1
隋文帝開皇中,將作大匠宇文愷依《月令》造明堂木樣以獻。 帝令有司于京城安業裏內規兆其地,方欲崇建,而諸儒爭論不定,竟議罷之。 煬帝時,愷復獻明堂木樣並議狀,屬遷都興役,事又不就。 終於隋代,季秋大享,恆在雩壇設祀。
Under Sui Wendi's Kaihuang reign, Master of Works Yuwen Kai built a wooden Bright Hall model per the Monthly Ordinances and presented it. The emperor had offices stake a site in Anyeli; as grand construction neared, Ru scholars deadlocked debate and the work was dropped. Under Yangdi, Kai again offered a model and memorial; capital relocation and public works intervened, and again nothing was built. For all of Sui, the autumn great offering was always held at the Rain Altar.
2
高祖受禪,不遑創儀。 太宗平定天下,命儒官議其制。 貞觀五年,太子中允孔穎達以諸儒立議違古,上言曰:「臣伏尋前敕,依禮部尚書盧寬、國子助教劉伯莊等議,以為'從昆侖道上層祭天'。 又尋後敕云:'為左右閣道,登樓設祭。 '臣檢六藝群書百家諸史,皆名基上曰堂,樓上曰觀,未聞重樓之上而有堂名。 《孝經》云:'宗祀文王於明堂'。 不雲明樓、明觀,其義一也。 又明堂法天,聖王示儉,或有翦蒿為柱,葺茅作蓋。 雖復古今異制,不可恆然,猶依大典,惟在樸素。 是以席惟颭秸,器尚陶匏,用繭栗以貴誠,服大裘以訓儉,今若飛樓架道,綺閣淩雲,考古之文,實堪疑慮。 按《郊祀志》:漢武明堂之制,四面無壁,上覆以茅。 祭五帝於上座,祀後土於下防。 臣以上座正為基上,下防惟是基下。 既雲無四壁,未審伯莊以何知上層祭神,下有五室? 且漢武所為,多用方士之說,違經背正,不可師祖。 又盧寬等議云:上層祭天,下堂布政,欲使人神位別,事不相干。 臣以古者敬重大事,與接神相似,是以朝覲祭祀,皆在廟堂,豈有樓上祭祖,樓下視朝? 閣道升樓,路便窄隘,乘輦則接神不敬,步往則勞勩聖躬。 侍衛在旁,百司供奉。 求之典誥,全無此理。 臣非敢固執愚見,以求己長。 伏以國之大典,不可不慎。 乞以臣言下群臣詳議。」 侍中魏征議曰:「稽諸古訓,參以舊圖,其上圓下方,復廟重屋,百慮一致,異軫同歸。 洎當塗膺籙,未遑斯禮; 典午聿興,無所取則。 裴頠以諸儒持論,異端蜂起,是非舛互,靡所適從,遂乃以人廢言,止為一殿。 宋、齊即仍其舊,梁、陳遵而不改。 雖嚴配有所,祭享不匱,求之典則,道實未弘。 夫孝因心生,禮緣情立。 心不可極,故備物以表其誠; 情無以盡,故飾宮以廣其敬。 宣尼美意,其在茲乎! 臣等親奉德音,令參大議,思竭塵露,微增山海。 凡聖人有作,義重隨時,萬物斯睹,事資通變。 若據蔡邕之說,則至理失于文繁; 若依裴頠所為,則又傷於質略。 求之情理,未允厥中。 今之所議,非無用舍。 請為五室重屋,上圓下方,既體有則象,又事多故實。 下室備布政之居,上堂為祭天之所,人神不雜,禮亦宜之。 其高下廣袤之規,几筵尺丈之制,則並隨時立法,因事制宜。 自我而作,何必師古。 廓千載之疑議,為百王之懿範。 不使泰山之下,惟聞黃帝之法; 汶水之上,獨稱漢武之圖。 則通乎神明,庶幾可俟,子來經始,成之不日。」 議猶未決。
Gaozu, taking the mandate, had no time to fix ritual. After Taizong pacified the realm, he ordered Ru officials to debate its design. Zhenguan 5: Palace Companion Kong Yingda, finding Ru proposals unfaithful to antiquity, memorialized that prior edicts, following Lu Kuan and Liu Bozhuang, held sacrifice to Heaven should ascend the Kunlun Way to an upper level. A later edict likewise required left and right covered walkways and tower sacrifice. Classics, histories, and masters all call the base level a hall and the upper an observatory—never a hall atop a double storey. The Classic of Filial Piety honors and sacrifices King Wen in the Bright Hall. It does not say Bright Tower or Bright Observatory—the sense is the same. The Bright Hall mirrors Heaven; sage kings showed thrift—artemisia pillars, straw roofs. Forms change with age, yet the great canon still demands plainness. Mats of winnowed stalks, pottery and gourds, cocoon and chestnut for sincerity, great fur for thrift—yet now flying towers, covered walkways, brocade pavilions cloud-high: the ancients would doubt it. The Suburban Sacrifice monograph: Wu's Bright Hall was open on four sides, thatched above, without walls. The Five Emperors at the upper seat; Earth at the lower berm. The upper seat is the base; the lower berm is its foot—nothing above. With no four walls, on what basis does Bo Zhuang place spirit sacrifice above and five chambers below? Wu's work leaned on fangshi lore, against the classics—not a model. Lu Kuan et al. wanted Heaven above, government below—men and spirits apart. Antiquity treated great affairs like spirit reception—audience and sacrifice shared the hall; not sacrifice aloft and court below. Covered walkways up a tower are cramped—carriage lacks reverence, walking wearies the Son of Heaven. Guards flank him; the hundred offices attend. Canons and ordinances know nothing of it. I do not cling to my own view for gain. The state's great rites demand caution. I beg the court to deliberate my words. The quote ended. Vice Censor Wei Zheng argued: round above, square below, layered temple and double roof—one aim, many paths. Cao had the mandate but no time for the rite; Jin took no model. Pei Song, amid swarming Ru disputes, abandoned debate and built only one hall. Song and Qi kept the old form; Liang and Chen unchanged. Sacrifice continued, yet the canonical Way was never fully realized. Filial piety springs from the heart; ritual from feeling. Hearts cannot be fully shown—objects display sincerity; feeling cannot be fully expressed—palaces widen reverence. Confucius's intent is here! We received command to join debate, offering dust to swell mountain and sea. Sage works shift with the times; all things witness adaptation. Cai Yong's line loses principle in excess text; Pei Song's line injures through bare plainness. Neither satisfies the mean. Today's debate has real choices. We propose five chambers, double roof, round above and square below—regulated image and solid precedent. Lower chambers for government, upper hall for Heaven—men and spirits apart, ritual fit. Heights, breadths, benches, and mats should follow the times and the task. Our own work need not ape antiquity. Clear millennial doubt; set a pattern for a hundred kings. Do not leave Mount Tai hearing only the Yellow Emperor; or the Wen River praising only Han Wu. Then spirits may be reached; the people will come and finish it quickly. The quote ended. Debate remained unsettled.
3
十七年五月,秘書監顏師古議曰:
Seventeenth year, fifth month: Palace Library Director Yan Shigu memorialized:
4
明堂之制,爰自古昔,求之簡牘,全文莫睹。 始之黃帝,降及有虞,彌曆夏、殷,迄于周代,各立名號,別創規模。 眾說舛駁,互執所見,巨儒碩學,莫有詳通。 斐然成章,不知裁斷。 究其指要,實布政之宮也。 徒以戰國縱橫,典籍廢棄; 暴秦酷烈,經禮湮亡。 今之所存,傳記雜說,用為准的,理實蕪昧。 然《周書》之敘明堂,紀其四面,則有應門、雉門,據此一堂,固是王者之常居耳。 其青陽、總章、玄堂、太廟及左個、右個,與四時之次相同,則路寢之義,足為明證。 又《文王居明堂》之篇:帶以弓蜀,祠于高禖。 下九門磔禳以禦疾疫,置梁除道以利農夫,令國有酒以合三族。」 凡此等事,皆合《月令》之文。 觀其所為,皆在路寢者也。 《戴禮》:「昔周公朝諸侯于明堂之位,天子負斧扆南向而立。 明堂也者,明諸侯之尊卑也。」 《周官》又雲「周人明堂,度九尺之筵,東西九筵,堂一筵。」 據其制度,即大寢也。 《屍子》亦曰:「黃帝曰合宮,有虞氏曰總章,殷曰陽館,周曰明堂。」 斯皆路寢之征,知非別處。 大戴所說,初有近郊之言,復稱文王之廟,進退無據,自為矛盾。 原夫負扆受朝,常居出入,既在皋庫之內,亦何雲於郊野哉? 《孝經傳》雲「在國之陽」,又無里數。
Bright Hall design is ancient, yet full texts are lost on bamboo and silk. From the Yellow Emperor through Yu Shun, Xia, Yin, and Zhou—each named and shaped its own form. Sayings clash; great scholars none thorough. Fine chapters abound—no decision. At bottom it is the hall of government. Warring States scheming abandoned the classics; cruel Qin extinguished canonical ritual. What survives—miscellaneous records—is a muddy standard. Yet Zhou Documents' Bright Hall lists responding and pheasant gates—one hall, the king's usual dwelling. Qingyang, Zongzhang, Xuantang, Grand Temple, and left and right annexes match the four seasons—the road chamber is proved. King Wen Dwelling in the Bright Hall: girded with bow Shu, he sacrificed at the high Altars of Soil and Grain. At the nine gates he offered dismemberment against plague, cleared roads for farmers, and ordered state wine for the three clans. The quote ended. All match the Monthly Ordinances. All these acts belong in the road chamber. Elder Dai: the Duke of Zhou received lords at the Bright Hall; the Son of Heaven bore the axe-screen facing south. The Bright Hall clarifies lords' rank. The quote ended. Offices of Zhou: Zhou Bright Hall used a nine-foot bench; nine benches east and west, one bench for the hall. The quote ended. By its measure it is the great sleeping chamber. Shizi: the Yellow Emperor called it Harmonious Palace; Yu Shun Zongzhang; Yin the Yang Lodge; Zhou the Bright Hall. The quote ended. All mark the road chamber—not a separate site. Elder Dai first nears the suburbs, then calls it King Wen's temple—self-contradicting. Audience at the screen and daily comings and goings were inside the outer treasury—not suburban wilds. Filial Piety commentary: "in the state's yang"—no distance given.
5
漢武有懷創造,詢於搢紳,言論紛然,終無定據,乃立于汶水之上而宗祀焉,明其不拘遠近,無擇方面。 孝成之代,表行城南,雖有其文,厥功靡立。 平帝元始四年,大議營創。 孔牢等乃以為明堂、辟雍、太學,其實一也,而有三名。 金褒等又稱經傳無文,不能分別同異。 中興之後,蔡邕作論,復雲明堂太廟,一物二名。 鄭玄則曰:「在國之陽,三里之外。」 淳於登又云:「三里之外,七里之內,丙巳之地。」 潁容《釋例》亦云:「明堂太廟,凡有八名,其體一也。」 苟立同異,競為巧說,並出自胸懷,曾無師祖。 審夫功成作樂,理定制禮,草創從宜,質文遞變。 旌旗冠冕,古今不同,律度權衡,前後不一,隨時之義,斷可知矣。 假如周公舊章,猶當擇其可否; 宣尼彝則,尚或補其闕漏。 況鄭氏臆說,淳于謏聞,匪異守株,何殊膠柱? 愚謂不出墉雉,邇接宮闈,實允事宜,諒無所惑。 但當上遵天旨,祗奉德音,作皇代之明堂,永貽范于來葉。 區區碎議,皆略而不論。
Han Wu sought to innovate, asked the gentry, got no fixed answer, and built on the Wen River—distance and direction did not bind him. Cheng proposed south of the city on paper; nothing was built. Ping Yuanshi 4: the court planned construction. Kong Lao held Bright Hall, Imperial Academy, and Grand Academy were one thing with three names. Jin Bao said the classics lacked text to separate them. After restoration Cai Yong wrote: Bright Hall and Grand Temple—one thing, two names. The quote ended. Zheng Xuan: "in the state's yang, three li out." The quote ended. The quote ended. Chunyu Deng: "three li out, seven li in, bing-si direction." The quote ended. The quote ended. Ying Rong: "Bright Hall and Grand Temple have eight names; one substance." The quote ended. The quote ended. Each clever theory came from the breast, not from masters. Achievement brings music; settled principle brings ritual—drafts follow need, substance and ornament shift. Banners and caps, measures and balances all change with time—plain to see. Even Zhou Gong's statutes need yes-or-no choices; even Confucius's pattern needed patching. Zheng's guesses and Chunyu's hearsay are stump-guarding and peg-gluing. I say: within the pheasant wall, beside the palace—fitting and clear. Follow Heaven's command, build the dynasty's Bright Hall, and bequeath a model to posterity. Petty debate I pass over.
