Research On The Li Zeng(礼赠) Of Chao Pin(朝聘) In The Sping And Autumn Period

Chao Pin (朝聘) ritual is an important diplomatic etiquette of aristocratic society from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period, The procedure of Chao Pin ritual is permeated with gift-giving, called it Li Zeng(礼赠),which includes the ceremony of gift-giving and the gifts are called "Li Bi"(礼币),as well as the significance by sending gifts is called "Zeng Yi"(赠意), Li Zeng has its own characteristics and connotations under the specification of Chao Pin ritual, Along with the historic changes and the evolution of ritual of the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States period, Li Zeng has a process of dynamic change.Li Zeng is an ideographic and conceptual gift-giving, under the influence of destiny viewpoint and thought of rule of virtue, as well as hierarchical differences and the order of superiority and inferiority on ritual, It has a dual nature of hierarchical and equivalence, at the same time with the meaning of "value rites above material interests" and interpersonal respect, Chao Pin ritual happened decay in content and form during the spring and autumn period than the Western Zhou Dynasty, Li Zeng has shifted in the ceremonial of value offering gifts above etiquette; In the system of hegemonistic politics,Li Zeng shows the different stages of utilitarian features because the subject of Li Zeng from Zhou Imperial Court to hegemonic power of the princes’states, The reason for evolution of Li Zeng not only the disintegration of enfeoffment and patriarchal clan system as well as the change of the power structure what lead to the political turbulence and the reform of ritual, but also the transformation of ideological concept during the Spring and Autumn Period, It happened "value fatality above personnel","value rule of rite above etiquette","value utility above grads" in the thoughts of Spring and Autumn Period than Western Zhou Dynasty, which lead to etiquette was replaced by utilitarian exchanges, the order of hierarchical and superiority and inferiority was replaced by the princes’ states struggling for power, To the Warring States Period, along with the disintegration of enfeoffment and patriarchal clan system and the expansion of the monarchy, the hierarchical differences in Chao Pin ritual lapsed into disuse and a new system of Chao Pin ritual has gradually formed, Li Zeng gradually break away from the etiquette, the ritual elements was replaced by diplomatic interests and selfish motives, which lead to the diplomatic relations depends on interests; The war between the states depends on strength; The private association depends on bribery.To some degree, Li Zeng of Chao Pin in the Spring and Autumn Period reflects the social characteristics. It is in a transitional phase, which connects the characteristics of etiquette of Western Zhou Dynasty and the interests between political strategists’diplomacy of the Warring States Period. It is an epitome of social change and the evolution of concept and changes in ritual during the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn and the Warring States period.