1
嘉禮二
Part Two: Auspicious Rites
2
冊皇后儀冊妃嬪儀附冊皇太子及皇太子妃儀冊親王及王妃儀冊公主儀附皇帝加元服儀冊皇太子皇子冠禮品官冠禮庶人冠禮
Investing the Empress; Investing Consorts (supplementary); Investing the Crown Prince and Crown Princess; Investing Princes and Princesses; Investing Imperial Princesses (supplementary); The Emperor's Coming-of-Age Ceremony; Crowning the Crown Prince and Imperial Sons; Capping Rites for Ranked Officials; Capping Rites for Commoners
3
冊皇后儀
Rites for Investing the Empress
4
古者立后無冊命禮。 至漢靈帝立宋美人爲皇后,始御殿,命太尉持節,奉璽綬,讀冊。 皇后北面稱臣妾,跪受。 其後沿爲定制,而儀文代各不同。 明儀注大抵參唐、宋之制而用之,太祖初,定制。
In ancient times there was no written commission ceremony when an empress was installed. It was only under Emperor Ling of Han, when he installed the Beautiful Lady Song as empress, that the emperor first appeared in the hall and ordered the Grand Marshal to hold the imperial tally, present the seal and sash, and read the investiture document aloud. The empress faced north, addressed herself as the emperor's subject and consort, and knelt to receive the commission. Thereafter this became the established custom, though the ritual procedures varied from dynasty to dynasty. The Ming ritual code largely followed and adapted the Tang and Song systems; Taizu established the definitive regulations at the dynasty's founding.
5
凡冊皇后,前期三日齋戒,遣官祭告天地、宗廟。 前一日,侍儀司設冊寶案於奉天殿御座前,設奉節官位於冊案之東,掌節者位於其左,稍退,設承制官位於其南,俱西向。 設正副使受制位於橫街於南,北向。 設承制宣制官位於其北,設奉節奉冊奉寶官位於其東北,俱西向。 設正副使受冊寶褥位於受制位之北,北向。 典儀二人位丹陛上南,贊禮二人位正副使北,知班二人位贊禮之南,俱東西相向。 百官及侍從位,如朝儀。
Whenever an empress was to be invested, the court observed three days of fasting and purification beforehand and dispatched officials to announce the event to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples. On the eve of the ceremony, the Directorate of Ceremonial Attendants placed the tables for the commission document and imperial seal before the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, positioned the Bearer of the Tally east of the commission table with the Tally Keeper to his left at a slight remove, and placed the Edict Receiver to the south—all facing west. South of the transverse avenue, positions were set for the chief and deputy envoys to receive the imperial edict, both facing north. North of them stood the edict proclaimer; to their northeast stood the tally bearer, commission bearer, and seal bearer—all facing west. North of the edict-reception positions, cushioned places were prepared where the chief and deputy envoys would receive the commission and seal, both facing north. Two masters of ceremony stood on the southern part of the red steps; two ritual announcers stood north of the chief and deputy envoys; and two ushers stood south of the announcers—all arranged facing one another across the east-west axis. The positions of officials and attendants followed the usual court audience arrangement.
