Listen to this articlepìnlǐ 聘礼
Pinli (Diplomatic Etiquette and Protocol)
最初指天子与诸侯之间或诸侯与诸侯之间访问、会见的外交礼仪，是古代政治生活中的一项重要礼仪。因出访与受访人的身份、访问的缘由、频次等因素的不同，“聘礼”可区分为朝、聘、问等不同等级的聘问。随着政治形势的变化，“聘礼”后来也泛指国与国或其他相对独立的政治主体之间相互访问的外交礼仪。“聘礼”通过朝见、访问过程中的礼仪设计，规范并彰显行礼之人所代表的不同政治主体的地位及相互关系。聘礼后来也指男女订婚时男方向女方行聘的礼仪。
Pinli, meaning diplomatic etiquette and protocol for the visits by the lords to the king and by one lord to another, is an important part of political activity in ancient China. Depending on such factors as the status of visitor and host and the purpose and frequency of the visits, diplomatic etiquette was conducted at three levels: between two ducal lords ruling different states, involving a ministerial-level envoy, and involving senior officials. As the political conditions changed, pinli later also referred to the diplomatic ceremonial for visits involving rulers of countries and other independent political entities. The rules observed when paying tribute to a king and at other visits indicated the status and mutual relationships of the different political entities that were represented by the participants on such occasions. Later on pinli came to mean the formalities performed by the man’s side when getting engaged to a woman.
引例 Citations：
◎凡诸侯之邦交，岁相问也，殷相聘也，世相朝也。（《周礼·秋官·大行人》）
（凡是诸侯之间的邦交，每年要相互行问礼，隔若干年要相互行聘礼，君主世代交替要行朝礼。）
As for the relations between the ducal states, visits by officials should be exchanged annually, ministerial-level missions sent at longer intervals, and the ducal lords themselves are to pay visits on the occasion of the succession of a new ruler. (The Rites of Zhou)
◎聘礼，上公七介，侯伯五介，子男三介，所以明贵贱也。（《礼记·聘义》）
（聘礼规定，上公聘问用七个人传宾主之言，侯伯聘问用五个人，子男聘问用三人，所以用来彰显身份的高低。）
According to diplomatic protocol, a superior duke has seven attendants for a given visit; a marquis or earl has five; and a viscount or baron has three. In this way their ranks are made apparent. (The Book of Rites)
