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禮志二○凶儀
Treatise on Rites II — Mourning and Funeral Rites
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喪葬儀：聖宗崩，興宗哭臨於菆塗殿。 大行之夕四鼓終，皇帝率群臣入，柩前三致奠，奉柩出殿之西北門，就辒京車，藉以素裀。 巫者袚除之。 詰旦，發引，至祭，凡五致奠。 太巫祈禳。 皇族、外戚、大臣、諸京官以次致祭。 乃以衣、弓矢、鞍勒、圖畫、馬駝、儀衛等物皆燔之。 至山陵，葬畢，上哀冊。 皇帝御幄，命改火，面火致奠，三拜。 又東向，再拜天地訖，乘馬，率送葬者過神門之木乃下，東向又再拜。 翼日詰旦，率群臣、命婦詣山陵，行初奠之禮。 升御容殿，受遺賜。 又翼日，再奠如初。 興宗崩，道宗親擇地以葬。 道宗崩，菆塗於遊仙殿，有司奉喪服。 天祚皇帝問禮於總知翰林院事耶律固，始服斬衰； 皇族、外戚、使相、矮墩官及郎君服如之； 餘官及承應人皆白掞衣巾以入，哭臨。 惕隱、三父房，南府宰相、遙輦常袞、九奚首郎君、夷離畢、國舅詳穩、十閘撒郎君、南院大王、郎君，各以次薦奠，進鞍馬、衣襲、犀玉帶等物，表列其數。 讀訖，焚表。 諸國所賻器服，親王、諸京留守奠祭、進賻物亦如之。 先帝小斂前一日，皇帝喪服上香，奠酒，哭臨。 其夜，北院樞密使、契丹行宮都部署入，小斂。 翼日，遣北院樞密副使、林牙，以所赗器服，置之幽宮。 靈柩升車，親王推之，至食羖之次。 蓋遼國舊俗，於此刑羖羊以祭。 皇族、外戚、諸京州官以次致祭。 至葬所，靈柩降車。 就舉，皇帝免喪服，步引至長福岡。 是夕，皇帝入陵寢，授遺物於皇族、外戚及諸大臣，乃出。 命以先帝寢幄，過於陵前神門之木。 帝不親往，遣近侍冠服赴之。 初奠，皇帝、皇后率皇族、外戚、使相、節度使、夫人以上命婦皆拜祭，循陵三匝而降。 再奠，如初。 辭陵而還。
Funeral rites: When Emperor Shengzong passed away, Emperor Xingzong came to mourn at the bier in the Zangtu Hall. On the night the late emperor died, after the fourth watch had ended, the emperor led his ministers inside. Before the bier they presented offerings three times, then carried the coffin out through the northwest gate of the hall, set it on the encoffining carriage, and laid a plain white mat underneath. Shamans performed the rites of purification. At dawn the funeral procession departed; from the setting out to the sacrifice, offerings were presented five times in all. The grand shaman offered prayers of expiation. Members of the imperial clan, maternal relatives, great ministers, and officials from the various capitals offered sacrifice in succession. Then clothing, bows and arrows, saddles and bridles, paintings, horses and camels, ceremonial regalia, and the like were all consigned to the flames. When they reached the imperial tomb and the burial was finished, the lamentation document was presented. The emperor took his seat in the imperial tent, ordered the mourning fire to be kindled anew, faced the fire to present offerings, and bowed three times. He then turned eastward and bowed twice to Heaven and Earth. When this was done he mounted his horse and led the funeral party past the spirit-gate tree before dismounting and bowing twice again toward the east. On the following morning at dawn he led the officials and titled ladies to the imperial tomb to perform the first offering rite. He ascended the Hall of Imperial Portrait and received the late emperor's bequeathed gifts. On the day after that, the second offering was performed in the same manner. When Emperor Xingzong died, Emperor Daozong personally selected the ground for his burial. When Emperor Daozong died, the body was laid out in the Youxian Hall, and the responsible offices presented the mourning garments. Emperor Tianzuo inquired about the rites from Ye Lü Gu, Supervisor of the Hanlin Academy, and then put on the deepest mourning garment of unhemmed sackcloth; the imperial clan, maternal kin, commissioners, officials of Aidian rank, and langjun wore the same; all remaining officials and attendants entered wearing white mourning dress and headcloths to mourn at the bier. The Tieli, the Three Fathers' House, the Southern Chancellor, Yaonian Changgun, the Nine Xishou Langjun, Yilibi, the Guoguo Xiangwen, the Ten Zhacha Langjun, the Southern Grand Prince, and the langjun—each in turn presented burial offerings, advancing saddled horses, burial garments, rhinoceros-horn and jade belts, and the like, with memorials itemizing the quantities. When the reading was finished, the memorial was burned. Funerary goods contributed by the various states, and the offerings and tribute presented by princes and frontier commissioners, followed the same procedure. On the day before the lesser dressing of the late emperor, the emperor in mourning robes burned incense, offered wine, and mourned at the bier. That night the Northern Chancellor and the Khitan Mobile Court Grand Deployer entered and performed the lesser dressing of the corpse. On the following day the Northern Vice Chancellor and the Linya were dispatched to place the contributed goods and garments