← Back to 明史

卷四十九 志第二十五 禮三

Volume 49 Treatises 25: Rites 3

Chapter 49 of 明史 · History of Ming
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 49
Next Chapter →
1
Treatises 25: Rites 3 (Auspicious Rites, Part Three)〉
2
祿
State and Grain Altars; Morning Sun and Evening Moon; Former Agriculture; Former Silkworms; High Altars of Procreation; Sacrificial Announcements; Prayer and Report; Spirits; Stars (Spirit Star, Longevity Star, Director of the Center, Director of Fate, Director of the People, Director of Salary); Great Year, Monthly Generals, Wind, Clouds, Thunder, and Rain; Peaks, Garrisons, Seas, Rivers, Mountains and Streams; City God
3
State and Grain Altars
4
西 西 西 殿殿
Sacrifices to the state and grain altars were performed from the capital down through princely domains, prefectures, and counties. The altar in the southwest of the palace precinct was known as the Grand State and Grain Altars. In the early Ming, the Grand State altar stood in the east and the Grand Grain altar in the west, with both platforms facing north. In the first year of Hongwu, ministers of the Secretariat resolved: "Under Zhou ritual, the junior Director of Ancestral Rites set the spirit seats of state founding, with the state and grain altars on the right and the ancestral temples on the left. Offerings to state and grain were made at open altars, not within roofed halls. They were positioned outside the central gate but within the outer gate. They were revered with the same intimacy accorded to forebears. Yet the Son of Heaven maintained three state altars. The altar erected on behalf of all clans was called the Grand State Altar. The one he established for himself was called the Royal State Altar. The altar of a conquered state was given a roof; though the realm had fallen, the shrine was kept standing to honor the spirit. In later periods, the Son of Heaven established only the Grand State and Grand Grain altars. Emperor Gaozu of Han founded the ministerial Grand State and Grand Grain altars, each receiving two sacrifices per year. Emperor Guangwu placed the Grand State and Grain altars to the right of the ancestral temples at Luoyang, with offerings in the mid-spring and mid-autumn months and at the La festival—three times yearly. The Tang followed Sui practice, erecting both altars to the right of Hanguang Gate and sacrificing on the wu days of mid-spring and mid-autumn. Emperor Xuanzong raised the state and grain rites to great-sacrifice status and ordered offerings in all four seasons. Song ritual followed the Eastern Han model. Kublai Khan established the altars within Heyi Gate, with sacrifices on the upper wu days of mid-spring and mid-autumn. Sacrifices should now be held on the upper wu days of mid-spring and mid-autumn." That year in the second month, the Founding Emperor personally offered sacrifice to the Grand State and Grand Grain altars. Queen Earth was paired with the state altar, facing west. Hou Ji was paired with the grain altar, facing east. The emperor wore court ritual dress and inspected the victims; then, in the communication-with-Heaven cap and crimson gauze robe, conducted the threefold offering rite. At first the emperor directed the Secretariat and Hanlin Academy to consider erecting halls against wind and rain. Academician Tao An argued: "The Son of Heaven's Grand State altar must be exposed to wind, rain, frost, and dew. Only a conquered state's altar was roofed, denied the yang light of Heaven. Erecting buildings would be improper. In stormy weather, offerings should be made by gaze-sacrifice from the fasting palace." The emperor approved. In the third year, a five-bay sacrificial hall was built north of the altar and a five-bay bowing hall beyond it, for shelter in bad weather.
5
In the tenth year, finding separate state and grain sacrifices with unsuitable spirit pairings, the Founding Emperor referred the matter to ritual officials; Minister Zhang Chou argued:
6
According to the Tongdian, Zhuanxu sacrificed Gong Gong's son Gou Long as Queen Earth. Queen Earth is the state altar. The Flame Emperor's son Zhu was appointed grain lord. The grain lord was director of the fields. The Tang, Yu, and Xia dynasties followed this practice. This was how the state and grain altars originated. King Tang of Shang, during drought, moved the state altar and replaced Zhu with Hou Ji. He wished to displace Gou Long but found no successor, and so desisted. Yet Wang Su held that the state altar honored Gou Long and the grain altar Hou Ji—both human spirits, not earthly deities. Chen's Book of Rites further held that the state altar honored the spirits of the five soils and the grain altar the spirits of the five grains. Zheng Xuan likewise held that the state altar was the general deity of the five soils and the grain altar the deity of lowlands and marshes. Because Gou Long had leveled water and soil, he was paired with the state altar; because Hou Ji had spread seed, he was paired with the grain altar. The two interpretations diverged. During the Yuanshi period of Han, Yu the Great was paired with the ministerial state altar and Hou Ji with the ministerial grain altar. Under Tang, Song, and Yuan, Gou Long was again paired with the state altar and Zhou Qi with the grain altar. From the outset, no settled consensus governed these spirit pairings. On whether state and grain should be combined or separated, the Announcement of Duke Shao says "establish the state altar at the new city," and Kong's commentary reads: "State and grain shared one pen." The Rites of Zhou states that "the border officer supervises setting the king's state altar mound," with a note: "Grain is not mentioned; when state is mentioned, grain follows." Chen's Book of Rites says: "Grain cannot live without soil, and soil cannot display the power of sustaining life without grain; therefore sacrifice to the state altar must include grain." The Shantang Kaosuo says: "The state altar is supreme among the nine soils; grain is chief among the five grains; grain grows from soil—state and grain therefore cannot be divided." That they should be sacrificed together has clear ancient precedent. He requested that state and grain share a single altar mound. As for Gou Long, a son of the Gong Gong line, honoring him lacked justification. King Tang of Shang had wished to remove him but could not. Han once substituted Yu the Great, but Yu the Great now already receives sacrifice among the emperors, and Qi of Zhou is also paired at the Former Agriculture altar. He asked that Gou Long and Qi be removed from their paired seats and that the Pure Emperor Renzu be installed as matched spirit, to complete a ritual worthy of the dynasty. The altars were then rebuilt to the right of the Meridian Gate, with state and grain sharing one mound.
7
State and grain had initially ranked as middle sacrifices; once the Pure Emperor was made matched spirit, they were raised to upper sacrifices. Full ritual vestments were used, and the enshrinement rite was performed. In the spring of the eleventh year, the state and grain rites followed the newly fixed protocol. Welcoming the spirit, drinking the blessing, and sending off the spirit required twelve bows in all; the remainder followed former practice. During the Jianwen reign the Founding Emperor was again made matched spirit; under Yongle, the Beijing state and grain altar was completed, following the Nanjing model. After Hongxi, the Founding Emperor and the Martial Emperor were jointly paired. Under the former rule, the Confucian libation fell on the upper si day, and the state and grain sacrifice on the following upper wu day. In the eighth month of Hongzhi 17, the upper si day fell on the tenth and the upper wu on the first of the month; ritual officials asked to move the state and grain sacrifice to the eleventh. Censor Jin Hong objected that this would make it the middle wu day, not the upper wu. The Ministry of Rites replied: "In Hongwu 20 the eleventh was once treated as upper wu—the lapse did not begin only now." The emperor ordered the former rule kept, still using the upper wu day.
