Elegant gatherings, originating from ancient times, specifically refer to gatherings where literati recite poetry and discuss knowledge. The key word is "reciting poetry". The ancients created ancient poems by chanting them repeatedly and finally completed them. Therefore, "reciting poems" cannot be understood as "reciting ready-made poems by predecessors", but refers to re-creating ancient poems according to the time, place and theme at the gathering.
The more famous ones in history include the "Jinguyuan Elegant Gathering" by Shi Chong in the Western Jin Dynasty, the "Lanting Elegant Gathering" by Wang Xizhi in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the "Tengwang Pavilion Elegant Gathering" in the Tang Dynasty, which made Wang Bo famous overnight, etc., without exception. Mainly creative poetry. The drunkenness on the third day of March in the ninth year of Yonghe not only produced 37 poems, but also created Wang Xizhi's eternally famous "Preface to the Lanting Collection" and his calligraphy of "The Preface to the Lanting Collection" which is known as the best running script in the world. .
Drinking wine and composing poems was a major innovation by the literati of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. The content is roughly that after the guests have arrived, the host will arrange them to sit on both sides of the winding stream, and the bookboy or lady will fill the glass with half of the wine and gently put it into the stream with a fishing bag, allowing it to flow smoothly. Flow down. According to the rules, if the wine glass stops in front of someone, the boy or lady will gently pick it up with a fishing bag and put it into the hands of the person who has to drink the wine in one gulp and then compose a poem. ; If his talent is not sharp and he cannot compose a poem immediately, he will be fined with three measures of wine.
In ancient elegant gatherings, poetry and composition played the leading role. Although other elements of elegant culture such as piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, tea, wine, incense, flowers, etc. participated in the scene, they only played supporting roles. Chapter 18 of "The Scholars": "Today's elegant gathering of ours cannot be without poetry." In fact, at the highest level, the elements of elegant culture are all based on Chinese philosophy and are connected with each other. The literati can rely on these elegant elements to Culture helps poetry flourish. For example, Wang Wei was good at reciting poetry, painting, calligraphy, and guqin. Su Shi gave Huang Tingjian a harmonious incense blended by himself. Huang Tingjian knew the artistic conception Su Shi wanted to express as soon as he tasted it.
Today's Yaji is broader than the classical sense. As long as it promotes the essence of traditional Chinese culture, it covers such things as piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, tea, wine, incense, flowers, Tai Chi, martial arts, etc. Traditional Chinese medicine, Kunqu opera, purple clay, blue and white and other traditional elegant cultural elements use instruments to convey the Tao, and performance gatherings that rectify the mind, understand reason, please one's nature, be elegant, pay tribute to etiquette, respect virtue, and promote physical fitness can be collectively called elegant gatherings.
With the revival of incense culture, Xiangpinyaji is welcomed by incense lovers and is also known as "Incense Banquet".
There are many etiquettes for appreciating incense. In the incense banquet attended by everyone, first the host and guest sit down according to etiquette, and those who are young or of relatively low status sit last.
When tasting incense, the host uses his left hand to pass the incense burner to the guest's right hand, and the guest takes it with his right hand. After smelling the incense three times, he passes it to the next person's right hand with his left hand.
When tasting incense, you should sit in a dignified and elegant posture. You should not talk about topics unrelated to smelling incense. You should devote yourself wholeheartedly to it.
Do not eat snacks or use fans when smelling incense. You should put the incense burner down after smelling it three times and let it go to others. It is impolite to always hold the incense burner to monopolize the aroma and refuse to put it down.
When the host salutes to the guest to indicate the end of the ceremony, the guest should offer incense and the host and guest express their gratitude to the host for the hospitality.