6
又上表曰:「明堂之制,陛下已發德音,久令詳議。 但以學者專固,人人異言,損益不同,是非莫定。 臣愚以為五帝之後,兩漢已前,高下方圓,皆不相襲。 惟在陛下聖情創造,即為大唐明堂,足以傳於萬代,何必論戶牖之多少,疑階庭之廣狹? 若恣儒者互說一端,久無斷決,徒稽盛禮,昔漢武欲草封禪儀,博望諸生,所說不同,莫知孰是。 唯御史大夫倪寬勸上自定制度,遂成登封之禮。 臣之愚誠,亦望陛下斟酌繁省,為其節文,不可謙拒,以淹大典。」 尋以有事遼海,未暇營創。
He also memorialized: Your Majesty has long ordered Bright Hall deliberation. Scholars are obstinate—each voice differs, nothing settles. From the Five Emperors through pre-Han times, round-above-square-below never repeated. Only Your Majesty's creation need be Tang's Bright Hall for ten thousand generations—why count doors or doubt the courtyard? Let Ru argue forever and the great rite stalls; Han Wu drafting fengshan heard many students, none right. Only Censor-in-Chief Ni Kuan urged the emperor to fix the rite himself—and fengshan was done. I hope Your Majesty will trim the text and not decline modesty into delay of the great rite. The quote ended. Liaohai affairs left no time to build.
7
永徽二年七月二日,敕曰:「上玄幽贊,崇高而不言; 皇王提象,代神功而理物。 是知五精降德,爰應帝者之尊; 九室垂文,用紀處天之業。 且合宮、靈府,創鴻規於上代; 太室、總章,標茂范於中葉。 雖質文殊制,奢儉異時,然其立天中,作人極,布政施教,其歸一揆。 朕嗣膺下武,丕承上烈,思所以答眷上靈,聿遵孝享,而法宮曠禮,明堂寢構。 今國家四表無虞,人和歲稔,作範垂訓,今也其時。 宜令所司與禮官學士等考核故事,詳議得失,務依典禮,造立明堂。 庶曠代闕文,獲申於茲日; 因心展敬,永垂於後昆。 其明堂制度,令諸曹尚書及左右丞侍郎、太常、國子秘書官、弘文館學士同共詳議。」
Yonghui 2.7.2—edict: "High Mystery assists in silence; the king grasps the image, ordering things in Heaven's stead. five essences descend virtue to the emperor; nine chambers record the work of dwelling in Heaven. Harmonious Palace and Spirit Storehouse set high antiquity's models; Grand Chamber and Zongzhang marked the middle age. Forms differed, thrift and splendor shifted—yet center of Heaven, human pole, and teaching were one aim. We inherited martial glory yet the ritual palace lacks rites and the Bright Hall stands unfinished. The realm is calm and harvest full—now is the time to set pattern. Let offices and Ru scholars examine precedents, weigh gain and loss, and build the Bright Hall by canonical ritual. May ages' missing text find voice today; heartfelt reverence bequeathed to posterity. Bright Hall rules: ministers, vice ministers, Rites, Palace Library, and Hongwen scholars shall deliberate together. The quote ended.
8
於是太常博士柳宣仍鄭玄義,以為明堂之制,當為五室。 內直丞孔志約據《大戴禮》及盧植、蔡邕等義,以為九室。 曹王友趙慈皓、秘書郎薛文思等各造明堂圖。 諸儒紛爭,互有不同。 上初以九室之議為是,乃令所司詳定形制及辟雍門闕等。
Rites scholar Liu Xuan held Zheng Xuan's five chambers. Inner Rectifier Kong Zhiyue, following Elder Dai, Lu Zhi, and Cai Yong, held nine chambers. Zhao Cihao, Xue Wensi, and others each drew Bright Hall plans. Ru scholars clashed. The emperor first favored nine chambers and ordered form, gates, and towers fixed.
9
明年六月,內出九室樣,仍更令有司損益之。 有司奏言:
Next year, sixth month: an inner nine-chamber model was issued for revision. Offices reported:
10
內樣:堂基三重,每基階各十二。 上基方九雉,八角,高一尺。 中基方三百尺,高一筵。 下基方三百六十尺,高一丈二尺。 上基象黃琮,為八角,四面安十二階。 請從內樣為定。 基高下仍請准周制高九尺,其方共作司約准一百四十八尺。 中基下基,望並不用。 又內樣:室各方三筵,開四闥、八窗。 屋圓楣徑二百九十一尺。 按季秋大饗五帝,各在一室,商量不便,請依兩漢季秋合饗,總於太室。 若四時迎氣之祀,則各于其方之室。 其安置九室之制,增損明堂故事,三三相重。 太室在中央,方六丈。 其四隅之室,謂之左右房,各方二丈四尺。 當太室四面,青陽、明堂、總章、玄堂等室,各長六丈,以應太室; 闊二丈四尺,以應左右房。 室間並通巷,各廣一丈八尺。 其九室並巷在堂上,總方一百四十四尺,法坤之策。 屋圓楣、楯、簷,或為未允。 請據鄭玄、盧植等說,以前梁為楣,其徑二百一十六尺,法乾之策。 圓柱旁出九室四隅,各七尺,法天以七紀。 柱外餘基,節作司約准面別各餘一丈一尺。 內樣:室別四闥、八窗,檢與古同,請依為定。 其戶依古外設而不開。 內樣:外有柱三十六,每柱十梁。 內有七間,柱根以上至梁高三丈,梁以上至屋峻起,計高八十一尺。 上圓下方,飛簷應規,請依內樣為定。 其屋蓋形制,仍望據《考工記》改為四阿,並依禮加重簷,准太廟安鴟尾。 堂四向五色,請依《周禮》白盛為便。 其四向各隨方色。 請施四垣及四門。
Inner model: triple foundation, twelve steps per tier. Upper tier: nine zhi square, eight corners, one foot high. Middle tier: three hundred feet square, one bench high. Lower tier: three hundred sixty feet square, one zhang two feet high. Upper tier images the yellow tube, eight-cornered, twelve steps on four sides. We ask to fix the inner model. Height should follow Zhou's nine feet; square, the Secretariat standard of one hundred forty-eight feet. Middle and lower tiers should be dropped. Inner model: each chamber three benches square, four doors and eight windows. Round roof-beam diameter: two hundred ninety-one feet. Autumn offering to the Five Emperors in separate chambers is awkward—we follow two Han practice: one joint rite in the Grand Chamber. Seasonal qi rites stay in their directional chambers. Nine chambers should revise precedent in threes, layered three by three. Grand Chamber center: six zhang square. Four corners: left and right rooms, each two zhang four feet square. On four sides of the Grand Chamber: Qingyang, Bright Hall, Zongzhang, Xuantang—each six zhang long to match the center; two zhang four feet wide to match the corner rooms. Connecting lanes between chambers, each one zhang eight feet wide. Nine chambers and lanes atop the hall: one hundred forty-four feet square—Kun's number. Round beam, balustrade, and eaves remain unsettled. Per Zheng Xuan and Lu Zhi: front beam as main beam, diameter two hundred sixteen feet—Qian's number. Round pillars at the four corners, seven feet each—Heaven's seven. Beyond the pillars, each face leaves one zhang one foot by Secretariat measure. Inner model's four doors and eight windows match antiquity—we fix them. Doors, per antiquity, are set outside but not opened. Inner model: thirty-six outer pillars, ten beams each. Seven inner bays; pillar to beam three zhang; beam to ridge—total eight zhang one foot. Round above, square below, flying eaves on compass—we fix the inner model. Roof form: follow Crafts for four slopes, double eaves, and Grand Temple owl-tails. Four directions, five colors—we follow Zhou white fill. Each direction takes its color. We ask four walls and four gates.
11
辟雍,按《大戴禮》及前代說,辟雍多無水廣、內徑之數。 蔡邕云:「水廣二十四丈,四周於外。」 《三輔黃圖》雲「水廣四周」,與蔡邕不異,仍雲「水外周堤」。 又張衡《東京賦》稱「造舟為梁」。 《禮記·明堂位》、《陰陽錄》云:「水左旋以象天。」 商量水廣二十四丈,恐傷於闊,今請減為二十四步,垣外量取周足。 仍依故事造舟為梁,其外周以圓堤,並取《陰陽》「水行左旋」之制。
Imperial Academy: Elder Dai and older sources often omit water breadth and inner diameter. Cai Yong: "water twenty-four zhang wide, encircling outside." The quote ended. Three Metropolises Chart: "water on four sides," like Cai Yong, with a circular embankment outside. Zhang Heng's Eastern Capital rhapsody speaks of boats as a bridge. Rites "Bright Hall Positions" and Yin-Yang Record: "water turns left to mirror Heaven. The quote ended. Twenty-four zhang may be too wide—we reduce to twenty-four paces, perimeter measured outside the wall. Keep the boat-bridge precedent, round embankment outside, and left-turning water per Yin-Yang.
12
殿垣,按《三輔黃圖》,殿垣四周方在水內,高不蔽日,殿門去殿七十二步。 准今行事陳設,猶恐窄小。 其方垣四門去堂步數,請准太廟南門去廟基遠近為制。 仍立四門八觀,依太廟門別各安三門,施玄閫,四角造三重魏闕。
Hall wall per Three Metropolises Chart: square within the water, low enough for sun; hall gate seventy-two paces off. Present array practice still seems cramped. Gate distances should follow Grand Temple south-gate spacing. Four gates, eight towers; three gates each like Grand Temple, dark lattices, triple Wei towers at corners.
13
此後群儒紛競,各執異議。 尚書左僕射于志寧等請為九室,太常博士唐等請為五室。 高宗令於觀德殿依兩議張設,親與公卿觀之。 帝曰:「明堂之禮,自古有之。 議者不同,未果營建。 今設兩議,公等以何者為宜?」 工部尚書閻立德對曰:「兩議不同,俱有典故。 九室似暗,五室似明。 取捨之宜,斷在聖慮。」 上以五室為便,議又不定,由是且止。
Ru scholars then disputed, each clinging to his view. Yu Zhining urged nine chambers; Tang of the Minister of Rites urged five. Gaozong had both models set in Guande Hall for the emperor and ministers to view. The emperor said: "Bright Hall rites are ancient. Debates differed; nothing was built. Now two models are shown—which suits you? The quote ended. Minister of Works Yan Lide said: "Both have precedent. Nine chambers seem dim; five seem bright. The choice rests with Your Majesty." The quote ended. The emperor favored five chambers, debate stalled again, and work paused.
14
至乾封二年二月,詳宜略定,乃下詔曰:「朕以寡薄,忝承丕緒。 奉二聖之遺訓,撫億兆以初臨,馭朽兢懷,推溝在念。 而上玄垂祐,宗社降休,歲稔時和,人殷俗阜。 車書混一,文軌大同。 檢玉泥金,升中告禪,百蠻執贄,萬國來庭,朝野俱娛,華夷胥悅。 但為郊禋嚴配,未安太室,布政施行,猶闕合宮。 朕所以日昃忘疲,中宵輟寢,討論墳籍,錯綜群言,采三代之精微,探九皇之至賾,斟酌前載,製造明堂。 棟宇方圓之規,雖兼故實; 度筵陳俎之法,獨運財成。 宣諸內外,博考詳議,求其長短,冀廣異聞。 而鴻生碩儒,俱稱盡善,搢紳士子,並奏該通。 創此宏模,自我作古。 因心既展,情禮獲伸,永言宗祀,良深感慰。 宜命有司,及時起作,務從折中,稱朕意焉。」 於是大赦天下,改元為總章,分萬年置明堂縣。 明年三月,又具規制廣狹,下詔曰:
Qianfeng 2.2: the plan was roughly set and an edict issued: We are slight, inheriting the great line, holding the two sages' charge, soothing the millions, fearful on rotten wood, mindful of the ditch. Heaven protects; the altars bless; harvests are full and customs rich. Carriage script is one; culture and law align. Jade inspected, gold sealed, fengshan announced—barbarians tribute, states at court, all rejoice. Yet suburban matching lacks the Grand Chamber; government and teaching lack the Harmonious Palace. So we toil past sunset, study classics, weave debate, gather three ages' essence, and design the Bright Hall. Beam and compass rules draw on old facts; bench and offering measures are our own invention. We announce it widely for debate, seeking strengths and broader hearing. Great scholars called it perfect; gentry said it was thorough. This great model—we make our own antiquity. Heart shown, ritual restored; ancestral rites deeply comfort us. Let offices build at once, following the mean as we intend. The quote ended. A great amnesty followed, the era became Zongzhang, and Bright Hall County was split from Wannian. Next year, third month: dimensions were fixed again by edict:
15
合宮聽朔,闡皇軒之茂範; 靈府通和,敷帝勳之景化。 殷人陽館,青珪備禮; 姬氏玄堂,彤璋合獻。 雖運殊驪翰,時變質文,至於立天中,建皇極,軌物施教,其歸一揆。 考圖汶上,僅存公玉之儀; 度室圭躔,才紀中元之制。 屬炎精墜駕,睿宮毀籥,四海淪於沸鼎,九土陷於塗原。 高祖太武皇帝杖鉞唐郊,收鈐雍野,納祥符于蒼水,受靈命於丕山。 飛沈泳沫,動植遊源。 太宗文皇帝盟津光誓,協降火而登壇; 豐谷斷蛇,應屯雲而鞠旅。 封金貸嶺,昭累聖之鴻勳; 勒石丸都,成文考之先志。 固可以作化明堂,顯庸太室。 傍羅八柱,周建四門,木工不琢,土事無文,豐約折衷,經始勿亟,闕文斯備,大禮聿修。
Harmonious Palace at new moon opens Yellow Xuan's pattern; the Spirit Storehouse harmonizes, spreading imperial merit. Yin's Yang Lodge set green jade for ritual; Zhou's Xuantang offered red tablets. Fortunes and forms changed, yet Heaven's center, the imperial pole, and teaching were one. Wen River charts barely preserve Gongyu's rite; chamber and jade measures record only Zhongyuan. The Han fiery essence fell, the wise palace's pipes were ruined; seas boiled, lands sank to mud. The High Ancestor, the Grand Martial Emperor, took the field at Tang’s outskirts, gathered the seals of Yong and Ye, received auspicious talismans at the Cang River, and received the numinous mandate at Mount Pi. All that sink or float, all moving things and plants, drew life from that source. Emperor Taizong, the Literary Emperor, swore a bright oath at Meng Ford and, joining the descent of fire, ascended the altar; at Feng Valley he cut the serpent and, as clouds gathered, mustered his hosts. He enfeoffed at Golden Loan Ridge and proclaimed the accumulated merit of the sage line; he carved stone at Wandu and carried out his father’s long-held plan. Thus they could transform the realm through the Bright Hall and display merit in the Grand Chamber. They arrayed eight pillars and built four gates all around; carpentry needed no carving and earthworks no ornament—abundance and restraint were balanced, the work was not rushed, pattern was completed where it had been lacking, and the great rites were perfected.