8
西西 西 西
In Jiajing 9 the emperor instructed the Ministry of Rites: "Heaven and Earth are supreme; next the ancestral temples; and next the state and grain altars. Now the imperial ancestor is paired with Heaven and again with the state altar—this is the ritual officials' mistake. The ancestral practice should be restored: Gou Long should pair with the Grand State Altar and Hou Ji with the Grand Grain Altar." The rite correcting the altar pairings was announced to the Grand Ancestral Temple and to state and grain; the two paired tablets were stored in the resting temple, and the eight-bow rite was newly established. The altar west of the Binfeng Pavilion in the Western Park was called the Imperial State and Grain Altars. The Imperial State altar stood in the east and the Imperial Grain in the west, both facing north. It was first named the Western Park Soil and Grain Altar. In Jiajing 10 the emperor remarked that the Soil and Grain Altar was itself state and grain—why should it differ from the Grand State and Grain? Zhang Cong and others replied: "In antiquity the Son of Heaven was styled king; to call them Royal State and Royal Grain would duplicate princely nomenclature. The earlier spirit tablet, Spirit of the Five Soils and Grains, was most fitting in name and meaning." The emperor took the meaning of the Imperial Plough field and renamed them Imperial State and Imperial Grain, sacrificing on the day after the upper wu. Later the date shifted to the second wu; when the second wu fell after the full moon, the upper si was used instead. Spring announcement and autumn report became fixed practice. In Longqing 1 the Ministry of Rites argued: "The title Imperial State and Grain is unknown in antiquity and seems unduly elaborate—it should be abolished." The emperor approved.
9
西西西
The Central Capital also had a Grand State altar, built in Hongwu 4. It was built with soil from the five directions. Zhili and Henan sent yellow soil; Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Guangxi red soil; Jiangxi, Huguang, and Shaanxi white soil; Shandong green soil; and Beiping black soil. From more than thirteen hundred prefectures and counties nationwide, one hundred jin of soil each, taken from famous mountains on high, open ground.
10
Princely state and grain altars were regulated in Hongwu 4. In the eleventh year ritual officials argued: "Since the Grand State and Grain now share one mound, princely domains, prefectures, and counties should likewise use one altar, titled Spirit of the State and Grain of the Domain, with no paired spirits." An edict approved. In the ninth month of the thirteenth year, the former arrangement of two altars within one mound was restored. In the eighteenth year, the protocol for princely sacrifice to state and grain, mountains and streams, and the like was fixed, with a twelve-bow rite.
11
西 鹿 鹿
In Hongwu 1, altar regulations were issued to every prefecture and county: each was placed in the northwest of the city, with the state altar on the right and the grain altar on the left. In the eleventh year, a single shared altar for joint sacrifice was mandated, following the capital model. The first offering was performed by the defending military officer, with civil officials as second and final offerers. In the thirteenth year, Lishui County sacrificed to state and grain, substituting beef paste for deer paste. The Ministry of Rites argued: "Under established regulations, missing sacrificial items may be replaced with others." The emperor replied: "Lacking means what the locality cannot produce. Lishui certainly has deer—this was official negligence, not genuine shortage. Officials can govern their duties and serve the people only if they keep a constant heart of reverence and awe. If even the spirits are treated carelessly, what restraint would remain in human affairs!" He ordered punishment according to law. He then ordered the Ministry of Rites to notify every prefecture and county that sacrifices must include the full prescribed offerings, allowing omissions only for items neither locally produced nor obtainable in the market. In the fourteenth year, all three offerings were assigned to senior civil officials, excluding military officers.
12
At the district level, one altar was established per hundred-household district, honoring the spirits of the five soils and five grains.
13
Morning Sun and Evening Moon
14
In Hongwu 3 the Ministry of Rites reported:
15
西 西 西 西殿西 西 西 西 西 宿 西
In antiquity there were six forms of sacrifice to the sun and moon. The Suburban Sacrifice states: "In suburban sacrifice, there is great report to Heaven with the sun as chief and the moon as matched"—the first form. The Jade Ornaments reads: "Gaze upon the sun outside the eastern gate"; the Meaning of Sacrifice says: "Sacrifice to the sun in the eastern suburb and to the moon in the western suburb"—the second. The Junior Director of Ancestral Rites: "Perform the category sacrifice in the four suburbs, establish the sun in the eastern suburb and the moon in the western suburb"—the third. The Monthly Ordinances: in mid-winter "pray for the coming year at the Heavenly Ancestor"; the Heavenly Ancestor belongs to the class of sun and moon—the fourth. The Audience Rites: "Bow to the sun outside the eastern gate; on return sacrifice to the Bright Square; perform the sun rite outside the southern gate and the moon rite outside the northern gate"—the fifth. "When frost, snow, wind, and rain are untimely, perform the exorcistic sacrifice to sun and moon"—the sixth. Commentators held that sacrifice incidental to suburban rites was not orthodox sacrifice. Sacrifice by category or exorcism, and rites performed when receiving feudal lords, were extraordinary, not regular offerings. Only the spring-equinox morning audience to the sun outside the eastern gate and the autumn-equinox evening audience to the moon outside the western gate were proper, regular sacrifice. Heaven and Earth are supreme; therefore their beginnings are honored with sacrifice at the two solstices. Sun and moon stand next to Heaven and Earth; at the spring equinox yang force is rising and at the autumn equinox yin force is growing—sacrifice at the two equinoxes thus accords with yin-yang principle. From Qin onward eight spirits were sacrificed—the sixth Lord of the Moon and seventh Lord of the Sun—and Yong also had sun and moon temples. Under Han suburban sacrifice to Grand Unity, morning sun and evening moon rites departed from Zhou practice. At suburban Tai altar, at dawn leaving the traveling palace, they bowed east to the sun and west to the moon, and again bowed to sun and moon east and west below the hall. Emperor Xuan sacrificed to the sun at Spirit Mountain and to the moon at Lai Mountain. Emperor Ming of Wei first instituted morning sun in the eastern suburb and evening moon in the western suburb. Tang performed morning sun and evening moon east and west of the capital on the equinox days. Song followed this practice and elevated the rites to great sacrifice. At the Yuan suburban altar sun and moon were attendant sacrifices; equinox morning sun and evening moon were debated under Huangqing but never implemented. The orthodox rites of antiquity should now be followed, with separate altars for dedicated sacrifice. The morning sun altar should stand outside the eastern gate and the evening moon altar outside the western gate. Morning sun at the spring equinox and evening moon at the autumn equinox. The stars were offered as attached sacrifice at the moon altar. The emperor approved. The sacrificial protocol matched that for state and grain. In the twenty-first year, since Great Brightness and Night Brightness already received attendant sacrifice, the emperor abolished separate morning sun and evening moon offerings. In Jiajing 9 the emperor said: "In great report to Heaven the sun is chief and the moon matched. The Great Brightness altar should be distinct from the Night Brightness altar. Moreover, sun and moon shine upon all beneath heaven—their merit is immense. Spirits such as the Great Year receive two sacrifices yearly, while sun, moon, and stars receive only one attendant sacrifice—the propriety is unsatisfying." Grand Secretary Zhang Cong likewise held this a missing ritual. The fixed equinox schedule was restored, the morning sun altar built outside Chaoyang Gate facing west; and the evening moon altar outside Fucheng Gate facing east. The altars were graded in scale to mark their distinction. For morning sun, one hundred mu were set aside to protect the altar; for evening moon, thirty-six mu. Morning sun had no attendants; at evening moon the five planets, twenty-eight lodges, and circuit stars shared one altar, attached facing south. The spring rite was held at the yin hour, welcoming the rising sun. The autumn rite at the hai hour, welcoming the rising moon. In the tenth year the Ministry of Rites submitted protocols: for morning sun, four bows welcoming the spirit, two bows drinking the blessing and receiving the flesh, four bows sending off the spirit; for evening moon, two bows each for welcoming the spirit, drinking the blessing, receiving the flesh, and sending off the spirit. The remainder followed former practice. In Longqing 1 the Ministry resolved that on jia, bing, wu, geng, and ren years the emperor would sacrifice in person at the eastern suburb, and on chou, chen, wei, and xu years at the western suburb. In other years a civil grand minister deputized at the morning sun altar and a military grand minister at the evening moon altar. In the third year the Ministry submitted morning sun protocol: "If rain falls during the orthodox sacrifice, a small shelter is erected before the altar and the emperor performs rites there. Ascent, descent, presentation, and offering are all performed by Court of Imperial Sacrifices officiants as proxies." The regulation read: "Approved."
