Five sets of rites

China is a nation of etiquette, and rites are at the core of traditional Chinese culture. During the Western Zhou Dynasty (1046-771 B.C.), traditional etiquette was refined and its guidebook, the "Rites of Zhou", categorized elaborate ceremonial etiquette into five sets of rites: the auspicious rites, the congratulatory rites, the hospitality rites, the military rites, and the inauspicious rites. While the system evolved after the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - A.D. 25), China's ritual system continued to center around these five sets of rites.

The first set of rites, that is, the auspicious rites, involved offering sacrifices to heaven, the earth, and various spirits. The congratulatory rites dictated the way ceremonial events were held, such as enthronements, homage to rulers at festivals, marriages of nobles, capping rites for young males, royal banquets, and community gatherings with rural elders. The hospitality rites were about welcoming guests, including the etiquette for hosting scholars and conducting diplomatic exchanges between allies. The military rites referred to the ritual practices related to ancient military activities, such as summoning and organizing troops, constructing city walls, and repairing boundaries, roads, and ditches. The inauspicious rites were related to funerals and disasters, including mourning the dead, offering condolences for victims of disasters, and showing sympathy for other states in times of misfortune. Together, these five sets of rites provided a basic framework for the ancient ritual system and had a profound influence on subsequent ritual practices in feudal society.

五禮

中國是禮儀之邦，“禮”是中國傳統文化的核心價值觀念。西周時期，傳統禮儀文化不斷完備，其禮儀制度《周禮》將內容繁復的禮儀劃分為“五禮”，即吉禮、嘉禮、賓禮、軍禮、兇禮。漢代以后的禮儀制度雖有演進和變化，但基本上仍然圍繞“五禮”進行建設。

吉禮是五禮之首，主要是對天神、地祇、人鬼的祭祀典禮。嘉禮指節慶活動等具有喜慶意義的禮儀，主要用于君主登基、節日受朝賀、公侯大夫士婚禮、冠禮、宴饗、鄉飲酒禮等。賓禮是接待賓客的禮儀活動，包括讀書人相見的禮儀、邦交國之間的外交往來等。軍禮是指古代軍事活動方面的禮儀，例如召集和整頓軍隊，修筑城池，整修疆界、道路、溝渠等。兇禮是與喪葬、災難相關的禮節。包括哀悼死亡的喪禮，哀吊災禍的吊禮、撫恤遭受不幸時他國的恤禮等。“五禮”確立了古代禮儀制度的基本結構，對封建社會歷代禮制產生深遠影響。