User:Luo Yan

== 1.Introduction ==

Rituals paly an indispensable role in human social interaction, embodying shared norms and customs. Life-cycle rituals——encompassing birth, coming-of-age, marriage, and funeeral ceremonies——carry profound cultural significance. As one such ritual, the coming-of-age ceremony marks the transition from childhood to adulthood. This article explores traditional and modern Chinese coming-of-age ceremonies and their contemporary relevance.

== 2.Traditional Coming-of-Age Ceremonies: Capping Ceremony(Guanli) and Hair-Pinning Ceremony(Jili) ==

Traditional coming-of-age ceremony is a rite performed when youths reach adulthood, serving as a cornerstone of ancient adult education.Through this ceremony, society educates and admonishes young people, signifying their departure from parental protection and their new responsibilities. In China, the primary ceremonies are the Capping Ceremony(Guanli) for males and the Hair-Pinning Ceremony(Jili) for females. Though distinct, both share similar rituals and procedures.

== == 2.1Capping Ceremony == ==

Capping Ceremony is the coming-of-age ceremony for aristocratic males. As recorded in Liji(Book of Rites), Qu Li Shang:" At the age of twenty, a man undergoes the Capping Ceremony called 'ruoguan', signifying that he has reaches adulthood but his body is still not fully robust." At 20, a father or elder brother would crown the youth with a cap in the ancestral temple before esteemed guests, symbolizing his entry into adulthood. Historically evolving from "male coming-of-age ritual"(Chengdingli), Capping Ceremony emerges during the Zhou Dynasty. Throughout the Han Dynasty, it emphasizes adult education, while the Ming Dynasty imbues it with political significance. After the Ming Dynasty, Capping Ceremony declines and eventually merges with wedding ceremonies by the early Republican era. The traditional Capping Ceremony mainly includes the following procedures:

== == Divining an auspicious date; Notifying and instructing guests; Divining the chief guest == ==

Several dyas before the Capping Ceremony, an auspicious date is determined through divination(using yarrow stalks or turtle shells) to express good wishes for the initiate. If the divined date is auspicious, it is adopted; if inauspicious, the divination is repeated until a favorable date is found. This process is known as "divining the auspicious date". The host then notifies the guests of the chosen date several dyas in advance and invites them to attend. After the invitees politely declines the first invitation as a formality, they accept the host's reinvitation. This ritual exchange is called "notifying and instructing the guests". Three days prior to the ceremony, a divination is performed to select the chief guest who would confer the caps on the initiate. The procedure mirrors that of divining the auspicious date, known as "divining the chief guest".

== == Displaying robes and vessels; Laying out mats; Threefold capping == ==

Before the formal ceremony, the host first displays the robes, headgears and sacrificial offerings for the Capping Ceremony, then lays out the ceremonial mats north of the eastern steps in the ancestral temple——where the chief guest would confer the caps on the initiate. This precedes the core ritual: the threefold capping, in which the chief guest successively bestows three caps upon the initiate: first a black cloth cap, then a leather cap, and finally a ceremonial cap. The initiate also changes into three sets of matching robes. After each capping, the chief guest presents distinct blessings, symbolizing the initiate's progression toward adulthood. The escalating nobility of the robe in each capping stage is intended to make the initiate appreciate the journey to maturity.

== == The chief guest libates the initiate; Bestowing a courtesy name== ==

After the Capping Ceremony concludes, the chief guest libates the initiate with ritual wine and offers congratulations, expressing expectations and blessings for the adult. The initiate then pays respect to his mother, bowing to express gratitude for her nurture. Following the libation, the chief guest bestows a countesy name upon the initiate. This sobriquet is typically used for peers addressing one another or juniors addressing elders, serving as a formal marker of respect.

== == Performing the ritual of salutation; Escorting the guests == ==

Upon the conclusion of the formal Capping Ceremony, the initiate officially steps into adulthood. At this point, the newly capped adult performs the ritual of salutation to the guests, first paying respects to family members, then proceeding to meet the monarch, ministers, officials and local shcolars and gentry. This sequence of salutations——beginning with family and extending to the court and local community——symbolizes the initiate's transition from familial to social responsibility, marking the gradual assumption of adult roles. Finally, the host offers wine to the guests, presents gifts as tokens of gratitude, and escorts them to the gate of the ancestral temple, thus concluding the ritual.