16
其明堂院每面三百六十步,當中置堂。 按《周易》乾之策二百一十有六,坤之策一百四十有四,總成三百六十,故方三百六十步。 當中置堂,處二儀之中,定三才之本,構茲一宇,臨此萬方。 自降院每面三門,同為一宇,徘徊五間。 按《尚書》,一期有四時,故四面各一所開門; 每時有三月,故每一所開三門; 一期十有二月,故周回總十二門。 所以面別一門,應茲四序,既一時而統三月,故於一舍而置三門。 又《周易》三為陽數,二為陰數,合而為五,所以每門舍五間。 院四隅各置重樓,其四墉各依本方色。 按《淮南子》,地有四維,故四樓。 又按《月令》,水、火、金、木、土五方各異色,故其牆各依本方之色。
The Bright Hall precinct measured three hundred sixty paces on each side, with a hall at the center. The Book of Changes gives Qian’s tally as two hundred sixteen and Kun’s as one hundred forty-four—three hundred sixty in all—so each face was made three hundred sixty paces. The central hall stood between Heaven and Earth, fixed the root of the Three Powers, and from this single structure looked out over the realm. Below the precinct, each face had three gates forming one structure, each gate-bay spanning five bays. The Documents say one cycle has four seasons, so each face had one gate-opening; with three months per season, each opening received three gates; and one cycle has twelve months, for twelve gates in all around the precinct. One gate per face matched the four seasons; because one season governs three months, three gates were set in each gate-structure. In the Book of Changes, three is yang and two is yin—five together—so each gate-structure had five bays. At the four corners stood double towers, and each enclosing wall took the color of its direction. The Huainanzi says the earth has four corners—hence four towers. The Monthly Ordinances assign distinct colors to water, fire, metal, wood, and earth—so each wall followed its direction’s color.
17
基八面,象八方。 按《周禮》「黃琮禮地」。 鄭玄注:琮者,八方之玉,以象地形,故以祀地。 則知地形八方。 又按《漢書》,武帝立八觚壇以祀地。 登地之壇,形象地,故令為八方之基,以象地形。 基高一丈二尺,徑二百八十尺。 按《漢書》,陽為六律,陰為六呂。 陽與陰合,故高一丈二尺。 又按《周易》,三為陽數,八為陰數。 三八相乘,得二百四十尺。 按《漢書》,九會之數有四十,合為二百八十,所以基徑二百八十尺。 故以交通天地之和,錯綜陰陽之數。 以明陽不獨運,資陰和以助成; 陰不孤行,待陽唱而方應。 陰陽兩順,天地咸亨,則百寶斯興,九疇攸序。 基每面三階,周回十二階,每階為二十五級。 按《漢書》,天有三階,故每面三階; 地有十二辰,故周回十二階。 又按《文子》,從凡至聖,有二十五等,故每階二十五級。 所以應符星而設階,法台耀以疏陛,上擬霄漢之儀,下則地辰之數。 又列茲重級,用准聖凡。 象皇極之高居,俯庶類而臨耀。
The base was octagonal, symbolizing the eight directions. The Rites of Zhou say, “the yellow jade cube sacrifices to Earth.” Zheng Xuan explains: the cube is jade of the eight directions, symbolizing earth’s form, and thus sacrifices to Earth. Hence the terrain has eight directions. The History of Han says Emperor Wu built the Eight Gu altars to sacrifice to Earth. The altar to Earth symbolizes earth’s form, so the base was made octagonal to match the terrain. The base stood one zhang two chi high and two hundred eighty chi across. The History of Han treats yang as the six pitch-pipes and yin as the six secondary pipes. Yang and yin join—hence the height of one zhang two chi. The Book of Changes makes three yang and eight yin. Three times eight gives two hundred forty chi. The History of Han’s tally of nine conjunctions adds forty to two hundred forty—two hundred eighty—fixing the base diameter. So Heaven and Earth’s harmonies met and yin-yang numbers were woven together. Yang does not move alone but borrows yin’s harmony to finish its work; yin does not act alone but waits for yang’s lead before answering. When yin and yang accord and Heaven and Earth penetrate, the hundred treasures arise and the nine categories fall into order. Each face of the base had three steps—twelve around—with twenty-five treads per step. The History of Han says Heaven has three steps—hence three steps on each face; Earth has the twelve chronograms—hence twelve steps around. The Wenzi counts twenty-five grades from commoner to sage—hence twenty-five treads per step. Steps matched the asterisms and patterned the terrace’s glory, above echoing the azure vault and below the earthly chronograms. The graded steps also measured sage against commoner. They symbolized the august pole’s height, looking down on all creatures in radiance.
18
基之上為一堂,其宇上圓。 按《道德經》:天得一以清,地得一以甯,侯王得一以為天下貞。 又曰:道生一,一生二,二生三,三生萬物。 又按《漢書》:太極元氣,函三為一。 又曰:天子以四海為家。 故置一堂以象元氣,並取四海為家之義。 又按《周禮》,「蒼璧禮天」。 鄭玄注:璧圓以象天。 故為宇上圓。 堂每面九間,各廣一丈九尺。 按《尚書》,地有九州,故立九間。 又按《周易》,陰數十,故間別一丈九尺,所以規模厚地,準則陰陽,法二氣以通基,置九州於一宇。 堂周回十二門,每門高一丈七尺,闊一丈三尺。 按《禮記》,一歲有十二月,所以置十二門。 又按《周易》,陰數十,陽數七,故高一丈七尺; 又曰陽數五,陰數八,故闊一丈三尺。 所以調茲玉燭,應彼金輝,葉二氣以迴圈,逐四序而迎節。 堂周回二十四窗,高一丈三尺,闊一丈一尺,二十三櫺,二十四明。 按《史記》,天有二十四氣,故置二十四窗。 又按《書》,一年十二月,並象閏,故高一丈三尺。 又按《周易》,天數一,地數十,故闊一丈一尺; 又天數九,地數十,並四時成二十三,故二十三櫺。 又按《周易》,八純卦之本體,合二十四爻,故有二十四明。 列牖疏窗,象風候氣,遠周天地之數,曲准陰陽之和。
Above the base stood one hall with a round upper roof-space. The Classic of the Way says Heaven with One grows clear, Earth with One grows still, and rulers with One become the world’s standard. It also says: the Way begets One; One begets Two; Two begets Three; Three begets the ten thousand things. The History of Han says the Grand Ultimate’s primordial qi enfolds three as one. It also says the Son of Heaven takes the four seas as his house. Hence one hall symbolized primordial qi and the four seas as home. The Rites of Zhou say, “the green jade disc sacrifices to Heaven.” Zheng Xuan explains: the disc is round to symbolize Heaven. Hence the upper roof-space was round. Each face of the hall had nine bays, each one zhang nine chi wide. The Documents say Earth has nine regions—hence nine bays. The Book of Changes makes ten yin—hence bays of one zhang nine chi, patterning the thick earth, fixing yin-yang, joining the two qi at the base, and gathering the nine regions in one hall. Twelve gates encircled the hall, each one zhang seven chi high and one zhang three chi wide. The Record of Rites gives twelve months in a year—hence twelve gates. The Book of Changes makes ten yin and seven yang—hence height of one zhang seven chi; five yang and eight yin fix the width at one zhang three chi. Thus the jade candle was tuned, golden splendor answered, the two qi cycled, and the four seasons were welcomed in turn. Twenty-four windows encircled the hall, each one zhang three chi high and one zhang one chi wide, with twenty-three lattice-bars and twenty-four lights. The Records say Heaven has twenty-four qi—hence twenty-four windows. The Documents’ twelve months plus intercalation are echoed in the height of one zhang three chi. The Book of Changes makes Heaven one and Earth ten—width one zhang one chi; nine and ten with the four seasons yield twenty-three lattice-bars. The eight pure hexagrams’ twenty-four lines give twenty-four lights. Ranked windows symbolized wind and seasonal qi, spanning Heaven and Earth’s numbers and matching yin-yang’s harmony.
19
堂心八柱,各長五十五尺。 按《河圖》,八柱承天,故置八柱。 又按《周易》,大衍之數五十有五,故長五十五尺。 聳茲八柱,承彼九間,數該大衍之規,形符立極之制。 且柱為陰數,天實陽元,柱以陰氣上升,天以陽和下降,固陰陽之交泰,乃天地之相承。 堂心之外,置四柱為四輔。 按《漢書》,天有四輔星,故置四柱以象四星。 內以八柱承天,外象四輔明化,上交下泰,表裏相成,葉台耀以分輝,契編珠而拱極。 八柱四輔之外,第一重二十柱。 按《周易》,天數五,地數十,並五行之數合而為二十,故置二十柱。 體二儀而立數,葉五位以裁規,式符立極之功,允應剛柔之道。 八柱四輔之外,第二重二十八柱。 按《史記》,天有二十八宿,故有二十八柱。 所以仰則乾圖,上符景宿,考編珠而紀度,觀列宿以迎時。 八柱四輔之外,第三重三十二柱。 按《漢書》,有八節、八政、八風、八音,四八三十二柱。 調風禦節,萬物資以化成; 布政流音,九區仰而貽則。 外面周回三十六柱。 按《漢書》,一期三十六旬,故法之以置三十六柱。 所以象歲時而致用,順寒暑以通微,璿璣之度無愆,玉曆之期永契。 八柱之外,修短總有三等。 按《周易》,天、地、人為三才,故置柱長短三等。 所以擬三才以定位,高下相形; 體萬物以資生,長短兼運。 八柱之外,都合一百二十柱。 按《禮記》,天子置三公、九卿、二十七大夫、八十一元士,合為一百二十,是以置一百二十柱。 分職設官,翊化資於多士; 開物成務,構春廈藉於群材。 其上檻周回二百四柱。 按《周易》,坤之策一百四十有四,又《漢書》,九會之數有六十,故置二百四柱。 所以采坤策之玄妙,法甲乙之精微,環回契辰象之規,結構准陰陽之數。 又基以象地,故葉策於坤元; 柱各依方,復規模於甲子。
Eight pillars stood at the hall’s center, each fifty-five chi tall. The River Chart says eight pillars bear Heaven—hence eight pillars. The Book of Changes’ Great Expansion number is fifty-five—hence fifty-five chi. Eight pillars rose to bear nine bays—number matching Great Expansion, form matching the established pole. Pillars are yin in number while Heaven is yang in origin; pillars rise on yin qi as Heaven descends in yang harmony—yin and yang interchange and Heaven and Earth succeed each other. Outside the central eight pillars stood four more as the Four Assistants. The History of Han names four Assistant stars—hence four pillars symbolizing them. Eight pillars bore Heaven within; four Assistants displayed transformation without—above and below in communication, inner and outer complete, sharing the terrace’s glory and stringing pearls around the pole. Outside the eight pillars and four Assistants, the first ring held twenty pillars. Heaven’s five, Earth’s ten, and the Five Phases make twenty—hence twenty pillars. They embodied the Two Modes in number, the Five Positions in measure, the established pole’s work, and the way of firm and yielding. Beyond them, the second ring had twenty-eight pillars. The Records say Heaven has twenty-eight lodges—hence twenty-eight pillars. Looking up, one matches the Qian chart and the bright lodges, strings pearls to mark degrees, and watches the lodges to welcome the seasons. The third ring had thirty-two pillars. The History of Han lists eight nodes, eight policies, eight winds, and eight sounds—four eights, thirty-two pillars. Regulating wind and seasons, the ten thousand things borrow this to grow; spreading government and music, the nine regions look up and take it as model. Outside, thirty-six pillars ran all around. One cycle has thirty-six ten-day weeks—hence thirty-six outer pillars. They symbolized the seasons for use, followed cold and heat in subtle accord, kept the armillary without error, and matched the jade calendar’s term. Beyond the eight pillars, pillar heights fell into three grades. Heaven, Earth, and Man are the Three Powers—hence three grades of length. Thus the Three Powers fixed position, high and low contrasting; the ten thousand things were nurtured, long and short both employed. Beyond the eight pillars, pillars totaled one hundred twenty. The Record of Rites counts three dukes, nine ministers, twenty-seven grand masters, and eighty-one elemental officers—one hundred twenty—hence one hundred twenty pillars. Offices divided and officials set, transformation relies on many scholars; opening things and accomplishing tasks, the spring hall rests on a host of talents. Above, railing-courses ran two hundred fourteen around. Kun’s tally is one hundred forty-four and the History of Han’s nine conjunctions add sixty—two hundred fourteen railing-courses. They took Kun’s subtle tally, patterned the jia-yi refinement, circled to match the asterisms, and structured to yin-yang’s numbers. Because the base symbolizes Earth, the tally was applied to Kun’s origin; pillars followed their directions, again mapping the sexagenary cycle.
