The Study Of Capping Rite And Its Value Based On The Ritual Sense

In ancient Chinese etiquette system,capping ceremony,as the beginning of etiquette,plays a very important role in life rituals.It is an iconic rite for individual to grow to manhood,enter the society,start life and take on variety social responsibilities which include sacrifice,marriage and beravement,ect.Therefore,having a systematic study on capping ceremony,especially from the perspective of ritual sense,is of great significance in the understanding of the traditional ritual culture and individual value.The article is divided into four parts.The first part: tracing back the origin and development of capping ceremony and analyzing its specific process.The capping ceremony originated in the primitive society,developed in the Xia and Shang dynasties,formed in the Zhou Dynasty,and experienced three stages of development: the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period,the Qin to Ming Dynasty period,the Qing Dynasty and later period.The specific process is divided into three stages:pre-ceremony preparation,main capping ceremony and post-ceremony rites,among which the most important part is "three capping" and "naming".The second part: elaborating the capping ceremony from the pespective of ritual sense.First of all,based on the theory of "material sense",it is explained that the formation of ritual sense is the result of inteaction between the human heart and etiquette which carry the inner spirit of benevolence,sincerity,respect,and harmony.Secondly,explain the specific connotation of the ritual sense of capping ceremony.It is a combination of emotions such as sense of awe,morality,identity and harmony that the human heart senses in the inner spirit of the time,place,characters,and devices of capping rite.Finally,dicuss the function of capping ceremony based on the ritual sense.For the individual,capping ceremony means to recognize adulthood and do what an adult should do;for the family,it means to respect for the family,be fillial to parents and their elders,and love brothers and sisters;for the country,it means to clear the division of rank and do the duty of rank.The third part: discusssing the historical value and historical limitation of traditional capping ceremony.First of all,based on the origin and development of capping ceremony,this paper explores the four historical values of the ceremony: the survival and reproduction value of the primitive society;the patriarchal hierarchy value of the "three generations" period;the moral education value of the Spring and Autumn period and the warring States period;the value of social rights in Qin-Ming dynasties period.Secondly,it analyzes the historical limitation of capping ceremony.The first is that the sense of rank and inferiority is too strong,social status and rights are unequal;the second is that the social order is too strong and the individual subjectivity is bound;the third is that there are many ideas of ghosts and gods,and the rational knowledge is insufficient.The fourth part: explaining the modern value of capping ceremony.For the first time,this paper analyzes the causes of the decline of capping ceremony from politics,society and culture three aspects.Secondly,this paper discusses the modern significance.If the capping ceremony is introduced into modern life,it will help individuals to identify themselves as adults,to promote their adult rights and responsibilities,and to cultivate their moral character.Finally,elaborating the succession and development of capping ceremony.On the one hand,it is necessary to carry on the theory and method inheritance.On the other hand,it is necessary to carry on the clothing and the ceremony innovation.