16
Former Agriculture
17
In the second month of the second year, the emperor built the Former Agriculture altar in the southern suburb, north of the imperial plough field. He sacrificed in person, with Hou Ji as paired spirit. Vessels, implements, and protocol matched those for state and grain. After sacrifice, the plough-field rite was performed. Two imperial ploughs wrapped in green silk and four plough oxen draped in green cloth were prepared. When the rite ended, he returned to the great shelter. The Shuntian prefect and the magistrates of Shangyuan and Jiangning led commoners to finish ploughing the field. That day officials and elders were feasted at the altar; in the tenth year, second month, officials were sent to sacrifice to Former Agriculture, with Shuntian officials leading farmers and elders in attendance. In the twenty-first year the Former Agriculture rite was revised to omit paired spirits.
18
西 西殿殿
Under Yongle an altar was built in the capital on the Nanjing model, southwest of the Great Year altar. It had nine stone steps. To the west was the burial position; to the east the fasting palace and equipage storehouse; northeast the spirit granary; southeast the vestment hall, before which lay the viewing ground for the ploughing. Six hundred mu protected the altar, with more than ninety mu for millet and new offerings. Each year on the upper wu of mid-spring the Shuntian prefect offered sacrifice. Thereafter, at the start of each reign when the plough-field rite was held, the emperor sacrificed in person.
19
輿 殿 殿 西
In Hongzhi 1 the plough-field protocol was fixed: beforehand all officials fasted. Shuntian officials presented ploughs and early and late grain seeds; inner attendants bore them out through the left of the Meridian Gate. They were placed in a decorated carriage with drums and music and sent to the plough field. On the appointed day the emperor, in the Good Governance cap and yellow robe, went to the vestment hall, donned sacrificial robes, and sacrificed to Former Agriculture. When finished, he returned and again wore the Good Governance cap and yellow robe. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices director guided him to the ploughing station, facing south. The Three Dukes and others took their places; the Minister of Revenue knelt north and presented the plough, and Shuntian officials knelt north and presented the whip. The emperor took the plough, pushed three furrows and backed three times; the Minister of Revenue then knelt to receive the plough and Shuntian officials the whip, and the Court director reported his return to position. The prefect carried a green seed box, sowed seed, and covered it. The emperor sat outside the gate facing south, watching the Three Dukes plough five furrows and the nine ministers nine. The Court director announced ploughing complete; the emperor returned to the vestment hall and took his seat. The prefect led the two county magistrates and elders through the closing rites, then presented ten upper, middle, and lower farmers each, bearing tools in audience, and ordered them to finish the field. Officials performed congratulatory rites and bestowed wine and food. Third rank and above sat east and west on the red steps; fourth rank and below on the terrace below; elders were feasted beside the altar. When the feast ended, the imperial carriage returned to the palace. Great music sounded; each farming household received one bolt of cloth.
20
輿 西 殿 西 西 西 西
In Jiajing 10 the emperor found the rite overly elaborate and ordered ritual officials to revise it. Welcoming and sending off the spirit were reduced to two bows each. Two days before, the Shuntian prefect sent ploughs and early and late grain seeds in a decorated carriage to the plough field, and officials' congratulatory rites were abolished. Later a Plough-Root carriage was proposed to carry the plough; on the sacrifice day the prefect would present them and load the plough into the carriage to proceed before the jade chariot. Viewing the ploughing from the imperial gate left the vantage too low; a Viewing-the-Ploughing terrace was proposed. An edict approved all proposals. He later ordered vacant land in the Western Park reclaimed as fields. Halls and pavilions were built: No Dissipation, Binfeng, Inspecting the Plough, Inspecting the Harvest, and a granary called Ever Abundant. The Ministry of Rites reported grain allotments for suburban and temple offerings, arguing: "At the southern-suburb plough field the emperor ploughs three furrows and the dukes and ministers each do their part—weighing more than the Western Park. Though the Western Park is overseen by agricultural officials, the emperor personally inspects ploughing and harvest there—more attentive than at the plough field. Produce from the plough field should be stored in the southern suburb round and spirit granaries for the Circular Mound, Prayer for Grain, Former Agriculture, spirit altars, imperial tombs, successive emperors, and the hundred spirits. Western Park produce should go to the Ever Abundant granary for the Square Mound, morning sun, evening moon, Grand and Imperial Ancestral Temples, state and grain altars, dipei, Former Silkworms, and Confucius." The emperor approved. In the sixteenth year it was ordered that before personal ploughing, the Minister of Revenue should sacrifice to Former Agriculture. On the emperor's arrival, only the three-furrow rite was performed. In the thirty-eighth year personal ploughing ended; only dispatched officials sacrificed to Former Agriculture. In the forty-first year responsible offices were told to cease memorializing on the matter. In Longqing 1 Western Park cultivation and its related sacrifices were abolished; all grain came from the plough field.