20
重楣,二百一十六條。 按《周易》,乾之策二百一十有六,故置二百一十六條。 所以規模《易》象,擬法乾元,應大衍之深玄,葉神策之至數。 大小節級拱,總六千三百四十五。 按《漢書》,會月之數,六千三百四十五,故置六千三百四十五枚。 所以遠采三統之文,傍符會月之數,契金儀而調節,偶璿曆以和時。 重幹,四百八十九枚。 按《漢書》,章月二百三十五,閏月周回二百五十四,總成四百八十九,故置四百八十九枚。 所以法履端之奧義,象舉正之芳猷,規模曆象,發明章、閏。 下璟,七十二枚。 按《易緯》,有七十二候,故置七十二枚。 所以式模芳節,取規貞候,契至和於昌曆,偶神數於休期。 上璟,八十四枚。 按《漢書》,九會之數有七十八。 又按《莊子》:六合之外,聖人存而不論。 司馬彪注:天地四方為六合。 總成八十四,故置八十四枚。 所以模範二儀,包羅六合,准會陰陽之數,周通氣候之源。 枅,六十枚。 按《漢書》,推太歲之法有六十,故置六十枚。 所以兼該歷數,包括陰陽,采甲乙之深微,窮辰子之玄奧。 連栱,三百六十枚。 按《周易》,當期之日,三百有六十,故置三百六十枚。 所以葉周天之度,准當期之日,順平分而成歲,應晷運以迴圈。 小梁,六十枚。 按《漢書》,有六十甲子,故置六十枚。 構此虹梁,遐規鳳曆,傍竦四宇之制,遙符六甲之源。 牽,二百二十八枚。 按《漢書》,章中二百二十八,故置二百二十八枚。 所以應長曆之規,象中月之度,廣綜陰陽之數,傍通寒暑之和。 方衡,一十五重。 按《尚書》,五行生數一十有五,故置十五重。 結棟分間,法五行而演秘; 疏楹疊構,葉生數以成規。 南北大樑,二根。 按《周易》太極生兩儀,故置二大樑。 軌範乾坤,模擬天地,象玄黃之合德,表覆載以生成。 陽馬,三十六道。 按《易緯》,有三十六節,故置三十六道。 所以顯茲嘉節,契此貞辰,分六氣以燮陰陽,環四象而調風雨。 椽,二千九百九十根。 按《漢書》,月法二千三百九十二,通法五百九十八,共成二千九百九十。 所以偶推步之規,合通法之數。 是知疏椽構宇,則大壯之架斯隆,積月成年,則會曆之規無爽。 大梠,兩重,重別三十六條,總七十二。 按《淮南子》,太平之時,五日一風,一年有七十二風,故置七十二條。 所以通規瑞曆,葉數祥風,遙符淳俗之年,遠則休征之契。 飛簷椽,七百二十九枚。 按《漢書》,從子至午,其數七百二十九,故置七百二十九枚。 所以采辰象之宏模,法周天之至數。 且午為陰本,子實陽源,子午分時,則生成之道自著; 陰陽合德,則覆載之義茲隆。
There were two hundred sixteen double lintels. Qian’s tally is two hundred sixteen—hence two hundred sixteen lintels. Thus the Changes’ image was patterned, Qian’s origin modeled, Great Expansion answered, and the divine tally matched. Bracket-arms large and small and tiered arches numbered six thousand three hundred forty-five. The History of Han’s conjunction-month number is six thousand three hundred forty-five—hence that many bracket pieces. They drew on the Three Systems, matched the conjunction-month number, joined golden measures, and paired the jade calendar to the seasons. There were four hundred eighty-nine double rafters. Rule-months are two hundred thirty-five and intercalary months two hundred fifty-four—four hundred eighty-nine—hence that many double rafters. They patterned fixing the beginning, symbolized raising the standard, modeled calendrical images, and displayed rule and intercalation. Seventy-two lower ring-beams were set. The Changes apocrypha lists seventy-two hou—hence seventy-two lower ring-beams. They patterned fine seasons, measured true hou, joined utmost harmony to the flourishing calendar, and paired divine numbers to the auspicious term. Eighty-four upper ring-beams were set. The History of Han’s nine conjunctions number seventy-eight. Zhuangzi says, “Beyond the six directions, the sage stores but does not discuss.” Sima Biao explains: Heaven, Earth, and the four quarters are the six directions. Together they make eighty-four—hence eighty-four upper ring-beams. They patterned the Two Modes, embraced the six directions, matched conjunction numbers, and joined the sources of seasonal qi. Sixty tenons were set. The Grand Year cycle has sixty steps—hence sixty tenons. They covered calendrical numbers, embraced yin and yang, took jia-yi subtlety, and exhausted the chen-zi mystery. Three hundred sixty linked bracket-arms were set. A full cycle has three hundred sixty days—hence three hundred sixty linked bracket-arms. They matched the Zhou Heaven’s measure, took the full cycle’s days as standard, divided the year equally, and turned with the gnomon’s motion. Sixty small beams were set. Sixty jiazi—hence sixty small beams. These rainbow beams patterned the distant Phoenix calendar and, rising beside the four quarters’ design, matched the six jia from afar. Two hundred twenty-eight ties were set. Within a rule are two hundred twenty-eight—hence that many ties. They answered the long calendar’s rule, symbolized the mid-month’s measure, interwove yin-yang numbers, and joined cold-heat harmony. Fifteen tiers of square cross-beams were set. The Five Phases’ birth-numbers total fifteen—hence fifteen tiers. Binding rafters and dividing bays, they patterned the Five Phases to unfold mystery; layering pillars, they matched birth-numbers to complete the rule. Two great beams ran north and south. The Grand Ultimate begets the Two Modes—hence two great beams. They patterned Qian and Kun, modeled Heaven and Earth, symbolized black-yellow union, and displayed covering and bearing. Thirty-six sun-horse courses were laid. The Changes apocrypha lists thirty-six nodes—hence thirty-six sun-horse courses. They displayed fine nodes, joined true chronograms, divided the six qi to harmonize yin and yang, and circled the four images to regulate wind and rain. Rafters numbered two thousand nine hundred ninety. The month method is two thousand three hundred ninety-two and the communication method five hundred ninety-eight—two thousand nine hundred ninety together. Thus the step-calculation rule was paired and the communication number joined. Spacing rafters to build the hall raises the Great Strength frame; months accumulating to a year keep the conjunction calendar without error. Large rafters: two tiers of thirty-six each—seventy-two in all. The Huainanzi says Great Peace brought a wind every five days—seventy-two winds a year—hence seventy-two large rafters. They joined the auspicious calendar, matched auspicious winds in number, echoed the pure age’s year, and followed the restful omen’s covenant. Seven hundred twenty-nine flying-eave rafters were set. From zi to wu the number is seven hundred twenty-nine—hence that many flying-eave rafters. They took the asterisms’ grand pattern and patterned the Zhou Heaven’s ultimate number. Wu is yin’s root and zi yang’s source; dividing the hours at zi and wu shows the way of generation; when yin and yang unite in virtue, covering and bearing are exalted.
21
堂簷,徑二百八十八尺。 按《周易》,乾之策二百一十六,《易緯》雲,年有七十二候,合為二百八十八,故徑二百八十八尺。 所以仰葉乾策,遠承貞候,順和氣而調序,擬圓蓋以照臨。 堂上棟,去基上面九十尺。 按《周易》,天數九,地數十,以九乘十,數當九十,故去基上面九十尺。 所以上法圓清,下儀方載,契陰陽之至數,葉交泰之貞符。 又以茲天九,乘於地十,象陽唱而陰和,法乾施而坤成。 簷,去地五十五尺。 按《周易》,大衍之數五十有五,故去地五十五尺。 所以擬大《易》之嘉數,通惟神之至賾,道合萬象,理貫三才。 上以清陽玉葉覆之。 按《淮南子》,清陽為天,合以清陽之色。
The hall eaves spanned two hundred eighty-eight chi in diameter. Qian’s tally is two hundred sixteen and the Changes apocrypha adds seventy-two hou—two hundred eighty-eight—fixing the eaves’ diameter. They matched Qian’s tally above, joined true hou from afar, followed harmonious qi in sequence, and imitated the round canopy for oversight. The upper ridge-beam stood ninety chi above the base’s top. Heaven nine and Earth ten—nine times ten is ninety—hence ninety chi above the base. Above patterned round clarity, below square bearing, matching yin-yang’s ultimate numbers and interchange’s covenant. Heaven’s nine times Earth’s ten symbolizes yang leading and yin answering, Qian bestowing and Kun completing. The eaves stood fifty-five chi above the ground. The Great Expansion number is fifty-five—hence eaves fifty-five chi high. They imitated the great Changes’ number, joined the utmost spirit’s mystery—principle embracing all images, pattern threading the Three Powers. Above, clear yang was roofed with jade leaves. The Huainanzi makes clear yang Heaven—hence roofing in clear yang’s color.
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詔下之後,猶群議未決。 終高宗之世,未能創立。
After the edict, factions still had not settled the matter. Through Emperor Gaozong’s reign it was never built.
23
則天臨朝,儒者屢上言請創明堂。 則天以高宗遺意,乃與北門學士議其制,不聽群言。 垂拱三年春,毀東都之乾元殿,就其地創之。 四年正月五日,明堂成。 凡高二百九十四尺,東西南北各三百尺。 有三層:下層象四時,各隨方色; 中層法十二辰,圓蓋,蓋上盤九龍捧之; 上層法二十四氣,亦圓蓋。 亭中有巨木十圍,上下通貫,栭、櫨LR、勣,藉以為本,亙之以鐵索。 蓋為鸞鷟,黃金飾之,勢若飛翥。 刻木為瓦,夾紵漆之。 明堂之下施鐵渠,以為辟雍之象。 號萬象神宮。 因改河南縣為合宮縣。 詔曰:
When Empress Wu held court, scholars repeatedly asked to build the Bright Hall. Following Gaozong’s last intent, Wu discussed the design with Northern Gate academicians and would not heed wider opinion. In spring of Chuigong year 3, Luoyang’s Qianyuan Hall was torn down and the Bright Hall built on its site. On the fifth day of the first month, year 4, the Bright Hall was completed. It stood two hundred ninety-four chi high; three hundred chi on each side. It had three tiers: the lower symbolized the four seasons, each in its direction’s color; the middle followed the twelve chronograms under a round canopy borne on nine dragons; the upper followed the twenty-four qi, also under a round canopy. A timber ten arm-spans thick ran through the pavilion; bracket-arms, corbels, and bearing-blocks formed the core and iron cables spanned it. The canopy was shaped as a phoenix-pheasant, gilded, poised as if soaring. Wood was carved into tiles and lacquered between ramie layers. Below the Bright Hall ran an iron channel symbolizing the Bright Enclosure moat. It was named the Palace of Myriad Images. Henan county was renamed Hegong county. The edict read:
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黃軒禦曆,朝萬方于合宮; 丹陵握符,咨四岳於衢室。 有虞輯瑞,總章之號既存; 大禹錫珪,重屋之名攸建。 殷人受命,置陽館以辨方; 周室凝圖,立明堂以經野。 用能範圍三極,幽贊五神,展尊祖之懷,申宗祀之典。 爰從漢、魏,迨及周、隋、經始之制雖興,修廣之規未備。 朕以庸昧,虔膺厚托,受寄於綴衣之夕,荷顧於仍幾之前。 伏以高宗往年,已屬意于陽館,故京輔之縣,預紀明堂之名; 改元之期,先著總章之號。 朕于乾封之際,已奉表上塵,雖簡宸心,未遑榮構。 今以鼎郊勝壤,圭邑奧區,處天地之中,順陰陽之序,舟車是湊,貢賦攸均,爰藉子來之功,式遵奉先之旨。
The Yellow Thearch governed the calendar and received the realm at the Hegong; Emperor Danling held the talisman and took counsel from the four peaks at the Crossroads Chamber. Emperor Shun gathered auspicious signs—the name Total Pattern already stood; Yu received the jade tablet—and the name Layered Houses was established. The Yin took the mandate and built the Yang Lodge to mark the directions; the Zhou fixed the chart and built the Bright Hall to order the realm. Thus they compassed the Three Ultimates, assisted the Five Spirits in secret, displayed reverence for ancestors, and extended ancestral sacrifice. From Han and Wei through Zhou and Sui, beginnings were made but full rules for expansion were never settled. I, mediocre, reverently received heavy trust, entrusted on the night of mourning, burdened before the almost-fallen throne. Gaozong had already turned his mind to the Yang Lodge; the capital counties were pre-named for the Bright Hall; and at the change of reign the name Total Pattern was applied first. At Qianfeng I had already memorialized; though it pleased the throne, there was no leisure to build. Now at this sacred site in the capital’s center, where yin-yang order, transport, and tribute converge, I borrow willing labor and follow the mandate to honor the ancestors.