== 2.2Hair-Pinning Ceremony==

Corresponding to the men's Capping Ceremony, the Hair-Pinning Ceremony is the coming-of-age ceremony for ancient Chinese women, commonly known as "topknot ceremony", emerging alongside the Capping Ceremony. "Receiving the hairpin" involves changing the juvenile haiestyle during the ceremony: the hair is coiled into a bun, wrapped with a black kerchief, and then fixed with a hairpin. The ceremony is presided over by the female head of the family, while an invited female guest places the hairpin on the maiden, signifying her adulthood and eligibility for marriage. After the ceremony, noblewomen typically receive adult education in the royal palace or clan ancestral hall, instruct in the "four female virtues": fude(moral conduct), furong(deportment), fugong(domestic skills), and fuyan(eloquence). These encompass the ethics for interacting with others, the manners for serving in-laws, and practical skills like needlework——essential for a wife in traditional society.

Following the Hair-Pinning Ceremony, young women are deemed eligible for marriage and assume responsibilities as newly adult members of the family, initiating their roles as wives and later mothers in their husband's households. Under the ancient Chinese patriarchal tradition, the Hair-Pinning Ceremony is typically conducted shortly before marriage. However, if a woman remains unbetrothed, she would still undergo the ritual at age twenty to mark her entry into adulthood. This practice highlights the greater flexibility in the timing of the Hair-Pinning Ceremony compared to the fixed age of twenty for the Capping Ceremony for males. Its procedures parallels that of the Capping Ceremony, including threefold hair-pinning, paying respects to elders, and bestowing blessings. The core threefold hair-pinning mirrors its male counterpart but with distinct specifics: instead of successive caps, the maiden receives hairpins of increasing elegance——a wooden pin, a jade pin, and finally a ceremonial pin——symbolizing her transition from girlhood to womanhood.

== 3.Modern Coming-of-Age Ceremony ==

The modern 18-year-old coming-of-age ceremony originates in the 1990s. This innovative activity is quickly promoted by the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and gradually developed into the "Coming-of-Age Ceremony" across all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China. On December 18,1993, the first 18-year-old coimg-of-age ceremony was solemnly held in front of the People's Heroes Memorial Tower on the Bund in Shanghai. For more than three decades, this activity——centered on patriotic education and aimed at fostering adolescents' sense of social and moral responsibility upon reaching adulthood——has generated a strong social response. Take schools' coming-of-age ceremony as an example:

== == Passing through the door of adulthood, the door of talent, and the door of success == ==

This tradition not only embodies expectations for students' growth but also contains rich cultural connotations. Firstly, "the door of adulthood" serves not just as a symbol in the coming-of-age ceremony, but as a reminder for students——alerting them to think independently and take responsibility for their actions. Secondly, "the door of talent" encapsulates the school's hopes for students' academic achievements, and encourages them to strive for continuous learning, enhance their comprehensive quality, and become useful members of society. Finally, "the door of success" not only commends students for their perseverance and courage to forge ahead but also expresses high expectations for their upcoming college entrance examination.

== == Flag-raising ceremony; Oath-taking; Presentation of the Constitution== ==

As the primary front for cultural and ethical education, schools are committed to students' all-round development. The coming-of-age ceremony, as a part of schools' ritual education, conveys the nation's core socialist values to students through processes like the flag-raising ceremony, oath-taking, and presentation of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. This aims to nurture students' patriotic feelings and sense of ownership, while inspiring thier responsibility and mission wotard society and the country.

== == Gratitude to parents == ==

Of all virtues, filial piety comes first. Influenced by Confucianism, "filial piety" is a highly valued cultural concept and supreme moral ethic in our tradition, permeating the entire educational process. Therefore, in the coming-of-age ceremony held by schools, this part embodies the national value orientation. It teaches students to be grateful for their parents' sacrifices and love, cultivates a sense of gratitude, makes them aware of the close bond with family and kinship, reminds them to assume their responsibilities as children, forters correct family values, and clarifies their relos and duties within the family.