in the inner chamber of the tomb. When the spirit coffin was lifted onto the carriage, princes pushed it forward to the place of the ram sacrifice. This was an old Liao custom: here a ram was slaughtered as a sacrifice. The imperial clan, maternal kin, and officials of the various capitals and prefectures offered sacrifice in succession. At the burial ground the spirit coffin was lowered from the carriage. For the interment the emperor removed his mourning robes and walked ahead on foot, leading the procession to Changfu Hill. That evening the emperor entered the tomb chamber, distributed the late emperor's possessions among the imperial clan, maternal kin, and great ministers, and then withdrew. He ordered the late emperor's sleeping tent to be carried past the spirit-gate tree before the tomb. The emperor did not go in person but sent close attendants in formal caps and robes in his stead. For the first offering, the emperor and empress led the imperial clan, maternal kin, commissioners, military governors, and titled ladies of third rank and above in bowing and sacrifice; they circled the tomb three times before descending. The second offering followed the same procedure as the first. They took leave of the tomb and returned.
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上謚冊儀：先一日，於菆塗殿西廊設禦幄並臣僚幕次。 太樂令展宮懸於殿庭，協律郎設舉麾位。 至日，北南面臣僚朝服，昧爽赴菆塗殿。 先置冊、寶案於西廊下。 閣使引皇帝至禦幄，服寬衣皂帶。 臣僚班齊，分班引入，響殿合班立定。 引冊案上殿至褥位，寶案次之，設於西階。 閣使引皇帝自西階升殿。 初行，樂作； 至位立，樂止。 宣徽使揖皇帝鞠躬再拜，陪位者皆再拜。 翰林使執臺盞以進，皇帝再拜。 引皇至神座前，跪奠三，樂作，進奠訖，復位，樂止。 又再拜，陪位者皆再拜。 引帝於神座前。 北面立。 捧冊函者去蓋，進前跪。 冊案退，置殿西壁下。 引讀冊者進前，俯伏跪，自通全銜臣讀謚冊。 讀訖，俯伏興，復位。 捧冊函者置於案上，捧寶函者進前跪，讀寶官通銜跪讀訖，引皇帝至褥位再拜，陪位者皆再拜。 禮畢，引皇帝歸禦幄。 初行，樂作； 至禦幄，樂止。 引臣僚分班出。 若皇太后奠酒，依常儀。
Rite for presenting the posthumous title document: On the preceding day an imperial tent and canopies for the officials were set up in the west corridor of the Zangtu Hall. The Director of Music hung the palace bells in the courtyard; the pitch-master set the position for raising the conducting baton. On the appointed day, officials of the northern and southern administrations, in court dress, arrived at dawn at the Zangtu Hall. The cases for the document and seal were first set out beneath the west corridor. The gate attendant led the emperor to the imperial tent to don wide mourning robes with a black belt. When the officials' ranks were complete, they were led in by groups, entered the hall at the signal, and took their places in formation. The document case was brought up to the hall to the cushion position, with the seal case following; both were set on the west steps. The gate attendant led the emperor up the west steps. As he first set out, music sounded; when he reached his place and stood, the music ceased. The Palace Commissioner motioned the emperor to bow twice; all those in attendance bowed twice as well. The Hanlin Commissioner advanced bearing the offering tray; the emperor bowed twice. The emperor was led before the spirit seat, knelt, and presented offerings three times; music sounded; when the offerings were finished he returned to his place and the music ceased. He bowed twice again, and all those in attendance did the same. The emperor was led before the spirit seat. He stood facing north. The bearer of the document casket removed the cover and advanced, kneeling. The document case was withdrawn and set beneath the west wall of the hall. The reader of the document advanced, prostrated himself, announced his full official title, and read the posthumous-title document. When the reading was finished he rose from prostration and returned to his place. The bearer of the document casket set it on the case; the bearer of the seal casket advanced and knelt; the seal reader announced his full title, knelt, and read; then the emperor was led to the cushion and bowed twice, and all those in attendance did the same. When the rite was complete, the emperor was led back to the imperial tent. As he set out, music sounded; when he reached the imperial tent, the music ceased. The officials were led out in groups. If the Empress Dowager presented wine, the usual procedure was followed.
