Differences between ancient etiquette and modern etiquette in China

First, they have different foundations.

Ancient etiquette was based on feudal hierarchy. Although modern etiquette recognizes identity differences, it emphasizes people-oriented, equality of personality and respect for people as the foothold and starting point.

Second, their goals are different.

The purpose of ancient etiquette is to maintain the feudal ruling order, while modern etiquette focuses on the pursuit of harmonious and smooth interpersonal communication.

Third, the scope of the two is different.

The ancient etiquette said that "courtesy can't be inferior to Shu Ren", so it has nothing to do with ordinary people, while the modern etiquette is applicable to participants in any communication activities. It should be said that compared with ancient etiquette, modern etiquette pays more attention to the success of interpersonal communication, so its core content is the code of conduct of interpersonal communication, not the self-discipline like ancient etiquette.

Extended data

China is a state of etiquette that has been passed down for thousands of years, and its teachings spread overseas. According to legend, more than 3,000 years ago, during the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, the Duke of Zhou put forward the program of propriety. Later, after Confucius and the seventies, as well as the advocacy and improvement of Mencius and Xunzi, the ritual and music civilization became the core of Confucian culture.

After the Western Han Dynasty, as the theoretical form of ritual and music culture and the source of ancient ritual system, Yili, Zhou Li and Li Ji were successively listed as scholars, which not only became the classics that ancient scholars must read, but also became the basis of ritual system in past dynasties, and had a far-reaching impact on China culture and history.

With the formation of Confucian cultural circle in East Asia, ritual and music culture has naturally become an important feature of eastern civilization. Undoubtedly, to understand the traditional culture of China, we must understand the etiquette culture of China.

Baidu encyclopedia-Chinese etiquette