25
夫明堂者,天子宗祀之堂,朝諸侯之位也。 開乾坤之奧策,法氣象之運行,故能使災害不生,禍亂不作。 眷言盛烈,豈不美歟! 比者鴻儒禮官,所執各異,鹹以為明堂者,置之三里之外,七里之內,在國陽明之地。 今既俯邇宮掖,恐黷靈祇,誠乃布政之居,未為宗祀之所。 朕乃為丙巳之地,去宮室遙遠,每月所居,因時饗祭,常備文物,動有煩勞,在於朕懷,殊非所謂。 今故裁基紫掖,辟宇彤闈,經始肇興,成之匪日。 但敬事天地,神明之德乃彰; 尊祀祖宗,嚴恭之志方展。 若使惟云布政,負扆臨人,則茅宇土階,取適而已,豈必勞百姓之力,制九筵而禦哉! 誠以獲執蘋蘩,虔奉宗廟故也。 時既沿革,莫或相遵,自我作古,用適於事。 今以上堂為嚴配之所,下堂為布政之居,光敷禮訓,式展誠敬。 來年正月一日,可于明堂宗祀三聖,以配上帝。 宜令禮官、博士、學士、內外明禮者,詳定儀禮,務從典要,速以奏聞。
The Bright Hall is where the Son of Heaven sacrifices to ancestors and receives feudal lords in audience. It opens Qian and Kun’s hidden strategies and patterns emblems and qi—so calamity does not arise and turmoil is not made. Such splendor—how beautiful! Recently ritual scholars disagreed: all said the Bright Hall should stand three li outside and within seven li, on the state’s yang-bright ground. Placed so close to the palace, I fear it profanes the spirits; it is truly a seat for government, not yet a place for ancestral sacrifice. My seat lies in the bingsi quarter, far from the palace halls; each month I shift residence for seasonal rites, keeping vessels always in readiness—a constant burden, and hardly what I intend. We have trimmed the foundation at the Purple Forbidden and opened chambers at the red gate; the work has only begun, yet it will not take many days to finish. Only when Heaven and Earth are served with reverence does the virtue of spirits and gods shine forth; only when ancestors are honored in sacrifice does solemn respect unfold. If governance alone were the aim—leaning on the screen to face the realm—a thatched roof and earthen steps would suffice. Why weary the people and build nine mats to receive them? Truly it is to hold the offerings and serve the ancestral temple with reverence. Times have changed and none follow the old; we make the rite anew, fitting it to present need. The upper hall is for solemn matching sacrifice, the lower for government—radiating ritual teaching, displaying sincerity and reverence. On the first day of the first month next year, at the Bright Hall perform the ancestral sacrifice to the Three Sages, matching them to the High God. Let ritual officers, erudites, academicians, and all who understand ritual within and without fix the ceremonies in detail, strive for canonical essentials, and report swiftly.
26
永昌元年正月元日,始親享明堂,大赦改元。 其月四日,禦明堂布政,頒九條以訓於百官。 文多不載。 翌日,又禦明堂,饗群臣,賜縑纁有差。 自明堂成後,縱東都婦人及諸州父老入觀,兼賜酒食,久之乃止。 吐蕃及諸夷以明堂成,亦各遣使來賀。 載初元年冬正月庚辰朔,日南至,復親饗明堂,大赦改元,用周正。 翼日,布政於群後。 其年二月,則天又禦明堂,大開三教。 內史邢文偉講《孝經》,命侍臣及僧、道士等以次論議,日昃乃罷。
On the first day of the first month of Yongchang year 1, she first personally sacrificed at the Bright Hall, proclaimed a great amnesty, and changed the era name. On the fourth day of that month, she attended the Bright Hall to dispense government and issued nine articles of instruction to admonish the hundred officials. The text is lengthy and is not recorded here. The next day, she again attended the Bright Hall, feasted the ministers, and bestowed silk and hemp in graded amounts. After the Bright Hall was completed, women of the eastern capital and elders from the prefectures were admitted to view it; food and drink were bestowed as well—this continued long before it ceased. Tibet and the various Yi peoples, learning the Bright Hall was completed, each sent envoys to congratulate. On the winter solstice, first day of the first month of Zaichu year 1, gengchen, she again personally feasted at the Bright Hall, proclaimed a great amnesty, changed the era name, and adopted the Zhou calendar. The next day, she dispensed government to the nobles. In the second month of that year, Wu Zetian again attended the Bright Hall and broadly opened the Three Teachings Inner Secretariat Director Xing Wenwei lectured on the Classic of Filial Piety; she ordered attending ministers, monks, and Daoist masters to debate in turn until the sun stood in the west.
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天授二年正月乙酉,日南至,親祀明堂,合祭天地,以周文王及武氏先考、先妣配,百神從祀,並於壇位次第布席以祀之。 於是春官郎中韋叔夏奏曰:「謹按明堂大享,唯祀五帝。 故《月令》云:'是月也,大享帝。 則《曲禮》所雲'大享不問卜',鄭玄注雲'謂遍祭五帝於明堂,莫適卜'是也。 又按《祭法》云:'祖文王而宗武王。 '鄭玄注云:'祭五帝、五神於明堂曰祖、宗。 '故《孝經》云:「宗祀文王於明堂,以配上帝。 '據此諸文,明堂正禮,唯祀五帝,配以祖宗及五帝、五官神等,自外餘神,並不合預。 伏惟陛下追遠情深,崇禋志切,於明堂祀,加昊天上帝、皇地祇,重之以先帝、先後配享,此乃補前王之闕典,弘嚴配之虔誠。 往以神都郊壇未建,乃於明堂之下,廣祭眾神,蓋義出權時,非不刊之禮也。 謹按禮經:其內官、中官、五嶽、四瀆諸神,併合從祀於二至。 明堂總奠,事乃不經。 然則宗祀配天之親,雜與小神同薦,于嚴敬之道,理有不安。 望請每歲元日,惟祀天地大神,配以帝后。 其五嶽以下,請依禮于冬、夏二至,從祀方丘、圓丘,庶不煩黷。」 從之。 時則天又於明堂後造天堂,以安佛像,高百餘尺。 始起建構,為大風振倒。 俄又重營,其功未畢。 證聖元年正月丙申夜,佛堂災,延燒明堂,至曙,二堂並盡。 尋時又無雲而雷,起自西北。 則天欲責躬避正殿。 宰相姚璹曰:「此實人火,非是天災。 至如成周宣榭,卜代逾長; 漢武建章,盛德彌永。 今明堂是布政之所,非宗祀也。」 則天乃禦端門觀酺宴,下詔令文武九品已上各上封事,極言無有所隱。 左拾遺劉承慶上疏曰:
On yiyou, the winter solstice, in the first month of Tianshou year 2, she personally sacrificed at the Bright Hall, jointly sacrificing Heaven and Earth, matching King Wen of Zhou and the Wu clan's deceased father and mother, with the hundred spirits following—all at the altar seats, mats laid in sequence. Thereupon Spring Office Gentleman Wei Shuxia memorialized: "By your servant's examination, the Bright Hall great offering sacrifices only to the Five Emperors. The Monthly Ordinances says: "In this month, the great offering to the Emperors." What the Ceremonies calls the great offering does not ask the tortoise—Zheng Xuan explains as sacrificing to the Five Emperors throughout at the Bright Hall without divination—is correct. Per the Sacrificial Canon: "Take King Wen as zu and King Wu as zong." Zheng Xuan notes: "Sacrificing to the Five Emperors and Five Spirits at the Bright Hall is called zu and zong." The Classic of Filial Piety says: "The zong sacrifice to King Wen at the Bright Hall, matching the High God. By these texts, the correct Bright Hall rite sacrifices only to the Five Emperors, matching ancestors and the Five Emperors and Five Official Spirits; all other spirits should not participate. Your Majesty, pursuing the distant past, affection runs deep; in honoring the suburban sacrifice, will is keen—at the Bright Hall adding August Heaven High God and August Earth Spirit, further matching the Former Emperor and Former Empress: this repairs the former kings' missing canon and extends solemn matching sacrifice. Formerly, because the Divine Capital suburban altars were not built, the host of spirits was sacrificed below the Bright Hall—born of expedient times, not an unalterable rite. Per the ritual classics, inner-office spirits, palace spirits, the Five Marchmounts, and Four Watercourses should all follow in sacrifice at the two solstices. A general offering at the Bright Hall is uncanonical. Yet the zong sacrifice matching Heaven is intimate, while small spirits are offered together—in solemn reverence, reason finds this unsettled. Your servant hopes that each New Year's Day only the great spirits of Heaven and Earth be sacrificed to, matching the Emperor and Empress. For the Five Marchmounts and below, let them follow ritual at winter and summer solstice sacrifice at the square mound and round mound, avoiding troublesome repetition." The proposal was accepted At that time Wu Zetian also built the Hall of Paradise behind the Bright Hall to house Buddha images, more than a hundred chi high. When construction first began, a great wind shook it down Shortly they rebuilt, but the work was not finished. On the night of bingchen in the first month of Zhengsheng year 1, the Buddha hall caught fire and spread to the Bright Hall; by dawn both halls were entirely consumed. Shortly afterward thunder sounded though there were no clouds, rising from the northwest Wu Zetian wished to blame herself and avoid the main hall Chancellor Yao Shuang said: "This is truly human fire, not a heaven-sent calamity As for King Xuan of Zhou's terrace, divination showed the dynasty would long endure; Emperor Wu of Han's Jianzhang Palace—its flourishing virtue endured the longer. Now the Bright Hall is the place for dispensing government, not ancestral sacrifice. Wu Zetian thereupon attended the Vermilion Gate to view the communal feast and issued an edict ordering civil and military officials of the ninth rank and above to submit sealed memorials, speaking fully without concealment. Left Reminder Liu Chengqing submitted a memorial:
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臣聞自古帝王,皆有美惡,休祥所以昭其德,災變所以知其咎,天道之常理,王者之常事。 然則休祥屢臻,不可矜功而自滿; 災變奄降,不可輕忽而靡驚。 故殷宗以桑穀生朝,懷懼而自省,妖不勝德,遂立中興之功; 辛紂以雀生大鳥,恃福而自盈,祥不勝驕,終至傾亡之禍。 故知災變之生,將以覺悟明主,扶持大業,使盛而不衰。 理須祗畏神心,驚懼天誡,飭身正事,業業兢兢,則凶往而吉來,轉禍而為福。 昔殷湯禱身而降雨,成王省事以反風,宋公憂熒惑之災,而應三舍之壽,高宗懲雊鼎之異,而享百年之福,此其類也。
Your servant has heard that since antiquity emperors and kings have all had good and ill; auspicious omens display their virtue, calamities reveal their faults—the constant principle of Heaven's Way, the constant affair of kings. Yet when auspicious omens arrive repeatedly, one must not boast and grow self-satisfied; when calamities descend suddenly, one must not treat them lightly and fail to be alarmed. Thus the Yin ruler, when mulberry and grain grew in the court, harbored fear and examined himself—evil could not overcome virtue, and he established the achievement of restoration; King Zhou of Xin, when a sparrow hatched a great bird, relied on fortune and grew full—auspice could not overcome arrogance, and in the end he met ruin. Thus calamities are born to awaken the enlightened ruler, support the great enterprise, and keep flourishing from decay. Reason demands reverent fear of the spirits, alarm at Heaven's admonition, correcting the person and rectifying affairs, diligent and cautious—then the inauspicious departs, the auspicious comes, and misfortune turns to fortune. Formerly Tang prayed with his person and rain fell; King Cheng reduced affairs and the wind returned; Duke Mu of Song feared the Mars calamity and received three lodges' longevity; Emperor Gaozong chastised the crowing tripod and enjoyed a hundred years' fortune—these are of that kind.
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自陛下承天理物,至道事神,美瑞嘉祥,洊臻狎委,非臣所能盡述。 日者變生人火,損及神宮,驚惕聖心,震動黎庶。 臣謹按《左傳》曰:「人火曰火,天火日災。」 人火因人而興,故指火體而為稱; 天火不知何起,直以所災言之。 其名雖殊,為害不別。 又《漢書·五行志》曰:「火失性則自上而降,及濫焰妄起,災宗廟,燒宮館。」 自上而降,所謂天火; 濫焰妄起,所謂人火。 其來雖異,為患實同。 王者舉措營為,必關幽顯。 幽為天道,顯為人事,幽顯跡通,天人理合。 今工匠宿藏其火,本無放燎之心:明堂教化之宮,復非延火之所。 孽煨潛扇,倏忽成災,雖則因人,亦關神理。 臣愚以為火發既先從麻主,後及總章,意將所營佛舍,恐勞而無益。 但崇其教,即是津梁,何假紺宮,言存汲引? 既僻在明堂之後,又前逼牲牢之筵,兼以厥構崇大,功多難畢。 立像弘法,本擬利益黎元,傷財役人,卻且煩勞家國。 承前大風摧木,天誡已顯; 今者毒焰冥熾,人孽復彰。 聖人動作,必假天人之助,一興功役,二者俱違,厥應昭然,殆將緣此。
Since Your Majesty received Heaven's principle and ordered the myriad things, serving the spirits with utmost Way—beautiful omens arriving in succession, close and abundant—more than your servant can fully narrate. Recently human fire arose, damaging the spirit palace—alarming the sage heart, shaking the people. respectfully per the Zuo Commentary: "Human fire is called huo; heaven fire is called zai. Human fire arises through men, hence it names the fire itself; heaven fire—one does not know whence it starts, and speaks only of what was harmed The names differ, but the harm does not Again the Han Documents, Treatise on the Five Phases: "When fire loses its nature it descends from above; when flames spread wantonly, it calamities the ancestral temple and burns palaces. Fire descending from above is called heaven fire; flames spreading wantonly is what is called human fire Their coming differs, but the affliction is the same. The king's raising, moving, building, and acting must touch the hidden and manifest The hidden is Heaven's Way, the manifest human affairs; hidden and manifest connect, Heaven and human principle unite. Now craftsmen had long kept their fire—they had no mind to set a blaze: the Bright Hall is the palace of teaching, and again is not a place where fire spreads. Baleful flames were secretly fanned and in a moment became calamity—though it arose through men, it also touches the spirit principle Your servant thinks the fire first started at the hemp master's quarters, then reached Total Splendor—meaning the Buddha lodge under construction, labor without benefit. Only honor the teaching—that itself is the ford; why need indigo palaces to draw up water? It stands secluded behind the Bright Hall and presses before the sacrificial beast pens—moreover its structure is lofty, the work hard to finish. Erecting images to spread the Law was meant to benefit the people; injuring wealth and conscripting men instead wearies state and family. Earlier the great wind toppled the timber—Heaven's admonition was already plain; now poisonous flames burn darkly—human evil is again displayed The sage's movements must borrow Heaven and man; once labor is raised, both are violated—the response is plain, and peril will likely follow.