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忌辰儀：先一日，奏忌辰榜子，預寫名紙。 大紙一幅，用陰面後第三行書「文武百僚宰臣某以下謹詣西上閣門進名奉慰」。 至日，應拜大小臣僚並皂衣、皂鞓帶，四鼓至時，於幕次前，在京於僧寺，班齊，依位望闕敘立。 直日舍人跪右，執名紙在前，班首以下皆再拜。 引退。 名紙於宣徽使面付內侍奏聞。
Anniversary-of-death rite: On the preceding day a memorial announcing the anniversary was submitted and name slips were prepared in advance. On one large sheet, in the third line from the back on the yin side, was written: "The civil and military officials, ministers, and all below, in reverence proceed to the Western Upper Gate to present their names in condolence." On the day, all officials great and small who were to bow wore black robes and black girdles. At the fourth watch they assembled before the canopies—in the capital, at a Buddhist temple—formed their ranks by position, and stood in order facing the palace gate. The duty secretary knelt to the right, holding the name sheet before him; from the head of the rank downward all bowed twice. They withdrew. The name sheet was handed to the inner attendant in the presence of the Palace Commissioner, who reported it to the throne.
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宋使祭奠吊慰儀：太皇太后至菆塗殿，服喪服。 太后於北間南面垂簾坐，皇帝於南間北面坐，使至幕次。 宣賜素服、皂帶，更衣訖，引南北臣僚入班，立定。 可矮墩以下，並上殿依位立。 先引祭奠使副捧祭文南洞門入，殿上下臣僚並舉哀，至丹墀立定。 西上閣門使自南階下，受祭文，上殿啟封，置於香案。 哭止，祭奠禮物列殿前。 引使副南階上殿，至褥位立，揖，再拜。 引太使近前上香，退，再拜。 大使近前跪，捧臺盞，進奠酒三，教坊奏樂，退，再拜，揖，中書二舍人跪捧祭文，引大使近前俯伏跪，讀訖，舉哀。 引使副下殿立定，哭止。 禮物擔床出畢，引使副近南，面北立。 勾吊慰使副南洞門入。 四使同見大行皇帝靈，再拜。 引出，歸幕次。 皇太后別殿坐，服喪服。 先引北南面臣僚並於殿上下依位立，吊慰使副捧書匣右入，當殿立。 閤門使右下殿受書匣，上殿奏「封全」。 開讀訖，引使副南階上殿，傳達吊慰訖，退，下殿立。 引禮物擔床過畢，引使副近南，北面立。 勾祭奠使副入。 四使同見。 鞠躬，再拜。 不出班，奏「聖躬萬福」，再拜。 出班，謝面天顏，又再拜，立定。 宣徽傳聖旨撫問，就位謝，再拜。 引出，歸幕次。 皇帝御南殿，服喪服。 使副入見，如見皇太后儀，加謝遠接撫問、湯藥，再拜。 次宣賜使副並從人，祭奠使副別賜讀祭文例物。 即日就館賜宴。 高麗、夏國奉吊、進賻等使禮，略如之。 道宗崩，天祚皇帝問禮於耶律固。 宋國遣使吊及致祭、歸赗，皇帝喪服，禦遊仙之北別殿。 使入門，皇帝哭。 使者詣柩前上香，讀祭文訖，又哭。 有司讀遺詔，慟哭。 使者出，少頃，復入，陳賻赗於柩前，皇帝入臨哭。 退，更衣禦遊仙殿南之幄殿。 使者入見且辭，敕有司賜宴於館。
Rites for Song envoys presenting condolences and comfort: The Grand Empress Dowager came to the Zangtu Hall dressed in mourning. The Empress Dowager sat behind a curtain on the south side of the north chamber; the emperor sat on the north side of the south chamber facing north; the envoys arrived at the side tents. They were granted plain mourning dress and a black belt; when they had changed, officials of the northern and southern administrations were led in and took their places. Those of Aidian rank and below all ascended the hall and stood in their assigned places. The condolence envoys were first led in through the south gate bearing the elegy; officials above and below the hall all wailed; they halted on the red steps of the courtyard. The Western Upper Gate attendant came down the south steps, received the elegy, ascended the hall, broke the seal, and placed it on the incense table. Wailing ceased, and the condolence gifts were arrayed before the hall. The envoys were led up the south steps to the cushion and stood; they bowed with a gesture and then bowed twice. The chief envoy was led forward to burn incense, withdrew, and bowed twice. The chief envoy advanced, knelt, and held the offering tray; he presented wine three times while the Music Office played. He withdrew, bowed twice, and bowed with