Chinese etiquette has profound history. With more than a thousand years of historical and cultural accumulation, it has permeated daily life of communication and interaction. Greeting guests with tea has a certain universality since ancient times, regardless of among family, neighborhood, temple or public. It still has a profound impact on modern life. Rooted in the tradition of serving guests with tea, Venerable Master Hsingyun innovated treating guests with congee. Congee not only acts as traditional Chinese culture, but also has strong Buddhism attachments, as well as contain personal life experiences and cultural understandings. The etiquette of replacing tea with congee while meeting with guests, has both a long-lasting history of tradition to rely on, and a wide range of themes to extend. It can delicately convey the Master’s life experience and faith of propagating Dharma under the intertwined cultural and emotional elements.