21
Former Silkworms
22
西 西 仿 使
In early Ming they were not listed in the sacrificial canon. Under Jiajing, Supervising Secretary Xia Yan asked to convert palace estate fields into imperial silkworm grounds and public mulberry gardens. Officials were ordered to plant mulberry and catalpa for palace sericulture. In the ninth year he again argued that ploughing and silkworm rites should not be abandoned. The emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites: "In antiquity the Son of Heaven ploughed and the queen raised silkworms in person, to encourage the realm. From this year I shall sacrifice to Former Agriculture in person and the queen raise silkworms in person; examine antiquity and submit the full protocol. Grand Secretary Zhang Cong and others proposed a Former Silkworms altar outside Anding Gate. Director of the Heir Apparent Huo Tao objected that it was too far. The Ministry of Revenue added: "Land west of Anding Gate lacks running water and a place to bathe silkworms. The Western Park within the imperial city has the waters of Supreme Fluidity and Jade Isle. Tang placed the rite in the park; Song within the palace—these models should be followed. The emperor replied that Tang practice was makeshift and should not be followed. Minister of Rites Li Shi and others argued: "The route from Daming Gate to Anding Gate was too long; the imperial carriage should exit by the Donghua and Xuanwu gates. They listed four points: cocoon-treating ritual, altar orientation, mulberry-picking implements, and altar officials. The emperor agreed and ordered exit by the Xuanwu Gate. Inner attendants arranged guards: ten thousand troops, half encircling the altar and half along the route, with the rest as proposed.
23
西 輿 宿 輿 輿 輿 殿 殿 西 殿 殿
In the second month the Ministry of Works submitted altar plans, which the emperor personally approved. The altar was twenty-six chi square, two tiers high at two chi six cun, with steps on four sides. Mulberry and catalpa were planted to the east, north, and west; within stood the Silkworm Office. The mulberry-picking terrace was one chi four cun high, ten times the altar's width, with steps on three sides. Five bays of imperial equipage storehouse were built. Behind stood the Reeling Hall. The altar enclosure measured eighty zhang square. The Ministry submitted the queen's silkworm protocol: when eggs were about to hatch, the Directorate of Astronomy chose an auspicious si day and reported it. Shuntian supplied silkworm mothers to the northern suburb; the Ministry of Works provided hooks, trays, frames, and other tools. Shuntian presented silkworm eggs and a hook-tray set; inner attendants bore them out and back. They exited right of Xuanwu Gate, were placed in a decorated carriage with drums and music, and sent to the silkworm chamber. Silkworm mothers received the eggs, bathed and fed them, and waited. Wives of civil officials fourth rank and above and military officials third rank and above attended, each with a maid bearing a hook-tray. The queen fasted three days; inner attendants, ritual directors, the Six Bureaus, and all women entering the altar fasted one day. The day before, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices prepared prayer tablets and offerings—sheep, swine, platters, beans, and black silk—and sent them to the Silkworm Office. That day offerings were distributed to officiating women. Before sunrise. Guards arrayed arms; the female musicians prepared regalia and the heavy pheasant carriage outside Xuanwu Gate. At dawn inner attendants reported at Kunning Palace. The queen in ordinary dress, guided out, rode a shoulder carriage to Xuanwu Gate. Inner attendants asked her to descend and mount the heavy pheasant carriage. Guards and musicians led; exiting North An Gate behind curtains to the altar's inner east gate. She descended to a shoulder carriage; guards and regalia halted outside the east gate. She entered the vestment hall, donned ritual dress, and proceeded to the altar. The ritual director announced taking position. Princesses and inner and outer ordered wives took their bowing positions. Former Silkworms sacrifice followed the three-offering rite, with women officiants. Four bows welcoming the spirit, two bows receiving blessing and flesh, four bows sending off the spirit. Princesses and ordered wives bowed, knelt, and rose in unison. When finished she returned to the vestment hall and changed to ordinary dress. The guest director led outer ordered wives to the mulberry terrace's east steps, facing north and south. The chief of ceremonies announced; the queen went to the mulberry position, facing east. Princesses and others stood east of the queen, also north-south oriented, with west as senior. Hook-bearers knelt with hooks; tray-bearers knelt with trays to receive mulberry. The queen picked three sprays, then sat at the altar's south gate watching ordered wives pick mulberry. Wives of the Three Dukes picked five sprays; wives of marquises and nine ministers nine. When done, each gave them to female attendants. The guest director led one inner ordered wife to the silkworm chamber, with the chief of accomplishments and tray-bearers following. The chief of accomplishments gave mulberry to the silkworm mothers. Silkworm mothers received mulberry, stripped and cut it, and gave it to inner ordered wives. Inner ordered wives fed the silkworms, sprinkled one tray, and returned. The chief of ceremonies announced completion; the queen returned to the vestment hall. The guest director led silkworm mothers to kowtow; the ritual director aligned the ranks. Outer ordered wives stood in order; the chief of ceremonies said: "Personal silkworm work is complete; congratulations are due." After four bows, ordered wives were feasted and silkworm mothers given wine and food. Princesses and inner ordered wives dined inside; outer ordered wives second rank and above on the terrace; third rank and below on the red steps; the chief of food served. Female musicians of the Music Office performed. When the feast ended, princesses and others bowed four times from position. The queen returned to the palace with escort before. An edict approved as proposed.
24
In the fourth month, when sericulture was complete, the cocoon-treating rite was held. Ten skilled reelers and ten weavers were selected. On an auspicious day the queen left the palace with usual escort to the Reeling Hall. One inner ordered wife performed the three-basin hand rite and assigned work to weavers to finish. The Silkworm Office sent silk to the Weaving Directorate for sacrificial robes; Former Silkworms sacrifice used music without dance; female musicians wore black.
25
殿 便西 殿
In the tenth year, second month, ritual officials said: "Last year the queen picked mulberry in person, enough to encourage the realm. The altar halls are unfinished; officials should perform the rite for now. The emperor at first refused, ordering the former practice. Later, finding the queen's travel inconvenient, he ordered the altar rebuilt in the Western Park. East of the altar stood the mulberry terrace, east of that the vestment hall, north the silkworm chamber, with wing rooms and rear quarters for silkworm women. A Silkworm Office was established palace-left, with one director and two assistants chosen from prudent eunuchs. In the fourth month the queen performed personal silkworm rites in the inner park. The emperor said personal ploughing had no congratulatory rite—this should have only kowtow; female musicians supplied the feast but did not lead the procession. In the thirty-eighth year the personal silkworm rite was abolished. In the forty-first year responsible offices were told to cease memorializing.
26
High Altars of Procreation
27
西 西
In Jiajing 9 Qingzhou scholar Li Shiyang requested sacrifice to the High Altars of Procreation to pray for an heir. Ritual officials memorialized in reply. The emperor said: "The High Altars of Procreation are ancient ritual, but truly difficult to perform today." The proposal was shelved. The rite for sacrifice at the High Altars of Procreation was then established. A wooden platform was erected east of the Imperial City, north of Yong'an Gate, in the east—the Zhen direction. Upon the platform the Supreme Lord of Imperial Heaven faced south, offered a red bullock and a blue-green jade bi. The Founding Emperor was paired as associate deity, facing west, with one ox, one sheep, and one pig. The High Altars of Procreation stood below the altar facing west, with the same offering counts, performed as a three-oblation rite. The emperor took his place below the altar facing north; the empress and imperial consorts stood dozens of paces farther south, facing north behind curtains. Bows, arrows, and bow cases were laid out below the altar, one set for each empress, consort, and concubine. After the sacrifice, female officials escorted the empress and consorts to the High Altars of Procreation, knelt, took up the bows and arrows, and handed them over; each woman received hers and put it into its bow case.
