During the feudal era in China, emperors often held court sessions very early, and the civil and military officials were required to arrive on time for the morning assembly.
3 AM Attendance at the Gate of Noon
The famous Ming Dynasty poet, Cao Khởi, wrote in his work “Tảo chí khuyết hạ hậu triều” that the ministers of that time often had to prepare for the morning assembly from midnight (the reason for such an early start was due to the elaborate clothing that officials wore, which required multiple stages of preparation).
Ministers often had to attend court very early. (Image: Baidu)
By 3 AM, all ministers were required to be present and waiting outside the Gate of Noon. At 5 AM, when the palace gates opened, the civil and military officials would enter the palace in turn. If they did not arrive on time, they would face various penalties, ranging from a reduction in salary to demotion for more severe offenses.
To reach the morning assembly, officials had to travel a long distance from their residences to the imperial palace. It is estimated that some had to travel distances of up to half the city. However, few chose to eat breakfast at home beforehand, as some feared that eating would cause them to be late for the assembly. Even if they ate at home from midnight, they would certainly be hungry after the session. So, how did they manage their breakfast?
The Court Opens Dining Facilities for Officials
Along the way to the capital, there were plenty of food stalls, making it easy for any official wishing to eat on the way. However, ministers typically did not buy food directly; they would send their servants to do so. As officials of the court, they could not publicly show themselves eating before the common people. Moreover, if the emperor found out, that official would be considered disrespectful and unworthy of their position.
To resolve this dilemma, the court decided to open a dining hall for the officials. This place was called “Si He Yi”, which was somewhat similar to the imperial kitchen but could not match the quality of the emperor’s dining facilities.
Usually, the emperor would hold court at 5 AM, with each session lasting from one to two hours. After the assembly, officials could go to Si He Yi within the palace to eat.
The interior scene of Si He Yi – the court dining hall. (Image: Baidu)
Previously, the emperor would provide breakfast for the officials, but during the Ming Dynasty, due to financial constraints, the emperor abolished this practice to save on expenses. The dining hall remained, but now officials had to pay out of their own pockets for their meals.
The food offered was rich and varied; anything available in the common people’s diet could be found there, and it was often tastier since it was prepared by palace chefs. According to Jin Tumin, a eunuch from the late Qing Dynasty, who recorded in his book “Trivial Matters in the Palace”, the dining hall had delicious dishes such as meat noodles, buns, and soups.
Additionally, the dining hall provided a full range of main and side dishes to meet everyone’s needs. Prices at Si He Yi were naturally higher than those outside, but due to convenience, many officials still chose to eat there after the assembly. It can be said that Si He Yi was a significant source of profit for the court.
This solution by the court was quite clever, as it not only generated revenue for the treasury but also allowed the emperor to monitor the spending habits of the officials based on the records from Si He Yi.