a gesture. Two Zhongshu secretaries knelt bearing the elegy; the chief envoy was led forward, prostrated himself, read it to the end, and wailing rose. The envoys were led down from the hall and stood below; wailing ceased. When the gift litters had all been brought out, the envoys were led to the south to stand facing north. The consolation envoys were summoned to enter through the south gate. All four envoys together viewed the spirit of the late emperor and bowed twice. They were led out and returned to the side tents. The Empress Dowager sat in a separate hall dressed in mourning. Officials of the northern and southern administrations were first led to stand above and below the hall in their places; the consolation envoys entered carrying the letter casket on the right and stood before the hall. The Gate Attendant came down on the right, received the casket, ascended the hall, and reported, "The seal is intact." When it was opened and read, the envoys were led up the south steps, conveyed their condolences, withdrew, and stood below the hall. When the gift litters had passed, the envoys were led to the south to stand facing north. The condolence envoys were summoned to enter. All four envoys were received together. They bowed with a gesture and then bowed twice. Without leaving formation they reported, "May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings," and bowed twice. They left formation, thanked him for appearing in person, bowed twice again, and stood at attention. The Palace Commissioner conveyed the imperial message of comfort; they took their places and offered thanks, bowing twice. They were led out and returned to the side tents. The emperor presided in the southern hall dressed in mourning. The envoys entered for an audience following the same procedure as for the Empress Dowager, with additional thanks for the escort on their journey, expressions of comfort, and provisions of medicine, bowing twice. Next, gifts were bestowed on the envoys and their attendants; the condolence envoys separately received the customary items granted for reading the elegy. That same day a banquet was given for them at their lodging. The rites for envoys from Goryeo and Western Xia presenting condolences and tribute were much the same. When Emperor Daozong died, Emperor Tianzuo consulted Ye Lü Gu about the proper rites. The Song court dispatched envoys to offer condolences, present sacrifices, and return funerary gifts; the emperor, dressed in mourning, presided in the separate hall north of the Youxian Hall. When the envoys entered, the emperor wept. The envoys went before the bier to burn incense; when the elegy had been read, they wept again. The responsible offices read the late emperor's testament, and bitter wailing broke out. The envoys withdrew; after a short while they entered again and presented funerary gifts before the bier; the emperor came in person to mourn and weep. He withdrew, changed his garments, and took his seat in the tent hall south of the Youxian Hall. The envoys entered for an audience and took their leave; he ordered the responsible offices to grant them a banquet at their lodging.
