Ladies and gentlemen, nowadays we attend all kind of events. Do you know the traditional Chinese seating plan, the right or the left side carries honour? When you need to organize a Chinese dinner, do you know how to place your guest? Review together with us!
The same as for a Western table sitting plan, in China, before placing the guests at the table, we have to take the following items into consideration to create warm banquet atmosphere.
Seats of Honour：
The seats of honour, are reserved for the host of the dinner or the guest with the highest status, facing the entrance or east. Those with higher position sit closer to the host of the dinner. The guests with the lowest position sit furthest from the seat of honour.
Round table：
Principles of business seating plan:
1. The seat facing the entrance is the seat of honour. The right side is more important than the left side. Seats with a good view and close to walls also carry honour.
2. People from two different companies shall alternate the seats.
Here we listed three common situations, based on the number of host side:
a. One-host banquet
In business dinner, the host takes the main seat, and the rest of the people take seats according to the right side rule, and both parties shall alternate with each other. Therefore, the shape of the same party looks like a zigzag line.
b. Two hosts (same gender) banquet
This is common in business occasions, the first and second hosts are the same gender, seats facing to each other. The rest of the people also apply to the « right side rule ».
c. Two hosts (host and hostess) banquet
This is the family style. Generally, the host faces the entrance (so that he can guide latecomers) and the hostess faces the kitchen door, in order to guide staff serving with eye contact.
Square table:
Traditional/ancient rule: « The left side and door-facing seats were more important. » Take Eight Immortals Table for example, a big square table with benches for two people on each side. Facing to the entrance side are the main seats (for the most important guest). The seats on the left hand side of the main seat were, from left in order of importance were third, fifth and seventh; and those on the right were second, fourth, sixth and eighth.
In grand banquet:
1. The table of honour is the one furthest from the entrance.
2. If there are many tables in one room, the central one is the table of honour.
Dear ladies and gentlemen, above are the general principals of Chinese seating plans, but the actual situations are quite complicated because of regional, cultural and other differences.
