The story of 筵

banquet, mat

筵 is composed of 竹 (bamboo) and 延 (prolong, extend). 延 depicts a foot walking on a road, which has the meaning of prolonging and spreading. The original meaning of 筵 is mat, which is something can be spread and made of bamboo. In ancient China, bamboo mat would be used for seat during banquet, so 筵 also means banquet.