Tell me about the gift from the Central Plains of Japan.

A major feature of Japanese life is the diversity of traditional etiquette. We in China are used to sending greeting cards to each other during the Spring Festival, but we also receive greeting cards in the dog days in Japan. When we opened them, we found that they were the "summer dance" of Japanese friends-greetings from the arrival of summer; A few days later, I received another card. When I opened it, it turned out to be the same person. Because summer was coming to an end, I sent my greetings. From the Chinese point of view, although many people are not surprised by politeness, there is really no need to be so polite.

Among these traditions, two gifts are the most grand. One is called "Twilight", which means giving gifts to friends and teachers when the New Year comes, and the other is given this season, which is called "Zhongyuan". The time for Japan to send "Zhongyuan" gifts runs through July, and the recipients are mainly elders and people who have the ability to take care of themselves.

Giving gifts in the new year, saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new year, is understandable to everyone. So, what is the purpose of giving "Zhongyuan" gifts in summer?

Because the shopping center is as lively as the moon cake war before the Mid-Autumn Festival in Japan, many China people in Japan often confuse it with the Mid-Autumn Festival, although they think the time is a little different. Ask a Japanese friend by chance, and you will know that this is not the same thing at all.

In Japanese companies, subordinates often give RMB gifts to their superiors. The author once asked a Japanese acquaintance with a playful attitude-is it suspected of taking bribes? Unexpectedly, Japanese acquaintances responded-Li Zhongyuan was originally used to pay bribes!

It turns out that in ancient Japan, "Zhongyuan ceremony" really had the color of bribery. The so-called "Central Plains" was introduced to Japan by Taoist legend from China. Ji said, "Zhang Daoling is on the Dragon and Tiger Mountain, practicing the way of three-dimensional silence.". Taoism began to serve the Sanyuan Emperor from Zhang Daoling in the Han Dynasty, saying that after the establishment of heaven and earth, Tianyuan, Yuan Di and Shui Yuan were responsible for governing the three realms of heaven, earth and water, examining the merits and demerits of heaven and man, and taking care of the fortunes of all beings. According to legend, the 15th day of the first month is the birthday of Shang Yuan Emperor Shangguan. July 15th is the birthday of the Emperor of the Central Plains. 10 15 is the birthday of Emperor Shuiguan of the next Yuan Dynasty. These three days are called Shangyuan Festival, Zhongyuan Festival and Xiayuan Festival by Taoism respectively. The Taoist scriptures say: God bless the people, local officials forgive sins, and water officials forgive Eritrea. Coincidentally, ancient Japanese government officials also called Zhou Li a "local official". Therefore, criminals often give gifts to government officials, that is, "local officials", on the pretext that July 15th is the birthday of the Emperor of the Central Plains, and pray for forgiveness. At that time, the government also regarded the bribery on this day as the legitimate gray income of officials, and there was no strict management. Over time, I got into the habit of sending "Zhong Yuan Li" to my boss, elders and people who have taken care of you in summer. According to the ancient Japanese custom, almost all gifts should be returned in return, except those given by Zhong Yuan to those who take care of themselves, because this belongs to the category of bribery and is not a normal gift.

Of course, in today's Japan, giving "Zhong Yuan Li" is only to show respect and gratitude to the recipient, and it has nothing to do with bribery. If you use the birthday of the Emperor of Central Plains as an excuse to pay bribes to prosecutors or judges, you will also be arrested.

In fact, there are at least two other sayings about the origin of Zhongyuan ceremony among Japanese people.

One is "the theory of Kogasawara Festival". According to Buddhist etiquette, the Japanese will celebrate the "Kasahara Festival" in summer, offering sacrifices to ancestors and deceased relatives. When offering sacrifices, some Japanese people gradually feel that they should also pay tribute to their living elders, so they give them gifts and gradually form the habit of "China Yuan Li".

The other is "Eight Shuo Shuo Shuo". Like China, there was a tribute system in ancient Japan. From the era of Muromachi shogunate, the time to pay tribute to the emperor and generals was set at August 1 day, which was called "Eight New moons", and officials from all over the world were on their way in July. They also have a duty to help local officials and help them bring gifts to officials who have taken care of themselves. This habit has been passed down to this day and has become a "Central Plains ritual".

Generally speaking, the formation of the Japanese "Zhong Yuan Li" is not a source, and the above three statements all have some truth.

In ancient times, "gifts from the Central Plains" mainly presented precious jewels and local specialties. Nowadays, food with local characteristics has become its main body. Its contents are varied, including tea, seaweed, wine, snacks, seafood, mushrooms, salted fish and even pickles. In major shopping malls, there are generally open shelves with all kinds of packaged gift samples, with prices and numbers next to them. Usually, the gift packaging of Zhongyuan is exquisite and elegant, and a special wrapping paper called "Shuiyin" is outsourced. Prices range from less than 1000 yen to tens of thousands of yen, which is 20%-30% higher than the normal price of goods. Form-oriented Japanese mostly refuse to buy their own gifts, and are willing to spend 20% to 30% more on "authentic" gifts.

If customers are interested in a gift, they can open the package and have a closer look. After deciding to buy, just remember the number and explain it to the waiter at the counter.

Usually, in Japan, shopping malls selling "Li Zhongyuan" provide free delivery service. This once puzzled me. Because some goods are fresh (in the shopping mall near the author's residence, there is a Sichuan dish including Mapo tofu as a "gift from the Central Plains" this year, and the business is quite prosperous), so it is reasonable to send it in this city. If you send them from Hokkaido to Kyushu, how can you stand such a bumpy journey? Moreover, the delivery place is free regardless of distance, which means that it costs nothing to send to my home and Sapporo, which is thousands of miles away.