The ancients were really particular about going to school! Without these six gifts, you can't worship your teacher
Respecting your teacher is a fine tradition from ancient times to the present. In the Zhou Dynasty, the ceremony of paying tribute to your teacher was advocated. Then do you know how the ancients performed the apprenticeship ceremony?
Confucius and his disciples
The ancients paid great attention to moral cultivation, learning from teachers and thanking teachers for their kindness. The traditional master-disciple relationship is second only to the father-son relationship. As the saying goes, "My parents are the one who gave birth to me, and my master is the one who taught me." The master-disciple relationship is second only to the father-son relationship. In some professions, once you enter the master's school, you are completely controlled by the master, and parents have no right to interfere.
Establishing such an important relationship naturally requires grand customs and etiquette to confirm and protect it. "Book of Rites? Nei Principles" stipulates that when a child goes out to study with a teacher when he is ten years old, whether he is entering a private school or an institution, he must perform the ceremony of becoming a teacher.
The ancient apprenticeship ceremony was a relatively complicated process, which also shows the importance and respect the ancients attached to apprenticeship. From the current point of view, the apprenticeship ceremony can be roughly divided into these five steps -
Correcting clothes and hats
According to the "Book of Rites": "The beginning of etiquette and righteousness lies in correcting appearance and body. The ancients believed: "Close your clothes first, then understand your affairs." Therefore, the first lesson is to teach students to pay attention to their appearance and tidiness.
When entering school, students must stand one by one, and the teacher will help the students tidy up their clothes in turn. Then, "neatly dressed" people lined up to assemble in front of the school. After standing respectfully for a moment, you can enter the school under the leadership of your teacher.
Confucius gave the ceremony
Baptism
The second step is that the students will perform baptism under the leadership of the teacher. The students must follow the teacher's request to Put your hands in the basin and wash them.
The washing method is to wash the front and back once, and then wipe dry. The meaning of washing hands is to purify hands and mind, remove impurities and retain essence, hoping to concentrate on future studies without distractions. This also expresses sincerity and respect for apprenticeship.
Kowtow ceremony
According to "Xue Ji" records: "When teaching began in the university, Pi Bian offered sacrifices to vegetables."
Before the apprenticeship ceremony, students must first kneel down to worship the most holy teacher, Mr. Confucius, kneel on the ground and kowtow nine times. The second step is to pay homage to the master, kneel on the knees, kowtow three times, and present the post of Toushi.
This is a sign of respect for the ancestors and husbands, showing respect for the industry and piety in the profession. It is also a prayer for the ancestor's "blessing" to make one's studies successful.
Giving six gifts to complete the cultivation
After performing the kowtow ceremony, in the ancient apprenticeship ceremony, students also need to give gifts to express their feelings.
Shu Xiu existed before the Spring and Autumn Period. Confucius once said, "Those who can do more than self-restraint, I have no teachings."
It means that when a disciple brings meat as a meeting ceremony to meet the master, he will definitely impart knowledge. Later, it gradually evolved into the "Six Rituals Bundle Practice", that is, the disciple gives it to the master during the worship ceremony.