28
Sacrificial Announcements
29
Under Ming regulations, accession, imperial tours, posthumous honors, imperial burials, investiture of heirs, enfeoffments, capping ceremonies, and royal marriages all required sacrificial announcements to Heaven and Earth, the ancestral temples, and the state and grain altars. Palace construction, dispatching armies, and seasonal drought or flood likewise called for announcements to Heaven and Earth, mountains and rivers, the Grand Ancestral Temple, the state and grain altars, and Empress Earth. At the outset of each reign, announcements were also made at the Confucius temple in Queli and at the tombs of emperors of past dynasties.
30
使 西 西西西
In Hongwu 2 Minister of Rites Cui Liang reported that before the Circular Mound, Square Mound, and great sacrifices, the emperor would personally announce at the Grand Ancestral Temple and still send envoys to announce to the hundred spirits at the Altar of Spirits Under Heaven. In Hongwu 6 Minister of Rites Niu Liang reported that for prayer and seasonal report rites to the Great Year and associated spirits, fifteen altars were erected; when special announcements were needed, twenty-eight altars with spirit seats were set up. In the center stood five altars: Great Year; wind, clouds, thunder, and rain; the Five Peaks; the Five Garrisons; and the Four Seas. To the east were twelve altars: the Four Rivers; mountains and rivers of the capital region, Huguang, Shandong, Henan, Beiping, Guangxi, Sichuan, and Gansu; the summer and winter monthly generals; and the capital city god. To the west were eleven altars: Zhong Mountain; regional mountains and rivers from Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shanxi, Guangdong, and Liaodong; the spring and autumn monthly generals; and spirits of banners, standards, and warships. When sacrificing in person, the emperor wore the skin cap and performed a single oblation, conducting one round of rites for every three altars. In Hongwu 8 the emperor sojourned at Zhongdu and announced Heaven and Earth at its Circular Mound. In Hongwu 9, as the princes prepared to leave for their fiefs, sacrifices were announced over successive days at the Grand Ancestral Temple, the state and grain altars, the peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers, and famous mountains and rivers throughout the realm, and Heaven and Earth were again announced at the Circular Mound. Initially, when princes paid court and returned to their domains, they sacrificed to the True Warrior and other spirits at Duān Gate with nine pigs, nine sheep, and regulated silks; they did the same for protective banners and standards at Chengtian Gate. In Hongwu 26 the emperor judged the ritual overly elaborate and fixed it at one pig and one sheep, dispensing with silk. Soon the Duān Gate sacrifice was abolished; only two altars—one with meat offerings and one vegetarian—were kept for sacrifice outside Chengtian Gate.
31
殿 殿殿 殿
In Yongle 7, during the imperial tour of Beijing, announcements were made to Heaven and Earth, the ancestral temples, and the state and grain altars. In the autumn of Jiajing 8, because the emperor intended to sacrifice in person to mountains, rivers, and other spirits, he ordered that officials no longer needed to be dispatched beforehand to announce at the Grand Ancestral Temple. Whenever leaving or returning, the emperor always announced in person to his forebears in the inner hall. On the eve of the imperial birthday, wine and fruit were offered in announcement to successive sage emperors and empresses at Fengxian Hall; on the day itself, wine and dried meat were offered to the Supreme Lord of Imperial Heaven at the Hall of the Mysterious Pole and Precious Canopy. Envoys were sent with sacrificial animals and wine to the Spirit Splendor, Heavenly Longevity, Pure Virtue, and other imperial tomb mountains, as well as the Eastern Peak and the capital city god; vegetarian offerings were sent to the True Warrior and Lingji Palace; and fasting rites were announced at the Seven Treasures Imperial Lords of the Dao. In Longqing 3, in preparation for the emperor's personal sacrifice at the Morning Sun altar, advance announcements were made at Fengxian, Hongxiao, and Shenxiao halls.
32
Prayer and Report
33
西 西 西
In Hongwu 2, when spring brought no rain for a long time, the Taizu prayed to the various spirits. In the center stood five altars: wind, clouds, thunder, and rain; and the peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers. To the east stood seven altars: Zhong Mountain; mountains and rivers of the Two Huai, Jiangxi, the Two Guangs, Hainan and Haibei, Shandong, and Yannan and Yanji; and spirits of banners and standards. To the west stood six altars: Jiangdong; mountains and rivers of the Two Zhes, Fujian, Huguang and Jingxiang, Henan and Hebei, Hedong, and Huazhou; and the capital city god. Silk offerings were laid on the five central altars. At the first oblation the emperor performed the rite in person, while officials in the two side halls made the divided offerings. In Hongwu 3, during summer, drought struck. On the first day of the sixth month, the emperor put on plain clothes and straw sandals and walked in prayer to the Mountains and Rivers Altar. He sat on a straw mat in the open, exposed himself to the sun by day and slept on the ground at night—for three days. In Hongwu 6, following Minister of Rites Niu Liang's proposal, spring prayer and autumn report to the Great Year and associated spirits required fifteen altars. In the center: Great Year; wind, clouds, thunder, and rain; the Five Peaks; the Five Garrisons; and the Four Seas. To the east: the Four Rivers; capital region mountains and rivers; the spring and autumn monthly generals; and city gods of each capital prefecture. To the west: Zhong Mountain; Gansu mountains and rivers; the summer and winter monthly generals; and spirits of banners, standards, and warships. Each group comprised five altars. Because Gansu had only recently submitted, its mountains and rivers were included in the capital rites. The protocol when the emperor sacrificed in person matched that for sacrificial announcements. In the third month of Zhengtong 9, when rain and snow failed to come on schedule, officials were dispatched to sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, the state and grain altars, the Great Year, wind, clouds, thunder, and rain, and the peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers. In Hongzhi 17, after prolonged drought in the capital region and Shandong, officials were sent to announce at Heavenly Longevity Mountain, and each grand coordinator was separately ordered to announce at the Northern Peak, Northern Garrison, Eastern Peak, Eastern Garrison, and Eastern Sea.
