Joyful Hall Gathering

Author: Chang Runchun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-10-01
Features: Observing the world publishing industry, while third-world countries like China struggle to import Western science, technology, cultural, and entertainment books, Western countries have also developed a strong interest in the history and culture of many developing countries, including China. The popularity of Chinese traditional culture books introduced at the Frankfurt Book Fair over the years proves this point. This book focuses on the birthday and banquet customs of Beijing during the late Qing Dynasty and the Republican period. Life ceremonies mainly include weddings and birthday celebrations, with banquets generally reserved for birthdays. As a grand occasion in joyous affairs, they are called "joyful banquets," which are actually a form of social performance, including theater and folk arts. This book not only systematically introduces different forms of birthday celebrations, such as poor birthdays, child birthdays, and spiritual birthdays, along with their preparations, procedures, and etiquette, but also provides detailed explanations of the organization, play arrangements, content, and rituals of the two types of banquets. In addition to birthday banquets, this book also covers other types of banquets, such as banquets to appease deities, group banquets, and brothel opening banquets. The book also includes traditional lyrics specifically used in joyful banquets, for enthusiasts to sing along.