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臣以為明堂是正陽之位,至尊所居,展禮班常,崇化立政,玉帛朝會,神靈依憑。 營之可曰大功,損之實非輕事,既失嚴禋之所,復傷孝理之情。 陛下昨降明制,猶申寅畏之旨,群僚理合兢畏震悚,勉力司存,豈合承恩耽樂,安然酺宴? 又下人感荷聖德,睹變憎惶,神體克寧,豈非深悅。 但以火氣初止,尚多驚懼,餘憂未息,遽以歡事遏之。 臣恐憂喜相爭,傷於情理。 故傳曰:「可憂而為樂,取憂之道。」 又古者有火,祭四墉。 四墉,積陰之氣,祈之以禳火災。 火,陽之氣,歡樂陽事,火氣方勝,不可復興陽事。 臣聞災變之興,至聖不免,聿修其德,來患可禳。 陛下垂制博訪,許陳至理。 而左史張鼎以為「今既火流王屋,彌顯大周之祥」,通事舍人逢敏奏稱,「當彌勒初成佛道時,有天魔燒宮,七寶台須臾散壞。」 斯實諂妄之邪言,實非君臣之正論。 晻昧王化,無益萬機。 夫天道雖高,其察彌近; 神心雖寂,其聽彌聰。 交際皇王,事均影響。 今大風烈火,譴告相仍,實天人丁甯,匡諭聖主,便鴻基盆固,天祿永終之意也。 伏願陛下乾乾在慮,翼翼為懷,若涉巨川,如承大祭,審其致災之理,詳其降眚之由,無瞢天人之心,而興不急之役。 則兆人蒙賴,福祿靡窮,幸甚,幸甚。
thinks the Bright Hall is the position of upright yang, where the Most High dwells—displaying ritual, ordering the constant, honoring transformation and establishing government; jade and silk assemblies, spirits relying upon it. To build it is a great achievement; to damage it is no light matter—having lost the place of solemn sacrifice, again injuring filial feeling. Your Majesty yesterday issued a bright edict still declaring reverent fear; officials ought to be alarmed and trembling, striving in office—how accept favor, indulge in pleasure, and calmly feast? Moreover the people below, grateful for sage virtue, seeing the transformation are fearful—the spirit body can be at peace; is this not deep joy? But the fire has only just ceased and alarm remains; further worry has not subsided, yet joy affairs are used to check it. fears worry and joy contending injures reason and feeling. The tradition says: "To make joy of what should worry you is the way to fetch worry. in antiquity when there was fire, one sacrificed at the four embankments. The four embankments are accumulated yin qi; one prayed thereby to avert fire. Fire is yang qi— joy is a yang affair—when fire's qi is victorious, one cannot again raise a yang affair. Your servant has heard that calamities—even the utmost sage does not escape; cultivate virtue and coming peril can be averted. Your Majesty issued edicts broadly seeking counsel, permitting the utmost principle to be stated Yet Left Historian Zhang Ding thought "now that fire flows through the king's house, it all the more displays Great Zhou's auspice," and Communications Gentleman Feng Min said "when Maitreya first achieved Buddhahood, heavenly demons burned the palace and the seven-jewel terrace scattered in a moment." These are flattery and perverse words, not correct discourse between ruler and minister. They dim kingly transformation and benefit not the myriad affairs Though Heaven's Way is high, its scrutiny draws ever nearer; the spirit heart though still, its hearing is ever keener Their interchange with emperors and kings is like shadow and echo Now great wind and fierce fire, reprimand following in succession—truly Heaven and man admonishing the sage ruler, meaning the great foundation grows firmer and Heaven's emolument endures. Your servant hopes Your Majesty will be vigilant in thought, cautious in heart, as if crossing a great stream, as if undertaking a great sacrifice—examine why calamity came, detail the causes of reprimand, do not darken the heart toward Heaven and man, yet raise unurgent labor. Then the myriad people will rely upon you, fortune without end—most fortunate, most fortunate.
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則天尋令依舊規制重造明堂,凡高二百九十四尺,東西南北廣三百尺。 上施寶鳳,俄以火珠代之。 明堂之下,圜饒施鐵渠,以為辟雍之象。 天冊萬歲二年三月,重造明堂成,號為通天宮。 四月朔日,又行親享之禮,大赦,改元為萬歲通天。 翼日,則天禦通天宮之端扆殿,命有司讀時令,布政於群後。 其年,鑄銅為九州鼎,既成,置於明堂之庭,各依方位列焉。 神都鼎高一丈八尺,受一千八百石。 冀州鼎名武興,雍州鼎名長安,兗州名日觀,青州名少陽,徐州名東原,揚州名江都,荊州名江陵,梁州名成都。 其八州鼎高一丈四尺,各受一千二百石。 司農卿宗晉卿為九鼎使,都用銅五十六萬七百一十二斤。 鼎上圖寫本州山川物產之像,仍令工書人著作郎賈膺福、殿中丞薛昌容、鳳閣主事李元振、司農錄事鐘紹京等分題之,左尚方署令曹元廓圖畫之。 鼎成,自玄武門外曳入,令宰相、諸王率南北衙宿衛兵十余萬人,並仗內大牛、白象共曳之。 則天自為《曳鼎歌》,令相唱和。 其時又造大儀鐘,斂天下三品金,竟不成。 九鼎初成,欲以黃金千兩塗之。 納言姚璹曰:「鼎者神器,貴于質樸,無假別為浮飾。 臣觀其狀,光有五彩輝煥錯雜其間,豈待金色為之炫耀?」 乃止。 其年九月,又大享於通天宮。 以契丹破滅,九鼎初成,大赦。 改元為神功。
Wu Zetian shortly ordered the Bright Hall rebuilt to former regulations; in all it was two hundred ninety-four chi high, three hundred chi wide on every side. On top was set a jeweled phoenix— shortly a fire pearl replaced it. Below the Bright Hall, a circular moat with iron channels was laid, as the image of the Ring Moat In the third month of Tianche Wansui year 2, the Bright Hall was rebuilt and completed, titled the Hall of Piercing Heaven On the first day of the fourth month, the personal offering was again performed, a great amnesty proclaimed, and the era changed to Wansui Tongtian. The next day, Wu Zetian attended the Screen Hall of the Hall of Piercing Heaven, ordered the offices to read the seasonal ordinances, and dispensed government to the nobles. That year bronze was cast into the Nine Provinces cauldrons; when completed, they were placed in the Bright Hall courtyard, each arrayed by direction. The Divine Capital cauldron was one zhang eight chi high and held one thousand eight hundred shi The Jizhou cauldron was named Martial Flourishing, Yongzhou Long Peace, Yanzhou Sun Vista, Qingzhou Lesser Yang, Xuzhou Eastern Plain, Yangzhou River Capital, Jingzhou River Mound, Liangzhou Chengdu. The eight provincial cauldrons were one zhang four chi high, each holding one thousand two hundred shi Director of Agriculture Zong Jinqing was made commissioner of the Nine Cauldrons— in all five hundred sixty thousand seven hundred twelve jin of copper were used. On the cauldrons were painted each province's mountains, rivers, and products; Jia Yingfu, Xue Changrong, Li Yuanzhen, Zhong Shaojing, and others inscribed titles; Cao Yuanlang painted the designs. When the cauldrons were completed, they were dragged in from outside the Dark Warrior Gate; chancellors and kings led more than a hundred thousand guard soldiers, with great oxen and white elephants from the inner guard, to drag them together. Wu Zetian herself composed the "Dragging Cauldron Song" and ordered ministers to sing in response At that time a great ceremonial bell was also made, gathering third-rank gold from all under Heaven—it was never completed. When the Nine Cauldrons were first completed, it was wished to gild them with a thousand liang of gold Chancellor Yao Shuang said: "Cauldrons are spirit vessels; they are honored for plain substance, with no need for floating ornament. Your servant observes their form—light of five colors, brilliant and interwoven; why wait for gold to dazzle? The plan was stopped In the ninth month of that year, the great offering was again performed at the Hall of Piercing Heaven Because the Khitan were destroyed and the Nine Cauldrons newly completed, a great amnesty was proclaimed The era name was changed to Divine Achievement
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聖曆元年正月,又親享及受朝賀。 尋制:每月一日於明堂行告朔之禮。 司禮博士辟閭仁諝奏議曰:
In the first month of Shenglü year 1, the personal offering and court congratulations were again performed. Shortly an ordinance was made: on the first day of each month perform the announcing-new-moon rite at the Bright Hall Erudite Pilu Renxu submitted a deliberation, :
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謹按經史正文,無天子每月告朔之事。 惟《禮記·玉藻》云:「天子聽朔于南門之外。」 《周禮·天官·太宰》:「正月之吉,布政于邦國都鄙。」 幹寶注云:「周正建子之月,告朔日也。」 此即《玉藻》之聽朔矣。 今每歲首元日,於通天宮受朝,讀時令,布政事,京官九品以上、諸州朝集使等咸列於庭,此則聽朔之禮畢,而合于《周禮》、《玉藻》之文矣。 而鄭玄注《玉藻》「聽朔」,以秦制月令有五帝五官之事,遂云:「凡聽朔,必特牲告其時帝及其神,配以文王、武王。」 此鄭注之誤也。 故漢魏至今莫之用。 按《月令》雲「其帝太昊,其神勾芒」者,謂宣佈時令,告示下人,其令詞雲其帝其神耳。 所以為敬授之文,欲使人奉其時而務其業。 每月有令,故謂之《月令》,非謂天子月朔日以祖配帝而察告之。 其每月告朔者,諸候之禮也。 故《春秋左氏傳》曰:「公既視朔,遂登觀台。」 又鄭注《論語》云:「禮,人君每月告朔於廟,有祭謂之朝享。 魯自文公始不視朔。」 是諸候之禮明矣。 今王者行之,非所聞也。 按鄭所謂告其帝者即太昊等五人帝,其神者即重黎等五行官。 雖並功施於人,列在祀典,無天子每月拜祭告朔之文。 臣等謹檢《禮論》及《三禮義宗》、《江都集禮》、《貞觀禮》、《顯慶禮》及祠令,並無天子每月告朔之事。 若以為代無明堂,故無告朔之禮,則《江都集禮》、《貞觀禮》、《顯慶禮》及祠令,著祀五方上帝於明堂,即《孝經》「宗祀文王於明堂」也。 此則無明堂而著其享祭,何為告朔獨闕其文? 若以君有明堂即合告朔,則周、秦有明堂,而經典正文,無天子每月告朔之事。 臣等曆觀今古,博考載籍,既無其禮,不可習非。 望請停每月一日告朔之祭,以正國經。 竊以天子之尊,而用諸侯之禮,非所謂頒告朔、令諸侯、使奉而行之之義也。
Respectfully per classics and histories, there is no Son of Heaven announcing the new moon each month. the Record of Rites, Jade Regalia, says: "The Son of Heaven hears the new moon outside the southern gate. the Zhou Offices, Heavenly Offices, Grand Steward: "On the auspicious day of the first month, dispense government to the states, capitals, and districts." Gan Bao notes: "The Zhou calendar beginning in the zi month—the day of announcing the new moon." This is the hearing the new moon of Jade Regalia Now each New Year's Day at the Hall of Piercing Heaven court is received, ordinances read, government dispensed—capital officials of the ninth rank and above and gathering envoys all stand in court: this completes hearing the new moon and accords with Zhou Offices and Jade Regalia. Yet Zheng Xuan's note on "hearing the new moon," because Qin monthly ordinances had Five Emperors and Five Official Spirits, says: "Whenever hearing the new moon, use a special victim to announce that month's Emperor and spirit, matching King Wen and King Wu." This is Zheng's error. from Han and Wei to the present none have used it. Per the Monthly Ordinances saying "its Emperor Taihao, its spirit Goumang"—that means announcing seasonal ordinances to those below; the ordinance words say its Emperor, its spirit. Therefore it is respectful granting text, wishing people to observe the season and attend to their work. Each month has an ordinance, hence Monthly Ordinances—not that on the Son of Heaven's new-moon day he matches ancestors to Emperors and announces. The monthly announcing of the new moon is the rite of feudal lords the Zuo Commentary says: "The duke having already viewed the new moon, then ascended the observation terrace. Zheng's note on the Analects: "Ritual: the lord each month announces the new moon at the temple; if there is sacrifice it is called court offering. lu from Duke Wen onward ceased viewing the new moon. the feudal lords' rite is clear. Now for the king to perform it is unheard of Per Zheng's announcing to the Emperors—that is Taihao and the other five; the spirits are Chongli and the other Five Phase officials. Though their achievements benefited people and they are in the sacrifice canon, there is no Son of Heaven bowing and announcing the new moon each month. Your servants examined Ritual Discussions, Three Rites Meaning Summaries, Jiangdu Collected Rites, Zhenguan Rites, Xianqing Rites, and sacrifice ordinances—nowhere the Son of Heaven announcing the new moon each month. If one thinks no Bright Hall meant no announcing-new-moon rite, then Jiangdu Collected Rites, Zhenguan Rites, Xianqing Rites, and sacrifice ordinances record Five Directional High Gods at the Bright Hall—the Classic of Filial Piety's "zong sacrifice to King Wen at the Bright Hall." Thus without Bright Hall the offering is recorded—why alone is announcing the new moon missing? If when the ruler has a Bright Hall he should announce the new moon, Zhou and Qin had Bright Halls, yet canonical texts nowhere have the Son of Heaven announcing the new moon each month. Your servants have examined past and present, broadly consulted records—since there is no rite, one cannot practice error. We hope the monthly first-day announcing-new-moon sacrifice may be stopped to rectify the state canon Your servant thinks the Son of Heaven's dignity using feudal lords' rite is not what is meant by issuing announced new moon to feudal lords for them to perform.