34
· 宿
In the spring of Jiajing 8 the emperor instructed the Ministry of Rites: "Last winter brought little snow; the eastern ploughing season is at hand, yet rain has not come—I should personally sacrifice at the southern suburbs to the state and grain altars and to the mountains and rivers." Minister of Rites Fang Xianfu and others replied: "The 《Rites of Zhou · Grand Minister of Rites》 states: 'With the rites of desolation one mourns calamity and plague. Commentators explain: 'The ruler's meals are not served, imperial roads are not cleared, sacrificial music is not hung—all to show deliberate self-diminishment." It also says: 'When the state faces a great emergency, offerings are presented to the Supreme Lord and the Four Outlooks.' Commentators explain: 'Cause means disaster and calamity. 'Present' means to array; the sacrifices are arrayed and prayer is made thereby—the rite is less complete than a full sacrifice.' Now Your Majesty, pitying the toil of the common people, goes out in person to pray. The ritual should be kept simple, in response to Heaven's warning. All regular court officials should accompany you, together showing sincerity in self-examination and earnest prayer." They then submitted the full protocol in memorial. In the second month he prayed in person at the southern suburbs—mountains and rivers on the same day, state and grain altars the next. Imperial roads were not cleared; caps and garments were pale; all ministers dressed likewise. Civil officials of fifth rank and above and military officials of fourth rank and above stood outside the Great Sacrifice Gate; other officials stood outside the Southern Heavenly Gate to take their places as attendant sacrificers. That autumn the emperor wished to sacrifice in person to mountains, rivers, and other spirits. Minister of Rites Li Shi said: "Under the old precedent, sacrifice to mountains and rivers was performed at midnight, with fasting and lodging in the suburbs on the preceding day. When the sacrifice was finished, the imperial procession returned at dawn; the whole affair took two days—the burden was too great. It would be better to follow the Former Agriculture altar precedent and perform the rite at daybreak." The full protocol was then submitted in memorial. Imperial approval was granted. Sacrificial dress was the skin cap; welcoming and sending off the spirits each required two bows.
35
In Jiajing 11 Grand Secretaries Li Shi and others, because no heir had yet been born, requested that court ministers go to famous peaks and garrisons to offer prayers. The emperor wished to dispatch Daoist priests bearing incense and silk, ordering local officials to perform the rites, while ministers at court would separately pray at the Earthly Powers altar. Minister of Rites Xia Yan then said: "Our dynasty established the Earthly Powers altar—from peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers to famous mountains and great rivers near and far, all were embraced; to pray here accords with the ancient meaning of expansive outlook. But what the chief ministers requested covered only peaks and garrisons. I hold that mountains, rivers, seas, and streams, in issuing blessings and showing efficacy, share the same merit as peaks and garrisons; moreover the Foundation of Fortune, Aid to Sagacity, Spirit Splendor, Heavenly Longevity, and Pure Virtue mountains are also where imperial ancestors rest in spirit—prayer rites for all cannot be omitted." Ministers were then ordered to go to the altar and perform divided sacrifices.
36
Spirit Altars
37
西 西 西 西西西西西西 殿 西 西 殿西 殿 殿 西
In Hongwu 2, following Minister of Rites Cui Liang's proposal, the Altar of Spirits Under Heaven was built east of the Circular Mound enclosure and west of the Square Mound enclosure. Before the suburban sacrifice, the emperor went in person to the altar, set up spirit seats facing west, and announced with wine and dried meat. On the day of the suburban sacrifice, when the divided offerings and attendant sacrifices were nearly finished, he went to the altar to perform the rite. Later it was fixed that officials would be dispatched for advance announcement. A Mountains and Rivers Altar was also built west of the Heaven and Earth altar outside Zhengyang Gate, combining sacrifice to the various spirits. Nineteen altars were set up in all: first Great Year and the spring, summer, autumn, and winter monthly generals; then wind, clouds, thunder, and rain; the Five Peaks; the Five Garrisons; the Four Seas; the Four Rivers; the capital Zhong Mountain; Jiangdong; Jiangxi; Huguang; Huaidong and Huaidi; Zhedong, Zhexi, and Fujian; Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Haibei; Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, and Hebei; Beiping and Shaanxi; Zuojiang and Youjiang; mountains and rivers of Annam, Goryeo, Champa, and other states; the capital city god; and the Six Banners Great Spirit, Banner and Standard Great General, Five Directions Banner Spirits, warships, gongs and drums, cannon, bows and crossbows, flying spears and flying stones, and spirits before and behind the battle array—all performed by the emperor in person. Before the sacrifice, ritual officials reported: "In the prayer text, from Great Year down to the Four Seas—in all five altars—where the text says 'your subject,' the emperor should personally sign his imperial name. For Zhong Mountain and the other spirits, where the text says 'I, the remainder,' please allow ritual officials to sign on his behalf." The emperor said: "Even in letters to friends one still personally writes one's name—how much more so for the spirits?" He then added his personal signature. Later it was also fixed that three days after Awakening of Insects and three days after the autumn equinox, officials would be dispatched to sacrifice to the spirits at the Mountains and Rivers Altar. In Hongwu 7 an order was issued that in the first ten-day period of the second and eighth months of spring and autumn, an auspicious day should be chosen for sacrifice. In Hongwu 9 the Mountains and Rivers Altar system was again fixed, with thirteen altars in all. In the main hall stood seven altars: Great Year; wind, clouds, thunder, and rain; the Five Peaks; the Five Garrisons; the Four Seas; the Four Rivers; and Zhong Mountain. East and west side halls each had three altars; to the east: capital region mountains and rivers and the summer and winter monthly generals. To the west: the spring and autumn monthly generals and the capital city god. In Hongwu 10 the seven main-hall altars were fixed; the emperor performed the rite in person, while meritorious officials in the east and west side halls made the divided offerings. In Hongwu 21 the spirit altars and enclosures of the Great Sacrifice Hall were enlarged and repaired. An edict then suspended spring sacrifice for the spirits of all thirteen altars; each year in the middle ten-day period of the eighth month an auspicious day was chosen for sacrifice. The Ministry of Rites was ordered to revise the Mountains and Rivers Altar ritual to match that of the state and grain altars. During the Yongle period a Mountains and Rivers Altar was built in the capital on the Nanjing model, except that to the right of Zhong Mountain in the main hall the spirit of Heavenly Longevity Mountain was added. In Jiajing 11 the Mountains and Rivers Altar was renamed the Altar of Heavenly Spirits and Earthly Powers, and the order was changed to Master of Clouds, Master of Rain, Earl of Wind, and Master of Thunder. The Heavenly Spirits altar stood on the left, facing south: cloud, rain, wind, and thunder—in all four altars. The Earthly Powers altar stood on the right, facing north: the Five Peaks; Five Garrisons; Foundation of Fortune, Aid to Sagacity, Spirit Splendor, Heavenly Longevity, and Pure Virtue mountains; the Four Seas; and the Four Rivers—in all five altars. As attendant sacrifices: capital region mountains and rivers faced west; mountains and rivers throughout the realm, facing east. In the mid-autumn of Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei years the emperor sacrificed in person; in other years great ministers performed the rite as his proxy. The Great Year, monthly generals, banners and standards, and city gods received separate sacrifices. In Jiajing 17 the honorific title of the Supreme Lord of Imperial Heaven was added, advance announcement was made to the spirits, and an altar was set up southeast of the Circular Mound's outer enclosure; the emperor personally fixed the spirit altar seats and arranged the ritual. The Ministry of Rites said: "When Your Majesty personally offers at the Great Brightness altar, the ministers performing divided offerings at the four altars dare not stand alongside. We ask that incense be offered first and completed, then that officials be ordered to offer in his stead." The emperor decided that after incense offering, silk presentation, and cup offering and returning to position, the ministers performing divided offerings would then perform the rite. For the second and final offerings, attending officials substituted; at the remaining altars all offering officials proceeded in three ranks. In Longqing 1, ritual officials said: "Heavenly spirits and earthly powers already accompany sacrifice at the northern and southern suburbs; the mid-autumn sacrifice to spirits should not be performed again." An order was issued to abolish it.