6
是日早,列鹵簿,陳甲士,設樂如儀。 內官設皇后受冊位及冊節寶案於宮中,設香案於殿上,設權置冊寶案於香案前,設女樂於丹陛。 質明,正副使及百官入。 鼓三嚴,皇帝袞冕御奉天殿。 禮部官奉冊寶,各置於案。 諸執事官各人就殿上位立。 樂作,四拜,興,樂止。 承制官奏發皇后冊寶,承制訖,由中門出,降自中陛,至宣制位,曰:「有制」。 正副使跪,承制官宣制曰:「冊妃某氏爲皇后,命卿等持節展禮。」 宣畢,由殿西門入。 正副使俯伏,興。 執事者舉冊寶案,由中門出,降自中陛。 奉節官率掌節者前導,至正副使褥位,以案置於北。 掌節者脫節衣,以節授奉節官。 奉節官以授正使,正使以授掌節者,掌節者跪受,興,立於正使之左。 奉節官退。 引禮引正使詣受冊位,奉冊官以冊授正使,正使跪受,置於案。 退,復位。 副使受寶亦如之。 樂作,正副使四拜。 興,樂止。 正使隨冊,副使隨寶,掌節者前導,舉案者次之,樂作。 出奉天門,樂止。 侍儀奏禮畢,駕興,百官出。 掌節者加節衣,奉冊寶官皆搢笏,取冊寶置龍亭內,儀仗大樂前導,至中宮門外,樂作。 皇后具九龍四鳳冠,服禕衣,出閤,至殿上,南向立。 樂止,正副使奉冊寶權置於門外所設案上。 引禮引正副使及內使監令俱就位。 正使詣內使監令前,稱冊禮使臣某,副使臣某,奉制授皇后冊寶。 內使監令入告皇后,出,復位。 引禮引內外命婦入就位。 正使奉冊授內使監令,內使監令跪受,以授內官。 副使授寶亦如之。 各復位。 內使監令率奉冊奉寶內官入,各置於案。 尚儀引皇后降陛,詣庭中位立。 內官奉冊寶立於皇后之東西。 內使監令稱「有制」,尚儀奏拜。 皇后拜,樂作。 四拜,興,樂止。 宣制訖,奉冊內官以冊授讀冊內官讀訖,以授內使監令。 內使監令跪以授皇后,皇后跪受,以授司言。 奉寶如前儀。 受訖,以授司寶。 尚儀奏拜,皇后拜如前。 內使監令出,詣正副使前,稱「皇后受冊禮畢」。 使者退詣奉天殿橫街南,北面西上立,給事中立於正副使東北,西向。 正副使再拜覆命曰:「奉制冊命皇后禮畢。」 又再拜,給事中奏聞,乃退。 皇后既受冊寶,升座。 引禮引內命婦班首一人,詣殿中賀位跪,致詞曰:「茲遇皇后殿下膺受冊寶,正位中宮,妾等不勝歡慶,謹奉賀。」 贊拜,樂作。 再拜,興,樂止。 退,復位。 又引外命婦班首一人,入就殿上賀位,如內命婦儀。 禮畢俱出。 皇后降座,樂作。 還閤,樂止。
Early that morning the imperial guard of honor was drawn up, armored troops were posted, and the musical ensemble was arranged according to ritual. Within the palace, inner officials prepared the empress's place for receiving the commission, the tables for tally, commission, and seal, an incense table in the hall, a provisional table for the commission and seal before the incense table, and female musicians on the red steps. At first light the chief and deputy envoys and all officials entered. After the triple drum signal marking the third watch of vigil, the emperor in full ceremonial robes took his place in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Ministry of Rites officials presented the commission document and imperial seal, placing each upon its table. Each officiating official took up his assigned position in the hall. Music began; the envoys performed four prostrations, then rose; the music stopped. The edict receiver memorialized for permission to issue the empress's commission and seal; once the edict was granted, he left through the central gate, descended the central steps, and at the proclamation position announced, "By imperial command." The chief and deputy envoys knelt as the edict proclaimer announced: "Consort So-and-so is invested as empress. You are commanded to bear the imperial tally and perform the ceremony. When the proclamation was complete, he re-entered through the hall's western gate. The chief and deputy envoys bowed low to the ground and then rose. Attendants lifted the tables bearing the commission and seal, passed through the central gate, and descended the central steps. The tally bearer led the tally keeper forward to the cushioned positions of the chief and deputy envoys and set the tables to the north. The tally keeper removed the ceremonial tally garment and handed the tally to the tally bearer. The tally bearer passed it to the chief envoy, who passed it back to the tally keeper; the tally keeper knelt to receive it, rose, and stood at the chief envoy's left. The tally bearer withdrew. The usher guided the chief envoy to the commission-reception position; the commission bearer handed him the document; the chief envoy knelt to receive it and set it on the table. He withdrew and returned to his place. The deputy envoy received the seal in the same way. Music began, and the chief and deputy envoys performed four prostrations. They rose, and the music stopped. The chief envoy bore the commission, the deputy envoy the seal, the tally keeper led the procession, and the table bearers followed; music began. They passed out through the Gate of Supreme Harmony, and the music stopped. The ceremonial attendant announced that the rite was complete; the emperor's carriage departed; and the officials left. The tally keeper donned the tally garment; the commission and seal bearers tucked their court tablets into their belts; the commission and seal were placed in the dragon pavilion; and with guards of honor and ceremonial music leading the