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宋使告哀儀：皇帝素冠服，臣僚皂袍、皂鞓帶。 宋使奉書右入。 丹墀內立。 西上閣門使右階下殿，受書匣：上殿，欄內鞠躬，奏「封全」。 開封，於殿西案授宰相讀訖，皇帝舉哀。 舍人引使者右階上，欄內俯跪，附奏起居訖，俯興，立。 皇帝宣問「南朝皇帝聖躬萬福」，使者跪奏「來時皇帝聖躬萬福」起，退。 舍人引使者右階下殿，於丹墀西，面東鞠躬。 通事舍人通使者名某祗候見，再拜。 不出班，奏「聖躬萬福」，再拜。 出班，謝面天顏，再拜。 又出班，謝遠接、撫問、湯藥，再拜。 贊祗候，引出，就幕次，宣賜衣物。 引從人入，通名拜，奏「聖躬萬福」，出就幕，賜衣，如使者之儀。 又引使者入，面殿鞠躬，贊謝恩。 再贊「有敕賜宴」，再拜。 贊祗候，出就幕次宴。 引從人謝恩，拜敕賜宴，皆如初。 宴畢，歸館。
Rite for Song envoys announcing mourning: The emperor wore a plain cap and robes; the officials wore black robes and black girdles. The Song envoys entered on the right, bearing the letter. They stood within the red steps of the courtyard. The Western Upper Gate attendant came down the right steps, received the letter casket, ascended the hall, bowed within the railing, and reported, "The seal is intact." The seal was broken; at the western table of the hall it was handed to the chief minister to read; when the reading was finished, the emperor broke into lamentation. The secretary led the envoys up the right steps; within the railing they prostrated themselves, presented a memorial inquiring after the emperor's health, rose, and stood. The emperor inquired, "May the emperor of the Southern Court enjoy ten thousand blessings"; the envoys knelt and reported, "When we departed, the emperor enjoyed ten thousand blessings," then rose and withdrew. The secretary led the envoys down the right steps; on the west side of the courtyard they faced east and bowed. The interpreter secretary announced the envoy's name and that he was in attendance to be received; they bowed twice. Without leaving formation they reported, "May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings," and bowed twice. They left formation, thanked him for appearing in person, and bowed twice. They left formation again and thanked him for the escort on their journey, expressions of comfort, and provisions of medicine, bowing twice. They were announced in attendance, led out to the side tents, and garments were bestowed by imperial order. Their attendants were led in; names were announced and they bowed, reporting, "May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings"; they went out to the tents and were granted clothing following the same procedure as the envoys. The envoys were led in again; facing the hall they bowed, and thanks for imperial favor were announced. It was announced again, "By imperial order a banquet is granted"; they bowed twice. They were announced in attendance and went out to the side tents for the banquet. Their attendants were led in to offer thanks for imperial favor and bow for the granted banquet, all following the same procedure as before. When the banquet was finished, they returned to their lodging.
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宋使進遺留禮物儀：百官昧爽朝服，殿前班立。 宋遺留使、告登位使副入內門，館伴副使引謝登位使就幕次坐。 館伴大使與遺留使副奉書入，至西上閣門外氈位立。 閣使受書匣，置殿西階下案。 引進使引遺留物於西上閣門入，即於廊下橫門出。 皇帝升殿坐。 宣徽使押殿前班起居畢，引宰臣押文武班起居，引中書令西階上殿，奏宋使見榜子。 契丹臣僚起居，控鶴官起居。 遺留使副西上閣門入，面殿立。 舍人引使副西階上殿，附奏起居訖，引西階下殿，於丹墀東，西面鞠躬，通名奏「聖躬萬福」，如告哀使之儀。 謝面天顏，謝遠接、撫問、湯藥。 引遺留使從人見亦如之。 次引告登位使副奉書匣，於東上閣門入，面殿立。 閣使東階下殿，受書匣。 中書令讀訖，舍人引使副東階上殿，附奏起居。 引下殿，南面立。 告登位禮物入，即於廊下橫門出。 退，西面鞠躬，附奏起居，謝面天顏、遠接等，皆如遺留使之儀。 宣賜遺留、登位兩使副並從人衣物，如告哀使。 應坐臣僚皆上殿就位立，分引兩使副等於兩廊立。 皇帝問使副「沖涉不易」丹墀內五拜。 各引上殿祗候位立。 大臣進灑，皇帝飲酒。 契丹通，漢人贊，殿上臣僚皆拜，稱「萬歲」。 贊各就坐，行酒肴、茶膳、饅頭畢，從人出水飯畢，臣僚皆起。 契丹通，漢人贊，皆再拜，稱「萬歲」。 各祗候。 獨引宋使副下殿謝，五拜。 引出。 控鶴官門外祗候，報閣門無事供奉官卷班出。
Rite for Song envoys presenting bequeathed gifts: At dawn all officials in court dress formed their ranks before the hall. The Song bequest envoys and the announcement-of-accession envoys entered the inner gate; the host deputy led the accession-thanks envoys to be seated at the side tents. The host chief envoy and the bequest envoys entered bearing the letter and stood at the felt mat position outside the Western Upper Gate. The gate attendant received the letter casket and placed it on the table below the west steps of the hall. The usher led the bequeathed goods in through the Western Upper Gate and immediately out through the transverse gate beneath the corridor. The emperor ascended the hall and took his seat. When the Palace Commissioner had led the hall-front ranks in salutation, he led the chief ministers to lead the civil and military ranks in salutation, then led the Director of the Secretariat up the west steps to report the Song envoys' arrival memorial. Khitan officials saluted; the Crane-Control officers saluted. The bequest envoys entered through the Western Upper Gate and stood facing the hall. The secretary led the envoys up the west steps, presented a memorial inquiring after the emperor's health, led them down the west steps, and on the east side of the courtyard they