38
Stars and Constellations Altar
39
殿
In Hongwu 3 the emperor told members of the Secretariat: "Sun and moon each have dedicated altar sacrifice, yet the stars and constellations are offered in collateral sacrifice at the moon altar—this is not ritual." The Ministry of Rites proposed adding nine bays to the southern suburb Altar of Sacrifice to All Spirits, facing directly south; sacrifice to the morning sun, evening moon, and all stars of heaven would all be performed there. Morning sun and evening moon would still be sacrificed at the spring and autumn equinoxes; the stars and constellations on the three days before the Heavenly Longevity Festival. Approved. In the ninth month of Hongwu 4 the emperor personally sacrificed to all stars of heaven. The main hall had ten altars in all; at the center was placed the seat for all stars of heaven; the ritual was as for the morning sun. In Hongwu 21, because the stars and constellations already accompanied sacrifice at the southern suburb, the Star Lustration sacrifice was abolished.
40
Spirit Star and Associated Deities
41
Sacrifice to the Great Year, Monthly Generals, Wind, Clouds, Thunder, and Rain
42
Antiquity had no institution of altars and halls for the Great Year and monthly generals; the Ming first gave weight to their sacrifice. Adding the Master of Clouds after the Master of Wind also began with the Ming. The Founding Emperor, having already made the Great Year and associated spirits attendant sacrifices at the Circular Mound, also combined sacrifice at the Altar of Collective Sacrifices. Shortly thereafter he ordered ritual officials to consider dedicated altars and enclosures. Ritual officials said: "The Great Year is the spirit of the twelve earthly branches. According to the Explaining Graphs, the character for 'year' combines 'step' with 'xu.' Jupiter in one year traverses one station, passing through the twelve earthly branches to complete the circuit of heaven—as if stepping. In yin-yang theory there are also the twelve monthly generals and the spirits presiding over the ten days and twelve hours—such as Heavenly Yi, Heavenly Gang, Grand Unity, Merit Clerk, Grand Surge, and the like. Though not found in the canonical texts, successive dynasties retained them. Under the Yuan, whenever there were major construction projects, the Great Year, monthly generals, day-presiding and hour-presiding spirits were sacrificed to at the Directorate of Astronomy. As for sacrifice to the Master of Wind and Master of Rain, this appears in the Rites of Zhou; later ages all had sacrifice. In the Tianbao era of Tang, the Master of Thunder was added after the Master of Rain. Song and Yuan followed this. Yet under the Tang system each was separately sacrificed according to season, losing the original intent of sacrificial offering. It is fitting that the Great Year, wind, clouds, thunder, rain, and other heavenly spirits be combined into one altar, and all earthly powers into one altar, with dedicated spring and autumn sacrifice." Thereupon sacrifice to the Great Year and associated spirits at the southern suburb was fixed for Awakening of Insects and the autumn equinox. Three years later, because the various spirits are one qi of yin and yang flowing without interruption, the two altars were combined into one, and the four seasonal monthly generals were added. The sacrificial dates were also changed; together with earthly powers both used the third day after Awakening of Insects and the autumn equinox.
43
西 殿 西 殿 西
In Jiajing 10 an order was issued for the Ministry of Rites to examine the regulations for the Great Year altar. Ritual officials said: "The spirit of the Great Year is not recorded in the Tang and Song sacrificial codes; though the Yuan had sacrifice, there was no fixed ritual. Regulations for altar and hall cannot be verified against antiquity. The Great Year as heavenly spirit should have an open-air altar for sacrifice, modeled on the altars of soil and grain but somewhat smaller." Approved. Thereupon the Great Year Altar was built west outside the Gate of Correct Yang, facing the Altar of Heaven. At the center, the Great Year Hall. In the east corridor, two altars for the spring and autumn monthly generals. In the west corridor, two altars for the summer and winter monthly generals. The emperor sacrificed in person in the bowing hall. Each year on the day of spring ancestral offering at the temple and end-of-year unified ancestral offering, officials were dispatched to perform sacrifice. Princely states, prefectures, departments, and counties also sacrificed to the masters of wind, clouds, thunder, and rain, still building altars southwest of the city. Sacrifice used the days of Awakening of Insects and the autumn equinox.
44
Sacrifice to Peaks, Garrisons, Seas, Rivers, Mountains, and Rivers
45
使 使 使西 殿使 使
In Hongwu 2 the Founding Emperor, because the spirits of peaks and rivers were jointly sacrificed at the southern suburb, had no dedicated sacrifice. Moreover the place of sacrificial offering used buildings rather than altars—not the way to honor spirits. Ritual officials said: "Emperor Shun of Yu sacrificed to the four peaks; the Royal Regulations first gave the title of five peaks. The Rites of Zhou: 'Establish the four outlooks in the four suburbs'—Zheng's commentary takes the four outlooks as the five peaks, four garrisons, and four rivers. The Preface to the Odes on imperial tours to inspect and perform rites to the four peaks and river and sea—this adds sacrifice to the four seas. For the Son of Heaven's business of gazing in the four directions, nothing is not reached. And for the peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers within feudatories' domains, each feudatory sacrificed to its own. When enfeoffment was abolished by decree, peaks and rivers all came under the charge of sacrificial officials. Han restored feudatories, and each marquisate sacrificed to the mountains and rivers within its domain; the Son of Heaven had no part. During Emperor Wu's time feudatories were variously divided or abolished, and all five peaks fell within the Son of Heaven's domain. During Emperor Xuan's time the ritual of dispatching envoys bearing imperial credentials to sacrifice to peaks and rivers first appeared. From Wei through Sui, for the peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers, temples were established on the spot and officials performed sacrifice. The Tang and Song systems had sacrifice by order to the prefect and county magistrate of the local jurisdiction, sacrifice by distant gazing at the time of suburban sacrifice, and also sacrificial dispatch. The Yuan dispatched envoys to sacrifice to peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers, dividing into five routes: east, south, west, north, and center. Now it is fitting that peaks, garrisons, seas, rivers, mountains and rivers, and city gods throughout the realm be combined into one altar. On a par with the heavenly spirits, with dedicated spring and autumn sacrifice." Thereupon the sacrificial days were fixed as Pure Brightness and Frost Descent. One day beforehand the emperor personally inspected the victims. On the day, wearing the Heaven-Penetrating cap and crimson gauze robe, he proceeded before the peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers and performed the three-offering rite. Mountains, rivers, and city gods—ministers performing divided offerings performed the rite. That year eighteen officials were appointed to sacrifice to the spirits of all peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers under heaven. Wearing the leather cap the emperor attended the Hall of Reverence for Heaven, personally signed his imperial name, and conferred the incense prayer upon the envoys. Officials in full court dress escorted them to the Secretariat; the envoys departed bearing them. Incense was stored in a gold casket; two yellow damask banners; twenty-five taels of white gold to purchase sacrificial items.
