For business cards, sales comrades are certainly no strangers, and they are basically necessary. Especially when social tools are not so developed, gently say "This is my business card." Suddenly I feel that I have a unique face, which is very elegant, because business cards are generally only available to successful people.
However, with the rapid development of economy, the popularity of business cards has also increased. Modern business cards are generally used for business contacts, with names, contact information, company positions, etc. Simply put, a business card is a communication tool and a shortcut to introduce yourself. Business cards are so popular in modern society, so will ancient people have business cards? The answer is yes.
Modern business cards are printed, rectangular hard paper, very light. China's ancient business cards appeared in the Qin and Han Dynasties, but there was no paper at that time, so it was not as convenient as it is now. The material is usually wood or bamboo, which is much larger in size. It's not called a business card, it's called Yi. The reason why the name is so strange is related to the fact that there were "foreign" officials in government agencies in the pre-Qin period who were responsible for communications and other affairs.
After the reunification of Qin, basically every dynasty had "worshipping the prime minister" or similar official positions. With the further development of economy and culture, some dignitaries have also set up "worshippers" who are responsible for receiving guests. Generally speaking, they should be "servants", because they are not official positions, and they give feedback to visitors according to the owner's meaning, and their work content is probably similar to that of today's secretaries. Later, for convenience, a "telephone" appeared, in which one's own information was written, and the reasons for asking for an interview were sent directly to the other party's home, so that there was no need for a special person to take charge of visitors, which greatly saved manpower and financial resources.
During the Qin and Han dynasties, the ancient society was hierarchical, and "Yi" was used by dignitaries, but ordinary people were not allowed to touch it, but there were exceptions. The exception is the Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang. When the Qin Dynasty was a curator, a county magistrate once hosted a banquet for celebrities from all walks of life, stipulating that those who had no money could only be outside the lobby. Liu bang, who was born as a "local ruffian", naturally wanted to get involved. What should he do if he has no money? This bold move shocked Lv Gong at the banquet and laid the groundwork for Lv Zhi to marry Liu Bang in the future. It seems that those who achieve great things should be thick-skinned and informal, and Liu Bang undoubtedly has these qualities.
The name of "Ci" was changed to "Ci" in the Eastern Han Dynasty. With the invention of paper, the name of "word" was changed to paper. The invention of paper also promoted the use of "words", which was no longer restricted by so many levels as in Qin and Han Dynasties. The application of "Ci" was quite common in the Eastern Han Dynasty. According to records, Guo Tai, a famous player in the Eastern Han Dynasty, often received business cards, which were exaggerated to be loaded in cars, and Mi Fei, a madman at the end of the Han Dynasty, also had them.
From the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Tang and Song Dynasties, business cards were no longer called "thorns" but "doors". The prevalence of imperial examinations in the Tang and Song Dynasties provided a channel for the people at the bottom to enter the upper class. After every imperial examination, they can't completely relax after the college entrance examination as they do today. These new soldiers have to visit dignitaries everywhere, expecting to be appreciated and supported, paving the way for their future political future, and have to vote before meeting these famous families.
In ancient times, the words "business card" and "name" came into contact with each other in the Ming Dynasty, which was called "business card". In the Ming dynasty, reading was still the only way out, so there were more literate people in the Ming dynasty than in other dynasties, and they were more polite. Students have to hand in "business cards" when they meet teachers, big officials and small officials. The words on the "name card" should be large to show humility. If it is too small, it will be considered arrogant and should be written all over the door. The size of "famous brand" in Ming Dynasty is about seven inches long and three inches wide. "Famous posts" were not called "business cards" until the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, and tended to be miniaturized, especially in officialdom, where the size of "business cards" showed status, and the business cards of big officials were small, while those of small officials were large.
In addition to different names in different periods, the contents and rules of ancient business cards are also different from today. People with similar status and status will generally write their official position, county and name on their business cards, or they can just write their names on some less solemn occasions. When subordinates meet their superiors, the content is mostly polite, such as "an official visits at home on a certain day" or "an official waits for him" or "an official says something".
There are also many rules in the use of ancient business cards. When going out to pay homage, you must first cast a business card. If you don't meet, you will be rejected. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, people of different grades used different business cards. The most obvious difference is color. People with high status and power use red. If they are members of the royal family, it is even more unusual. For example, "Wang" or other names will be written on business cards to show their dignity.
The use of business cards is also related to some customs and etiquette. If there is a funeral at home, the word "Zhi" will be written in the upper left corner of the business card or a black box will be drawn around it. Ancient business cards also have another purpose, which can be used to pay New Year greetings. The year is approaching, there are too many relatives and friends, and the ancient traffic is backward, so it is impossible to visit them one by one. At this time, servants can be sent to pay New Year greetings with business cards, which is called "flying stickers". Interestingly, every household will put a red paper bag in front of the door to receive "flying stickers" to show that they have received blessings. "Don't want to meet, but talk about it, famous articles everywhere. I also throw a few pieces of paper with others, and the world is too simple and empty "is a vivid description of" flying stickers "in the New Year by poet Wen Zhiming.
"Business card" is a communication tool invented by our ancestors to adapt to economic and cultural development. It keeps pace with the times and reflects the social form at that time. With the development of economy, modern business cards have developed from ancient business cards and spread abroad. Japanese still uses the word "name thorn", and business cards can be said to be the invention patents of ancestors.