The Jia family often eats in A Dream of Red Mansions. What is their diet?

There are four main scenes describing Jia's grand banquet in the book, namely "Lin Daiyu's first meal in Jia's family" for the third time, "Crab Banquet in Haitang Poetry Society" for the thirty-eighth time, and "Grandmother Jia took Grandma Liu to visit the Grand View Garden for two seats" for the fortieth time. For the description of these four meals, if you read them carefully, you will sum up some etiquette that Jia followed when eating, which also reflects Jia's cultural accomplishment from the dining etiquette.

The etiquette followed by Jia's dining is mainly reflected in these aspects.

First, elders give priority. As can be seen from the seating arrangement for dinner, especially for formal banquets, Jia always takes his seat first, then Mrs. Wang's generation, and then takes his seat in turn.

Second, guests are preferred. The third chapter describes Lin Daiyu's first meal in Jia's family. After Jia was seated, Wang Xifeng took Lin Daiyu and sat next to Jia. The thirty-eighth time describes the crab feast of Haitang Poetry Society, where Aunt Xue sat next to Grandmother Jia as a guest. When describing the fortieth time when the old lady gave a banquet to treat Granny Liu, the old lady specially arranged Granny Liu to sit next to her.

Third, Sun's daughter-in-law stood and waited on her. Whether it's a crab banquet in honor of Lin Daiyu and Haitang Poetry Society, or an old lady entertaining Granny Liu, it's always two granddaughters-in-law, namely Li Wan and Feng, who are busy serving their elders for dinner. Even Xifeng, the housekeeper of Jiafu, must abide by this rule.

Fourth, unmarried people of the same age have priority over married people. This was particularly evident at Lin Daiyu's first meal in Jia's family. Li Wan and Feng Wei, sisters-in-law, stood to wait on them, while Yingchun, Tanchun and Xichun, three ladies of the Jia family, were sisters-in-law and sat down to eat.

Fifth, the waiter has the last meal. During Granny Liu's banquet in honor of Grandmother Jia, it was described in detail in the book: After eating for a while, Grandmother Jia and others all went to Tanchun's bedroom to chat. Here, I cleaned up the remaining table and put another table. Granny Liu looked at Li Wan and sat down to eat, and sighed. "Just let it be. I just love your family's behavior, and I also strangely say' gifts for everyone to see'. " Because the old lady's maid Yuanyang didn't eat either, Xi-feng took Yuanyang and said, "Sit down and eat with us." Yuanyang sat down.

In a word, Jia's dining etiquette truly reflects the tradition of China, respecting the old and caring for the young, and respecting guests. Catering culture is an important part of China culture, and it can also reflect the cultural accomplishment of a person and even a family.