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鳳閣侍郎王方慶又奏議曰:
Vice Director Wang Fangqing also submitted a deliberation, :
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謹按明堂,天子布政之宮也。 蓋所以順天氣,統萬物,動法於兩儀,德被于四海者也。 夏曰世室,殷曰重屋,姬曰明堂,此三代之名也。 明堂,天子太廟,所以宗祀其祖,以配上帝。 東曰青陽,南曰明堂,西曰總章,北曰玄堂,中曰太室。 雖有五名,而以明堂為主。 漢代達學通儒,鹹以明堂、太廟為一。 漢左中郎將蔡邕立議,亦以為然。 取其宗祀,則謂之清廟; 取其正室,則謂之太室; 取其向陽,則謂之明堂; 取其建學,則謂之太學; 取其圜水,則謂之辟雍。 異名而同事,古之制也。 天子以孟春正月上辛日,於南郊總受十二月之政,還藏于祖廟,月取一政班於明堂。 諸侯孟春之月,朝于天子,受十二月之政藏于祖廟,月取一政而行之。 蓋所以和陰陽、順天道也。 如此則禍亂不作,災害不生矣。 故仲尼美而稱之曰:「明王之以孝理天下也。」 人君以其禮告廟,則謂之告朔; 聽視此月之政,則謂之視朔,亦曰聽朔。 雖有三名,其實一也。
per the Bright Hall—it is the Son of Heaven's palace for dispensing government. Broadly it accords with Heaven's qi, orders the myriad things, moves taking the Two Modes as model, virtue covering the four seas. Xia called it Generations Chamber, Yin Layered Roof, Zhou Bright Hall—the names of three dynasties. The Bright Hall is the Son of Heaven's Grand Temple, whereby he zong-sacrifices his ancestors, matching the High God East is Azure Yang, south Bright Hall, west Total Splendor, north Dark Hall, center Grand Chamber Though there are five names, Bright Hall is primary. Han accomplished scholars and penetrating ru all took Bright Hall and Grand Temple as one. Han Left Palace Gentleman Cai Yong established the deliberation, also holding it so taking its zong sacrifice, it is called Pure Temple; as main chamber, it is called Grand Chamber; as the sun-facing hall, it is called Bright Hall; as the place of learning, it is called Grand Academy; taking its circular water, it is called Ring Moat Different names, same affair—antiquity's institution The Son of Heaven on the first xin day of early spring at the southern suburb receives the twelve months' government, returns and stores it in the ancestral temple, each month taking one government and issuing it at the Bright Hall. Feudal lords in early spring attend the Son of Heaven, receive the twelve months' government and store it in the ancestral temple, each month taking one government and performing it. Broadly this harmonizes yin and yang and accords with Heaven's Way Thus calamity and disorder do not arise, disasters are not born. Thus Confucius praised it beautifully: "The enlightened king uses filial piety to order all under Heaven. the lord announcing ritual at the temple is called announcing the new moon; hearing and viewing that month's government is called viewing the new moon, also hearing the new moon. Though there are three names, the substance is one
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今禮官議稱「經史正文無天子每月告朔之事」者。 臣謹按《春秋》:「文公六年閏十月,不告朔。」 《谷梁傳》曰:「閏,附月之余日,天子不以告朔。」 《左氏傳》云:「閏月不告朔,非禮也。 閏以正時,時以作事,事以厚生,生人之道,於是乎在矣。 不告閏朔,棄時政也。」 臣據此文,則天子閏月亦告朔矣。 寧有他月而廢其禮者乎? 博考經籍,其文甚著。 何以明之? 《周禮·太史》職云:「頒告朔于邦國。 閏月,告王居門終月。」 又《禮記·玉藻》云:「閏月則合門左扉,立於其中。」 並是天子閏月而行告朔之事也。
Now the ritual officers say "canonical texts have no Son of Heaven announcing the new moon each month." respectfully per the Spring and Autumn: "Duke Wen year 6, intercalary tenth month—did not announce the new moon. The Guliang Commentary says: "Intercalation is the month's surplus days— the Son of Heaven does not announce the new moon for it." The Zuo Commentary says: "Not announcing intercalary new moon is uncanonical Intercalation corrects the seasons— seasons make affairs— affairs thicken life—the way of the living is therein. not announcing intercalary new moon abandons seasonal government. By this text, the Son of Heaven also announces new moon in intercalary months. how could there be other months while abandoning the rite? Broadly examining classics and histories, the text is very plain how is it clear? Zhou Offices, Grand Clerk's duty: "Issue announced new moon to the states intercalary month—announce to the king dwelling at the gate for the full month. Record of Rites, Jade Regalia: "In intercalary month close the gate's left leaf and stand within it." Both are the Son of Heaven performing announcing-new-moon affairs in intercalary months
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禮官又稱:「《玉藻》,'天子聽朔于南門之外。 '《周禮·天官·太宰》,'正月之吉,布政于邦國都鄙。 '幹寶注雲,'周正建子之月,告朔日也。 '此即《玉藻》之聽朔矣。 今每歲首元日,通天宮受朝,讀時令,布政事,京官九品以上、諸州朝集使等咸列於庭,此聽朔之禮畢,而合于《周禮》、《玉藻》之文矣。 《禮論》及《三禮義宗》、《江都集禮》、《貞觀禮》、《顯慶禮》及祠令,無王者告朔之事者。 臣謹按《玉藻雲》:「玄冕而朝日於東門之外,聽朔于南門之外。」 鄭注云:「朝日,春分之時也。 東門、南門,皆謂國門也。 明堂在國之陽,每月就其時之堂而聽朔焉,卒事,反宿于路寢。 凡聽朔,必以特牲告其時帝及其神,配以文王、武王。」 臣謂今歲首元日,通天宮受朝,讀時令及布政,自是古禮孟春上辛,受十二月之政藏于祖廟之禮耳,而月取一政,班於明堂,其義昭然,猶未行也。 即如禮官所言,遂闕其事。
Ritual officers say: "Jade Regalia, 'the Son of Heaven hears the new moon outside the southern gate. zhou Offices, Heavenly Offices, Grand Steward, 'on the auspicious day of the first month, dispense government to the states, capitals, and districts.' Gan Bao notes, 'the Zhou calendar beginning in the zi month is the day of announcing the new moon.' This is Jade Regalia's hearing the new moon Now each New Year's Day at the Hall of Piercing Heaven court is received, ordinances read, government dispensed—officials of the ninth rank and above and gathering envoys stand in court: this completes hearing the new moon and accords with Zhou Offices and Jade Regalia. Ritual Discussions, Three Rites Meaning Summaries, Jiangdu Collected Rites, Zhenguan Rites, Xianqing Rites, and sacrifice ordinances have no king announcing the new moon. respectfully per Jade Regalia: "Dark regalia and attend the sun at the eastern gate outside, hear the new moon at the southern gate outside." Zheng notes: "Attending the sun is at the spring equinox. The eastern and southern gates both mean the state gate. The Bright Hall is in the state's yang; each month one goes to that season's hall to hear the new moon; when finished, one returns to lodge at the Road Chamber. Whenever hearing the new moon, one must use a special victim to announce that month's Emperor and spirit, matching King Wen and King Wu. Your servant thinks New Year's Day at the Hall of Piercing Heaven receiving court, reading ordinances and dispensing government is the ancient early-spring first xin rite of receiving twelve months' government and storing it in the ancestral temple—but taking one government monthly at the Bright Hall, though plain in meaning, is still not performed. If one follows the ritual officers, that affair is then lacking.
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臣又按《禮記·月令》,天子每月居青陽、明堂、總章、玄堂,即是每月告朔之事。 先儒舊說,天子行事,一年十八度入明堂:大享不問卜,一入也; 每月告朔,十二入也; 四時迎氣,四入也; 巡狩之年,一入也。 今禮官立義,王惟歲首一入耳,與先儒既異,臣不敢同。 鄭玄云:「凡聽朔告其帝。」 臣愚以為告朔之日,則五方上帝之一帝也。 春則靈威仰,夏則赤熛怒,秋則白招拒,冬則葉光紀,季月則含樞紐也,並以始祖而配之焉。 人帝及神,列在祀典,亦於其月而享祭之。 魯自文公始不視朔,子貢見其禮廢,欲去其羊,孔子以羊存猶可識其禮,羊亡其禮遂廢,故云:「爾愛其羊,我愛其禮。」
Your servant further notes the Record of Rites, "Monthly Ordinances": each month the Son of Heaven dwells in Azure Yang, Bright Hall, Total Splendor, and Dark Hall—the monthly gaosu rite. Former scholars held that in a year the Son of Heaven entered the Bright Hall eighteen times: the great sacrifice without divination, once; monthly gaosu, twelve times; welcoming the qi of the four seasons, four times; in years of the imperial tour, once. Today the ritualists hold that the king enters only at the year's head—at odds with the old masters. Your servant cannot agree. Zheng Xuan says: "Whenever the court hears the new moon, it announces to that season's Thearch." Your servant holds that on gaosu day it is one of the Five Directional High Gods. Spring: Spiritual Power Uplifted; summer: Blazing Fury; autumn: White Summoner Repelled; winter: Radiant Light Eras; the season's last month: Pivot Token—each with the founding ancestor as consort. The human Thearchs and spirits in the sacrificial canon receive offerings in their proper months. From Duke Wen of Lu the state ceased viewing the new moon. Zigong saw the rite fall into ruin and wanted to abolish the sacrificial sheep. Confucius said that while the sheep remained one could still recognize the rite; without the sheep the rite was lost. Hence: "You love your sheep; I love the rite. The Analects quote ended.
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漢承秦滅學,庶事草創,明堂、辟雍,其制遂闕。 漢武帝封禪,始造明堂於太山,既不立于京師,所以無告朔之事。 至漢平帝元始中,王莽輔政,庶幾復古,乃建明堂、辟雍焉。 帝祫祭於明堂,諸侯王、列侯、宗室子弟九百餘人助祭畢,皆益戶、賜爵及金帛、增秩、補吏各有差。 漢末喪亂,尚傳其禮。 爰至後漢,祀典仍存。 明帝永平二年,郊祀五帝於明堂,以光武配,祭牲各一犢,奏樂如南郊。 董卓西移,載籍湮滅,告朔之禮,於此而墜。 暨于晉末,其馬生郊,禮樂衣冠,掃地總盡。 元帝過江,是稱狼狽,禮樂制度,南遷蓋寡,彝曲殘缺,無復舊章,軍國所資,臨事議之。 既闕明堂,寧論告朔。 宋朝何承天纂集其文,以為《禮論》,雖加編次,事則闕如。 梁代崔靈恩撰《三禮義宗》,更無異文。 《貞觀》、《顯慶禮》及祠令不言告朔者,蓋為歷代不傳,其文遂闕,各有由緒,不足依據。 今禮官引為明證,在臣誠實有疑。
Han rose after Qin burned the schools; every institution was new. Bright Hall and Imperial Academy were never properly built. Emperor Wu's feng and shan raised a Bright Hall on Mount Tai—but not in the capital, so there was no gaosu. Under Emperor Ping, in the Yuanshi era, Wang Mang governed and sought to restore antiquity; he built Bright Hall and Imperial Academy. The emperor performed the collective autumn rite at the Bright Hall. More than nine hundred feudal kings, marquises, and clansmen assisted; when the rite ended each was rewarded—households enlarged, ranks granted, gold and silk bestowed, promotions and appointments, all by degree. Han ended in chaos, yet the rite still passed down. Under Later Han the sacrificial canon remained. Yongping year 2 of Mingdi: the Five Thearchs were sacrificed at the Bright Hall in the suburbs, with Guangwu as consort—one calf each, music as at the southern altar. Dong Zhuo's flight westward drowned the archives; the gaosu rite collapsed here. By Jin's end—"horses born in the suburbs"—ritual, music, caps and robes were swept away entirely. Emperor Yuan fled south in disarray; ritual and music crossed the river only in fragments. Canonical melodies were broken; old statutes did not return. What army and state required was improvised as events demanded. Without a Bright Hall, who could speak of gaosu? In Song, He Chengtian compiled texts into Discourses on Rites—well ordered, but the substance was missing. In Liang, Cui Lingen's Notes on the Meaning of the Three Rites added nothing new. Zhenguan Rites, Xianqing Rites, and the sacrificial code omit gaosu because no age transmitted it—the text was lost. Each omission has its cause; none can serve as proof. The ritualists now cite these as clear proof. Your servant is not persuaded.