== 4.Contemporary Significance of Coming-of-Age Ceremony ==

In general, coming-of-age ceremony——both traditional and modern——is an indispensable component of Chinese culture. Closely tied to traditional cultual values, China's modern and traditional coming-of-age ceremonies are vital parts of the cultural heritage, representing individuals' growth and transition from childhood to adulthood. Both involve the performance of ritual actions and traditional etiquettes, as well as shifts in responsibility, roles, and social status. Studying the connections betwenn modern and traditional coming-of-age ceremonies helps us better understand their cultural and spiritual connotations, providing references and insights for improving modern coming-of-age ceremony. Meanwhile, drawing lessons from traditional coming-of-age ceremony can endow modern coming-of-age ceremony with deeper meaning and value, integrating historical wisdom into the present.

1.绪言

礼仪在人类社会交往中扮演着不可或缺的角色，它体现了人们共同遵循达的规范和习俗。人生礼仪以诞生礼、成人礼、婚礼和丧葬礼为主要内容，蕴含着丰富的文化价值。成人礼作为其中之一，是未成年人脱离稚气、迈入成人行列的标志性仪式。本文将围绕传统成人礼、现代成人礼以及成人礼的现实意义三个方面展开叙述。

2.传统成人礼：冠礼和笄礼

传统成人礼是古代青年在达到成人年龄时举行的象征他们迈向成人阶段的一种仪式，是古代成人教育中最重要的一环。传统社会通过举行成人仪式，教育并警示年轻人，使他们认识到自己即将脱离长辈的护佑，必须掌握一定的本领并要独立承担相应的社会责任。中国传统的成人礼主要有男子的“冠礼”和女子的“笄礼”两种，二者虽有不同，但它们的礼节仪式和程序非常相似。

2.1冠礼

冠礼是古代士族男子的成年仪式。《礼记·曲礼上》载“二十曰弱冠”，古代男子在20岁时要由父亲或兄长在宗庙中为其举行加冠仪式，并邀请德高望重的宾客参加，以此表明其已经长大成人。从冠礼的历史演变过程来看，由“成丁礼”演变而来的冠礼在周朝开始出现，直至汉朝均强调仪式对成年男子的教育功能，明朝的冠礼仪式则颇具政治意味，明代之后，冠礼逐渐衰微，至民国初期，冠礼与婚礼渐渐合为一体。

传统冠礼主要包括一些仪式和程序：

筮日、戒宾、筮宾

在行礼前数日，通过占筮的办法确定举行冠礼的吉日，表达对受冠者的美好祝愿。如果所占日子为吉日即可，若为凶日则需要重新占卜下一吉日，此为“筮日”。主人提前几日将冠礼吉日告知众宾，并邀请他们前来参加仪式，受邀者礼节推辞后，接受主人再次邀请，此为“戒宾”。冠礼的前三天，占卜在冠礼仪式上为受冠者加冠的正宾，其仪式和占筮吉日相同，此为“筮宾”。

陈服器、布席、三加

在正礼之前，主人需要先将加冠所用的冠服、头饰以及祭品等摆出来，并在祖庙阼阶偏北布设好加冠的席位，主宾要在此为冠者加冠。之后便进入冠礼的中心环节：由正宾向冠者进行三次加冠，依次为缁布冠、皮弁、爵弁，冠者也要更换三种不同的服饰与之相配，每次加冠后正宾都会赠予冠者不同的祝词，三次加冠的服饰越来越尊贵，意在让冠者体会成人的过程。

宾醴冠者、取字

在加冠完成之后，正宾要向冠者敬醴酒并祝贺，以表示对其的期许和祝福。而后，冠者要向母亲行拜见礼，以感激其养育之恩。宾醴冠者后，正宾要为冠者取字，“字”一般用于平辈之间相互称呼或晚辈称呼长辈，表示尊重。

