《宋书·志·卷三十》
杯盘是盛装酒食的器具，而给这样的舞蹈取名为《晋世宁》，是指晋代的士人，在酒食之间苟且偷生，而他们的见识短浅，晋代的安宁，如同杯盘的安危寄托在舞蹈者的手中。
杯盘者，酒食之器也。而名曰《晋世宁》者，言晋世之士，偷苟于酒食之间，而其知不及远，晋世之宁，犹杯盘之在手也。 
Cups and plates are utensils for serving wine and food, and to name such a dance "Jinshi Ning" refers to the scholars of the Jin Dynasty who lived a precarious existence between food and drink, and their short-sightedness, the tranquility of the Jin Dynasty, is like the safety of the cups and plates on which the dancers depend.