清宫元旦筵宴尽显至尊皇权

New Year’s Banquet of the Qing Court

辞旧迎新,从古至今都是中国大多数民族最重要的节日。在清朝近三百年的历史中,作为万民之主的帝王,这一天更要举行名目繁多、盛大隆重的节庆活动,主要有元旦开笔、堂子祭天、坤宁宫祭神、朝贺、筵宴等。其中,筵宴是最重要的一项活动。清宫元旦(这里指农历元月初一日)筵宴,一直从入关前延续到入关后,逐渐完善成为礼仪制度,不仅显示着岁末年首的喜庆气氛,更在等级次第及三跪九叩中弥漫着皇权至上的威严。

The New Year’s Day(referring to the first day of the first lunar month of the traditional Chinese calendar) has been the most important holiday of the majority of the Chinese nationalities since ancient times. In the Qing Dynasty lasting for some 300 years,the Emperor held grand and complicated celebrative activities on the day, such as writing calligraphy, sacrificing to heaven at the palace temple, sacrificing to gods at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, celebrating in court and holding a banquet. Of the total, the banquet was the most important activity. It had been held throughout the dynasty and gradually become a ritual, not only showing the festive atmosphere but also demonstrating the imperial supremacy.