How to Eat: A Confucian Guide to Dining Together - Lecture for SACU
Are table manners important? Confucius once said: “Exemplary persons do not take leave of their authoritative conduct even for the space of a meal.”[1] Even during a meal, one’s consideration for the comfort of fellow diners provide pertinent opportunity to cultivate consummate conduct (ren 仁). Beyond avoiding a faux pas, eating together compels us to bring out the better part of ourselves with every mouthful.
[1] The Analects of Confucius, trans. Roger T. Ames and Henry Rosemont Jr. (New York: Ballantine Books, 1998), 90.
This lecture is one of a series:
A Practical Guide for Every Day - The Art of Living from the Confucian Tradition
Series two - Making Friends and Entertaining (Series two, May - July 2025)
Lecture 5. How to Eat: A Confucian Guide to Dining Together (19 June 2025)
Confucius lived over 2000 years ago, yet his influence remains very strong in China. During the Han dynasty, 'Confucianism' was adopted as the underlying ideology for imperial rule and family order. Throughout China’s history, Confucianism has been challenged, reinterpreted, and appropriated. From the 20th century, after a period of disfavour, politicians and educationalists in China are once again turning to Confucianism for guidance.
To understand what Confucianism is, SACU is pleased that experts Dr Katherine Ngo and Dr Kelly Ngo, from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, will be running a series of seminars for us in 2025, our 60th year.
Full Programme of the Seminar Series here
The seminar series will run monthly on the third Thursday of each month at 7.00-8.00pm UK time (with a month's break between each series). Just before each seminar, a Zoom meeting link will be sent to those that have registered via Eventbrite.
These seminars are open at all. Attendees are invited to join SACU.
SACU membership benefits include:
• Joining SACU events (some are exclusive to members)
• China Eye quarterly magazine
• Monthly newsletter
• Friendship with many people who share your desire to promote deeper understanding between the peoples of the UK and China
More information about SACU and how to join here