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陛下肇建明堂,聿遵古典,告朔之禮,猶闕舊間,欽若稽古,應須補葺。 若每月聽政於明堂,事亦煩數,孟月視朔,恐不可廢。
Your Majesty has raised the Bright Hall and follows the ancients—yet gaosu still stands incomplete. To honor antiquity, the gap should be mended. Monthly audiences at the Bright Hall would be burdensome—but viewing the new moon in each season's first month must not be abandoned.
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上又命奉常廣集眾儒,取方慶、仁諝所奏,議定得失。 當時大儒成均博士吳揚吾、太學博士郭山惲曰:「臣等謹按《周禮》、《禮記》及《三傳》,皆有天子告朔之禮。 夫天子頒告朔于諸侯,秦政焚滅《詩》、《書》,由是告朔禮廢。 今明堂肇建,總章新立,紹百王之絕軌,樹萬代之鴻規,上以嚴配祖宗,下以敬授人時,使人知禮樂,道適中和,災害不生,禍亂不作。 今若因循頒朔,每月依行,禮貴隨時,事須沿革。 望依王方慶議,用四時孟月日及季夏於明堂修復告朔之禮,以頒天下。 其帝及神,亦請依方慶用鄭玄義,告五時帝於明堂上。 則嚴配之道,通於神明; 至孝之德,光于四海。」 制從之。
The emperor again ordered the Director of Sacrifices to gather scholars and weigh Fang Qing's and Ren Xu's memorials. The Chengjun erudite Wu Yangwu and Imperial University erudite Guo Shanyun said: "We have examined the Rites of Zhou, the Record of Rites, and the Three Commentaries—all attest the Son of Heaven's gaosu rite. The Son of Heaven proclaimed gaosu to the feudal lords. Qin burned the Odes and Documents—and gaosu perished. The Bright Hall rises anew, Total Splendor freshly founded—reviving the broken line of a hundred kings, planting a measure for ten thousand generations. Above, ancestors are solemnly matched; below, the seasons are reverently granted. Let the people know ritual and music; let the Way hold the center—then disasters will not arise and rebellion will not stir. To issue the calendar every month by rote is not timely. Ritual follows the season; affairs must be adapted. We ask to follow Wang Fangqing: on the first days of the four seasons and in the last month of summer, restore gaosu at the Bright Hall and proclaim it to the realm. For Thearchs and spirits as well, follow Fangqing and Zheng Xuan: announce to the five-season Thearchs upon the Bright Hall. Then the way of solemn matching reaches the spirits; utmost filial virtue shines across the four seas. The throne assented.
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長安四年,始制:「元日明堂受悲,停讀時令。」 中宗即位,神龍元年九月,親享明堂,合祭天地,以高宗配。 禮畢,曲赦京師。 明年駕入京,于季秋大享,復就圓丘行事,迄于睿宗之世。
In the fourth year of Chang'an a rule was set: on New Year's Day the Bright Hall received the new moon; reading the seasonal ordinances ceased. Zhongzong took the throne. In the ninth month of Shenlong year 1 he personally sacrificed at the Bright Hall, joining Heaven and Earth with Gaozong as consort. When the rite ended, the capital received a partial amnesty. The next year the court returned to the capital. The autumn great sacrifice was again held at the Round Mound—so it remained through Ruizong's reign.
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開元二年八月,太子賓客薛謙光獻《九鼎銘》。 其《蔡州鼎銘》,天后禦撰,曰:「羲、農首出,軒、昊膺期。 唐、虞繼踵,湯、禹乘時。 天地光宅,域中雍熙。 上天降鑒,方建隆基。」 紫微令姚崇奏曰:「聖人啟運,休兆必彰。 請宣付史館。」 從之。 五年正月,幸東都,將行大享之禮。 太常少卿王仁忠、博士馮宗陳貞節等議,以武氏所造明堂,有乖典制,奏議曰:
Kaiyuan year 2, eighth month: the crown prince's guest-friend Xue Qianguang presented Inscriptions on the Nine Cauldrons. The Caizhou cauldron inscription, composed by the Heavenly Empress, reads: "Xi and Nong came first; Xuan and Hao took up the mandate. Tang and Yu followed in turn; Cheng Tang and Yu rode the hour. Heaven and earth were luminous; the realm knew peace. Heaven sent down its sign—and Great Prosperity was founded." Yao Chong, director of the Purple Forbidden, memorialized: "When a sage opens his fortune, auspicious signs must show. We ask that this be sent to the Historiography. The emperor assented. In the fifth year, first month, the emperor went to the eastern capital to perform the great sacrifice. Director of Sacrifices associate Wang Renzhong and erudites Feng Zong and Chen Zhenjie argued that the Wu clan's Bright Hall violated the canon. Their memorial said:
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明堂之建,其所從來遠矣! 自天垂象,聖人則之。 蒿柱茅簷之規,上圓下方之制,考之大數,不逾三七之間,定之方中,必居丙巳之地者,豈非得房心布政之所,當太微上帝之宮乎? 故仰葉俯從,正名定位,人神不雜,各司其序,則嘉應響至,保合太和。
The Bright Hall's origin lies deep in antiquity! Heaven hung forth its signs; the sage took them as his model. Artemisia pillars, thatch eaves—round above, square below. By great number it does not exceed three-sevenths; fixed at the square's center it must sit in bing-si—is this not the Heart of the Room where policy is proclaimed, the Supreme Palace of the High God? Heaven above, earth below—names rectified, positions fixed. Human and spirit do not mingle; each keeps its order. Then auspicious omens answer and great harmony holds.
45
昔漢氏承秦,經籍道息,旁求湮墜,詳究難明。 孝武初,議立明堂于長安城南,遭竇太后不好儒術,事乃中廢。 孝成之代,又欲立于城南,議其制度,莫之能決。 至孝平元始四年,始創造於南郊,以申嚴配。 光武中元元年,立于國城之南。 自魏、晉迄于梁朝,雖規制或殊,而所居之地,常取丙巳者,斯蓋百王不易之道也。
Han inherited Qin; the classics' Way went dark. What was drowned could barely be recovered; the details could not be made clear. Early in Emperor Wu's reign they debated a Bright Hall south of Chang'an. Empress Dowager Dou despised Ruist learning—the work stopped midway. Under Emperor Cheng they wished again to build south of the city. On the design none could agree. Only in Yuanshi year 4 of Emperor Ping was it first built at the southern suburb, for solemn matching. Guangwu, Zhongyuan year 1: it stood south of the capital walls. From Wei and Jin through Liang, forms differed—but the site always lay in bing-si. That is the Way no king changes.
46
高宗天皇大帝纂承平之運,崇樸素之風,四夷來賓,九有鹹乂。 永徽三年,詔禮官學士議明堂制度,群儒紛競,各執異端,久之不決,因而遂止者,何也? 非謂財不足、力不堪也。 將以周、孔既遙,禮經且紊,事不師古,或爽天心,難用作程,神不孚祐者也。 則天太后總禁闈之政,藉軒台之威,屬皇室中圮之期,躡和熹從權之制。 以為乾元大殿,承慶小寢,當正陽亭午之地,實先聖聽斷之宮。 表順端闈,儲精營室,爰從朝享,未始臨禦。 乃起工徒,挽令摧覆。 既毀之後,雷聲隱然,眾庶聞之,或以為神靈感動之象也。 於是增土木之麗,因府庫之饒,南街北闕,建天樞大儀之制; 乾元遺趾,興重閣層樓之業。 煙焰蔽日,樑柱排雲,人斯告勞,天實貽誡。 煨燼甫爾,遽加修復。 況乎地殊丙巳,未答靈心,跡匪膺期,乃申嚴配。 事昧彝典,神不昭格。 此其不可者一也。 又明堂之制,木不鏤,土不文。 今體式乖宜,違經紊禮,雕鐫所及,窮侈極麗。 此其不可者二也。 高明爽塏,事資虔敬,密邇宮掖,何以祈天? 人神雜擾,不可放物。 此其不可者三也。 況兩京上都,萬方取則,而天子闕當陽之位,聽政居便殿之中,職司其憂,豈容沉默。 當須審考曆之計,擇煩省之宜,不便者量事改修,可因者隨宜適用,削彼明堂之號,克復乾元之名,則當寧無偏,人識其舊矣。
High Ancestor the Heavenly August Emperor inherited an age of peace and honored simplicity. The four quarters came as guests; the nine regions were governed. Yonghui year 3: ritualists and scholars were ordered to debate the Bright Hall. The Ruists quarreled; each clung to his view; no decision came—and the work halted. Why? Not for lack of money or strength. Zhou and Confucius were far; the ritual classics were tangled. What did not follow antiquity might offend Heaven; what could not serve as standard lacked the spirits' blessing. The Heavenly Empress Dowager ruled the inner court, drew on the Terrace Pavilion's power, stood in the house's collapse, and walked He and Xi's path of expedience. She held that the Qianyuan great hall and Chengqing chambers sat where yang stood upright at noon—the very hall of the sage's judgment. She marked compliance at the correct gate and stored essence in the Encampment—yet from morning rites she never held court there. She raised laborers and had it pulled down. After the destruction thunder murmured; the crowd heard it—some said the spirits had been stirred. Then she piled timber and earth into splendor, drawing on full treasuries—south street, north gate, the Heavenly Pivot and Great Instrument; on Qianyuan's ruins, towers upon towers. Smoke veiled the sun; beams pierced the clouds. Men groaned under the labor; Heaven sent its warning. The ashes were barely cool when rebuilding began. Worse: the site was not bing-si—it did not answer the spirits. The footprint did not match the mandate—yet solemn matching was performed. The rite strayed from the canon; the spirits did not descend. That is the first impossibility. Again: Bright Hall wood is not carved, earth is not patterned. Today the form is wrong, the classics violated, ritual tangled—carving pushed to the furthest excess. That is the second impossibility. Bright Hall must be lofty, open, and pure—fit for reverence. Pressed against the palace quarters—how does one pray to Heaven? Human and spirit mingle; the vessels cannot be set forth properly. That is the third impossibility. The two capitals are models for the realm—yet the Son of Heaven lacks the seat facing the sun and holds court in a side hall. Those charged with duty cannot keep silent. Examine the calendar, choose what may be simplified; revise what fails; keep what serves. Strip the name Bright Hall, restore Qianyuan—then the throne is not skewed and the people recognize what was.
47
詔令所司詳議奏聞。
An edict ordered the offices to debate and report.
48
刑部尚書王志愔等奏議,鹹以此堂所置,實乖典制,多請改削,依舊造乾元殿。 乃下詔曰:「古之操插皇綱、執大象者,何嘗不上稽天道,下順人極,或變通以隨時,爰損益以成務。 且衢室創制,度堂以筵,用之以禮神,是光孝享,用之以布政,蓋稱視朔,先王所以厚人倫、感天地者也。 少陽有位,上帝斯歆,此則神貴於不黷,禮殷於至敬。 今之明堂,俯鄰宮掖,此之嚴祀,有異肅恭,苟非憲章,將何軌物? 由是禮官博士、公卿大夫,廣參群議,欽若前古,宜存露寢之式,用罷辟雍之號。 可改為乾元殿,每臨禦宜依正殿禮。」 自是駕在東都,常以元日冬至於乾元殿受朝賀。 季秋大享祀,依舊於圓丘行事。 十年,復題乾元殿為明堂,而不行享祀之禮。 二十五年,駕在西京,詔將作大匠康紵素往東都毀之。 紵素以毀拆勞人,乃奏請且拆上層,卑於舊制九十五尺。 又去柱心木,平座上置八角樓,樓上有八龍,騰身捧火珠。 又小於舊制,周圍五尺,覆以真瓦,取其永逸。 依舊為乾元殿。
Minister of Justice Wang Zhiyin and others agreed the hall's placement violated the canon. Most asked that it be cut back and Qianyuan Hall rebuilt as of old. An edict followed: "Those who held the imperial net and grasped the great image—when did they not look up to Heaven's Way and down to man's pole, change with the times, and trim or add to finish the work? The Crossroads Chamber was measured in mats: for spirits it glorified sacrifice; for government it was called viewing the new moon—the former kings' way of thickening human ties and moving Heaven and Earth. Lesser yang has its station; the High God delights—spirits are not profaned; ritual reaches utmost respect. Today's Bright Hall leans on the palace—this solemn rite is not solemnly performed. Without the statutes, what will the realm follow? Ritualists, erudites, and grandees deliberated and, reverencing antiquity, held that the dew-chamber form should remain and the Imperial Academy title be dropped. Let it be renamed Qianyuan Hall; audiences shall follow main-hall ritual." Henceforth at the eastern capital, New Year's Day and the winter solstice brought court congratulations at Qianyuan Hall. The autumn great sacrifice was still held at the Round Mound. In year 10 Qianyuan Hall was titled Bright Hall again—but no sacrifice was performed. Year 25: the court was at the western capital and ordered the master of works Kang Yuesu to destroy the eastern structure. Kang Yuesu, seeing that demolition burdened the people, asked to remove only the upper story—ninety-five chi below the old height. He removed the pillar cores and set an eight-sided tower on the level terrace; eight dragons coiled upward bearing the fire pearl. It was smaller still than the old measure—five chi around, roofed with true tile for lasting ease. As of old, it was Qianyuan Hall again.