行拜见礼、送宾

冠礼正礼完成后就意味着冠者步入成人阶段，此时，冠者要以成人的身份向宾客行拜见礼。冠者首先要拜见家庭成员，然后拜见国君、卿大夫、乡党士绅等。拜见礼由家庭开始，再到庙堂乡里，意味着冠者从家庭走向社会，标志着其逐渐成人。最后，主人以酒敬宾客，送礼物表示答谢，并将宾客送至门外，仪式结束。

2.2笄礼

与男子冠礼相对应，笄礼是古代女子的成人礼，俗称“上头礼”，与冠礼同时期兴起。受笄即在行笄礼时改变幼年的发式，将头发绾成一个髻，然后用一块黑布将发髻包住，随即以簪插定发髻。主行笄礼者为女性家长，由约请的女宾为少女加笄，表示少女成年可以结婚。贵族女子受笄后，一般要在公宫过宗室接受成人教育，授以“妇德、妇容、妇功、妇言”等，作为媳妇必须具备的待人接物及侍奉舅姑的品德礼貌与女红劳作等技巧本领。

在行及笄礼之后，女子可以进行婚配，承担起作为新成年女子对家庭的责任，可以在另一个家庭开始其作为妻子而后作为母亲的家庭生活。中国古代男尊女卑的社会风习下，笄礼只有在女子婚嫁前才举行。但是，如果一直待嫁未许人，则年至二十也行笄礼，以此标志她们进入成年阶段。由此可见，相对于男子冠礼，女子及笄礼举办的年龄更加灵活。其流程与男子冠礼相似，由三加、拜见长辈、祝辞等议程。突出中心环节“三加”，只不过具体内容有所不同。

3.现代成人礼

现代意义上的18岁成人礼仪始于20世纪90年代。这一具有创新性的活动很快得到共青团上海市委的推广，并逐渐发展成为遍及全国各省区市的“成人节”。1993年12月18日，上海外滩的人民英雄纪念塔前，第一届18岁成人仪式隆重举行。三十多年来，这一以爱国主义教育为核心，旨在激发青少年成年后社会责任感和道德感的仪式教育活动，在社会上引起强烈反响。以学校成人礼活动为例：

过成人门、成才门、成功门

这一传统不仅体现了对学生成长的期望，也蕴含着丰富的文化内涵。“成人门”不仅是成人礼过程中的一个象征，更是对学生的一种警示，可以提醒学生开始拥有的权利和义务，告诫他们要学会独立思考并为自己的行为负责。“成才门”不仅饱含了学校对学生在学业成就上的期许，也是对学生通过不断努力学习、提高自己的综合素质、成为社会的有用之才的鼓励。最后的“成功门”不仅是对学生们坚持不懈、勇往直前的精神的赞扬，更对学生们即将迎来的高考寄予厚望。

升旗、宣誓、赠《宪法》

学校作为文化素质教育的主要阵地，致力于学生的全面发展。其中，成人礼作为学校仪式教育的一部分，在举办仪式活动的过程中，通过升旗、宣誓、赠送《宪法》等流程，向学生传达国家社会主义核心价值观，以培养学生的爱国主义情感和主人翁意识，激发学生对社会和国家的责任感和使命感。

感恩父母

百善孝为先，受儒家思想熏陶，“孝”是我们传统中极被重视的文化价值观念，是至高无上的道德伦理，贯穿教育始终。因此，在学校举办的成人礼中，感恩父母这一环节体现了民族价值观念取向，可以教导学生要懂得感恩父母的付出和爱护，培养对父母的感恩心态，让学生意识到自己与家庭和亲情的紧密联系，提醒学生承担起自己作为子女的担当，树立正确的家庭观念，明白自己在家庭中的责任和角色。

4.成人礼的现实意义

中国的成人礼是一种文化传统活动，有助于在借鉴和创新中加强青少年礼仪教育。我国有着久远而丰厚的礼治传统。礼仪作为礼的形式，体现的是礼的本质意义。世界各地都有形式不一的成人礼。近年来，国内不少地方也将成人礼作为青少年教育的重要内容。传统的“成人”教育注重礼的内涵，注重通过礼仪的形式使青少年理解做人的真谛。借鉴和创新传统“成人”礼仪，开展