Listen to this articlexiāngyǐnjiǔlǐ 乡饮酒礼
Banquet for Community Leaders and Rural Elders
于乡间设酒宴酬宾之礼，是古代人伦生活中的一项重要礼仪。“乡”是古代的基层行政区划单位。“乡饮酒礼”在“乡”间举行，因其用意的不同，可大体分为两类：一类是宴请乡中德行贤良之士，以彰显对贤者的尊崇；另一类则由基层行政长官主持，宴请乡中年长之人，以表达对长者的尊敬与关爱。“乡饮酒礼”对于维护、调和基层的人伦秩序具有重要意义。
This was an important social function in ancient China. On the basis of their purpose, such banquets can generally be divided into two kinds: one was to entertain virtuous people in the locality in a display of respect for them; the other was hosted by local officials to entertain the elders to show respect and care for them. Such banquets were important in maintaining moral order in rural communities.
引例 Citation：
◎乡饮酒之礼，六十者坐，五十者立侍，以听政役，所以明尊长也。六十者三豆，七十者四豆，八十者五豆，九十者六豆，所以明养老也。（《礼记·乡饮酒义》）
（乡饮酒礼规定，六十岁以上的长者就座，五十岁以上的人站立陪侍，以听候政事差遣，所以彰显对年长者的尊敬。六十岁以上的长者享用三豆菜肴，七十岁以上者享用四豆菜肴，八十岁以上者享用五豆菜肴，九十岁以上者享用六豆菜肴，所以彰显对年长者的奉养。）
At banquets hosted for village elders, those who were over sixties sat, and those who were only in their fifties stood to serve them, and this shows that the elders were honored. Those in their sixties had three dishes, those in their seventies four, those in their eighties five and those in their nineties six, thus demonstrating care for the aged. (The Book of Rites)