faced west, bowed, announced their names, and reported, "May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings," following the same procedure as the announcement-of-mourning envoys. They thanked him for appearing in person and for the escort on their journey, expressions of comfort, and provisions of medicine. The bequest envoys' attendants were led in for an audience in the same manner. Next the announcement-of-accession envoys were led in bearing the letter casket through the Eastern Upper Gate and stood facing the hall. The gate attendant came down the east steps and received the letter casket. When the Director of the Secretariat had finished reading, the secretary led the envoys up the east steps and presented a memorial inquiring after the emperor's health. They were led down from the hall and stood facing south. The accession-announcement gifts were brought in and immediately taken out through the transverse gate beneath the corridor. They withdrew, faced west and bowed, presented a memorial inquiring after the emperor's health, and thanked him for appearing in person and for the escort on their journey, all following the same procedure as the bequest envoys. Garments were bestowed by imperial order on the bequest and accession envoys and their attendants, as for the announcement-of-mourning envoys. All officials who were to be seated ascended the hall and took their places; the two groups of envoys were led separately to stand in the two corridors. The emperor inquired of the envoys, "Your journey through ice and snow was not easy"; within the courtyard they bowed five times. Each group was led up to the hall to stand in attendance. A great minister advanced the libation; the emperor drank wine. The Khitan announcer called; the Chinese master of ceremonies led; all officials on the hall bowed and cried, "Ten thousand years!" They were led to their seats; when wine, dishes, tea, food, and steamed buns had been served, and when the attendants had been given rice and soup, all officials rose. The Khitan announcer called; the Chinese master of ceremonies led; all bowed twice and cried, "Ten thousand years!" Each stood in attendance. The Song envoys alone were led down from the hall to offer thanks, bowing five times. They were led out. Crane-Control officers waited outside the gate; it was reported that the gate was clear of business and the palace attendants filed out in ranks.
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高麗、夏國告終儀：先期，於先宮左右下禦帳，設使客幕次於東南。 至日，北面臣僚各常服，其餘臣僚並朝服，入朝。 使者至幕次，有司以嗣子表狀先呈樞密院，準備奏呈。 先引北面臣僚並矮墩已上近禦帳，相對立，其餘臣僚依班位序立。 引告終人使右入，至丹墀，面殿立。 引右上，立； 揖少前，拜，跪奏訖，宣問。 若嗣子已立，恭身受聖旨。 奏訖，復位。 嗣子未立。 不宣問，引右下丹墀，面北鞠躬。 通班畢，引面殿再拜。 不出班，奏「聖躬萬福」，再拜。 出班，謝面天顏，復位，再拜。 出班，謝遠接，復位，再拜。 贊祗候，退就幕次。 再入，依前面北鞠躬，通辭，再拜； 敘戀闕，再拜。 贊「好去」。 禮畢。
Rite for Goryeo and Western Xia envoys announcing a ruler's death: In advance, below the imperial tents to the left and right of the former palace, guest tents for the envoys were set up in the southeast. On the appointed day, northern officials each wore ordinary dress; the remaining officials all wore court dress and entered court. When the envoys reached the tents, the responsible offices first presented the heir's memorial to the Privy Council, preparing it for presentation to the throne. Northern officials and those of Aidian rank and above were first led near the imperial tents to stand facing one another; the remaining officials stood in order by rank. The announcement-of-death envoys were led in on the right to the courtyard and stood facing the hall. They were led up on the right and stood; bowed with a gesture and advanced slightly, bowed, knelt and presented their memorial; the imperial inquiry was announced. If the heir had already been established, he respectfully received the imperial decree. When the presentation was finished, they returned to their places. If the heir had not yet been established, the inquiry was not announced; they were led down on the right to the courtyard and bowed facing north. When the ranks had been announced, they were led to face the hall and bow twice. Without leaving formation they reported, "May Your Majesty enjoy ten thousand blessings," and bowed twice. They left formation, thanked him for appearing in person, returned to their places, and bowed twice. They left formation, thanked him for the escort on their journey, returned to their places, and bowed twice. They were announced in attendance and withdrew to the side tents. They entered again, bowed facing north as before, announced their farewell, and bowed twice; expressed their longing for the court and bowed twice. "Farewell" was announced. The rite was complete.