46
西 西 西 西
In Hongwu 3 an edict fixed the spirit titles of the peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers. In summary it said: "The way of governing must take root in ritual. Enfeoffment titles for peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers began in Tang and Song. Spirits formed when numinous qi gathers—they must receive mandate from the Sovereign on High; how can national enfeoffment titles be added? In violation of ritual, nothing exceeds this. Now following ancient regulations, all former enfeoffment titles of former dynasties shall be removed. The five peaks shall be titled Spirit of Mount Tai, Eastern Peak; Spirit of Mount Heng, Southern Peak; Spirit of Mount Song, Central Peak; Spirit of Mount Hua, Western Peak; Spirit of Mount Heng, Northern Peak. The five garrisons shall be titled Spirit of Mount Yi, Eastern Garrison; Spirit of Mount Kuaiji, Southern Garrison; Spirit of Mount Huo, Central Garrison; Spirit of Mount Wu, Western Garrison; Spirit of Mount Yiwulu, Northern Garrison. The four seas shall be titled Spirit of the Eastern Sea; Spirit of the Southern Sea; Spirit of the Western Sea; Spirit of the Northern Sea. The four rivers shall be titled Spirit of the Great Huai, Eastern River; Spirit of the Great Yangtze, Southern River; Spirit of the Great Yellow River, Western River; Spirit of the Great Ji, Northern River." The emperor personally signed the prayer text and dispatched officials to announce and sacrifice with the revised spirit titles. In Hongwu 6 ritual officials said: "Sichuan is not yet pacified; distant-gazing sacrifice to the rivers was performed at Xia Prefecture. Now that Shu has fallen, envoys should be sent to perform sacrifice at the Southern River." Approved. In Hongwu 10 eighteen officials were appointed to perform divided sacrifice to peaks, garrisons, seas, and rivers; ceremonial robes were conferred upon them.
47
In Wanli 14 the grand coordinator Hu Laigong requested changing the Northern Peak sacrifice to Hunyuan Prefecture. Ritual officials said: "The Collected Rituals of the Great Ming records that Han, Tang, and Song sacrifices to the Northern Peak were all at Quyang County in Ding Prefecture, matching the histories throughout. Calling Hunyuan the Northern Peak appears only in the prefecture gazetteer and stele inscriptions; no verification exists in the classics and commentaries—Quyang should still be sacrificed to."
48
使 西西 西
Other Mountains and Rivers Sacrifice In Hongwu 1 he personally sacrificed to the spirits of Bianliang and still dispatched officials to sacrifice to mountains and rivers within the domain. In Hongwu 2 mountains and rivers throughout the realm were offered in collateral sacrifice at the peaks and rivers altar. The emperor also held that since Annam and Goryeo were both submissive vassals, mountains and rivers within their states should be sacrificed to the same as China. He instructed the Secretariat and ritual officials to investigate. Annam's mountains numbered twenty-one; its rivers six; its streams six. Goryeo's mountains three; its streams four. An order was issued to register them in the sacrificial code and set seats for sacrifice. In Hongwu 3 envoys were dispatched to Annam, Goryeo, and Champa to sacrifice to mountains and rivers in those states. The emperor fasted and personally composed the prayer text. Officials were also sent to promulgate the edict rectifying spirit titles in Annam, Champa, and Goryeo. In the sixth year, with the Ryukyu states already paying tribute, their mountains and rivers were added to sacrifice. In the eighth year Minister of Rites Niu Liang argued: "The capital has abolished sacrifice to all realm mountains and rivers; foreign mountains and rivers are not for the Son of Heaven to sacrifice to in person. The Secretariat and ritual officials asked that they be sacrificed to as attached offerings in each province; the emperor approved. Guangxi attached Annam, Champa, Zhenla, Siam, and Suoli; Guangdong Sanfoqi and Java; Fujian Japan, Ryukyu, and Brunei; Liaodong Goryeo; Shaanxi Gansu, Do-Kham, and U-Tsang; the capital ceased sacrifice. Following ritual officials, provincial mountains and rivers faced south at center, foreign ones east and west, all on one altar. Princely sacrifice to mountains and rivers was regulated in Hongwu 13. In the eighteenth year princely sacrifice to mountains and rivers was fixed. Protocol matched state and grain, but without burial rites. Wherever peaks, garrisons, seas, rivers, and other mountains and rivers stood, local officials sacrificed twice yearly at Qingming and Frost's Descent.
49
City God
50
殿
In Hongwu 2 ritual officials reported: "Sacrifice to the city god lacks a clear origin. Earlier scholars held that with the state altar already established, a city god should not also exist. Thus Li Yangbing's Record of the Jinyun City God states that 'temple sacrifice had none; only Wu and Yue had it. Yet Chengdu's city god temple was built by Li Deyu; Zhang Yue and Du Mu both wrote city-god sacrifice texts—not only Wu and Yue. The Wuhu city god temple dates to Wu's Chiwu 2; Murong Yan of Northern Qi and the Prince of Wuling of Liang sacrificed to the city god—all in the histories, not only Tang. From Song onward temples spread empire-wide; some received plaques or enfeoffments, and some even forced identification of a single personal name for the spirit. Zhang Jiuling's Sacrifice to the Hongzhou City God reads: 'The city god is protector; the people rely upon it. Thus former exalted sacrifice had its rationale. It was proposed to attach sacrifice at the peaks-and-rivers altar. An order followed to confer enfeoffed titles. The capital became Spirit King Who Upholds Heaven, Reflects the Realm, Oversees the People, and Raises Blessings; Kaifeng, Linhuai, Taiping, Hezhou, and Chuzhou were enfeoffed kings. Other prefectures were Spirit Lord Who Oversees and Protects the People, rank 2a. Departments were Spirit Marquis Who Oversees and Protects the People, rank 3. Counties were Spirit Earl Who Oversees and Protects the People, rank 4. Robes, caps, and regalia were graded accordingly. Literary officials composed formal texts for promulgation.
51
殿 西
In the third year enfeoffed titles were removed; spirits were styled only City God of the prefecture, department, or county. Each temple was ordered to remove other spirits. Temple scale was fixed at the height and breadth of a government main hall. Wooden tablets replaced images; sculpted figures were cast into water; their clay plastered walls painted with clouded mountains. In the sixth year the Central Capital city god tablet was completed; officials were sent with incense and silks for enshrinement. The capital city god, attached at the mountains-and-rivers altar, had its temple rebuilt in the twenty-first year. Soon, with attendant sacrifice at the Grand Rites Hall, spring sacrifice at the mountains-and-rivers altar was abolished. Under Yongle a temple was built west of the capital called the Great Spirit Temple. In Jiajing 9 mountains-and-rivers attendant sacrifice ended; each mid-autumn on the banner-and-standard day the capital city god was sacrificed to. On imperial birthdays and the spirit's birthday on the eleventh day of the fifth month, senior Court of Imperial Sacrifices officials performed sacrifice. When the state suffered great disaster, the temple was notified. In princely states the prince sacrificed in person; in prefectures, departments, and counties the local official presided.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →