands of years, there are also dynasties that believe that "the right is respected". Most people think that the Chinese tradition is "the left is respected". In fact, it is different from the saying that "men are on the left and women are on the right" and "men are superior to women".

It doesn't matter.

Following current international practice, most social and business negotiations follow the principle of right-centeredness.

We can often see in CCTV’s news broadcast: When our country’s party and state leaders meet with foreign friends in our country, they will sit side by side with the foreign friends, and sit on the left side of the foreign guests, that is, ask the foreign guests to sit next to them.

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This is because there is a common international practice regarding seating arrangements, that is, "right-centered".

When standing, walking or sitting side by side, this rule has been generally accepted by people.

Therefore, in the above situation, the host should take the initiative to move to the left and ask the guest to move to the right; the gentleman should take the initiative to move to the left and ask the lady to move to the right; the junior should move to the left and ask the elder to move to the right; the person with a lower position should move to the left and the person with a higher position should move to the right.

In the case of non-side-by-side arrangement, the principle of "right first" is still valid.