way, the procession reached the gate of the inner palace, where music began again. Wearing the nine-dragon four-phoenix crown and ceremonial robe, the empress emerged from her chambers, came to the hall, and stood facing south. The music stopped, and the chief and deputy envoys temporarily set the commission and seal on the tables prepared outside the gate. The usher guided the chief and deputy envoys and the director of the inner palace eunuchs to their positions. The chief envoy approached the director of the inner palace eunuchs and announced: "Commission envoy So-and-so and deputy envoy So-and-so, by imperial command, present the commission and seal to Her Majesty the Empress." The director entered to inform the empress, then came out and returned to his place. The usher led the titled ladies of the inner and outer courts to their positions. The chief envoy presented the commission to the director, who knelt to receive it and passed it to an inner palace official. The deputy envoy presented the seal in the same way. Each returned to his place. The director led the inner officials bearing the commission and seal into the hall, where each was set upon its table. The chief mistress of ceremony guided the empress down the steps to stand at her place in the courtyard. Inner officials holding the commission and seal stood to the east and west of the empress. The director announced, "By imperial command," and the chief mistress of ceremony called for obeisance. The empress prostrated herself as music began. She performed four prostrations, then rose; the music stopped. After the edict was proclaimed, the inner official bearing the commission handed it to the reader; once the reading was complete, it was passed to the director of the inner palace eunuchs. The director knelt and presented it to the empress, who knelt to receive it and passed it to the Mistress of Speech. The presentation of the seal followed the same procedure. Once she had received it, she passed it to the Mistress of the Seal. The chief mistress of ceremony called for obeisance, and the empress prostrated herself as before. The director came out, approached the chief and deputy envoys, and announced, "Her Majesty has completed the reception of the commission." The envoys withdrew to the south side of the transverse avenue before the Hall of Supreme Harmony and stood facing north from the western ascent; the supervising secretary stood northeast of them, facing west. The chief and deputy envoys prostrated themselves again and reported: "By imperial command, the ceremony of investing the empress is complete. They prostrated themselves once more; the supervising secretary memorialized to inform the emperor; then they withdrew. After receiving the commission and seal, the empress took her seat upon the throne. The usher led the senior inner titled lady to the congratulatory position in the hall, where she knelt and said: "Now that Your Majesty has received the commission and seal and assumed the central place in the inner palace, we are overcome with joy and respectfully offer our congratulations. The announcer called for obeisance, and music began. They performed two prostrations, then rose; the music stopped. They withdrew and returned to their places. The usher then led the senior outer titled lady in to take the congratulatory position in the hall, following the same procedure as the inner ladies. When the ceremony was finished, all withdrew. The empress left her throne as music began. She returned to her chambers, and the music stopped.
7
次日,百官上表箋稱賀。 皇帝御殿受賀,如常儀。 遂卜日,行謁廟禮,先遣官用牲牢行事,告以皇后將祗見之意。 前期,皇后齋三日,內外命婦及執事內官齋一日。 設皇后拜位於廟門外及廟中,設內命婦陪祀位於廟庭南,外命婦陪祀位於內命婦之南。 司贊位皇后拜位之東西,司賓位內命婦之北,司香位香案右。 陳盥洗於階東,司盥洗官位其所。 至日,內外命婦各翟衣集中宮內門外。 皇后具九龍四鳳冠,服禕衣。 出內宮門,升輿,至外門外降輿,升重翟車。 鼓吹設而不作。 尚儀陳儀衛,次外命婦,次內命婦,皆乘車前導。 內使監扈從,宿衛陳兵仗前後導從。 皇后至廟門,司賓引命婦先入。 皇后降車,司贊導自左門入,就位,北向立。 命婦各就位,北向立。 司贊奏拜,司賓贊拜,皇后及命婦皆再拜,興。 司贊請詣盥洗位,盥手帨抉手,由東陛升,至神位前。 司贊奏上香者三,司香捧香於右,皇后三上訖,導復位,贊拜如前。 司贊奏禮畢,皇后出自廟之左門,命婦以次出。 皇后升車,命婦前導,如來儀。 過廟,鼓吹振作,皇后入宮。 是日,皇帝宴羣臣于謹身殿,皇后宴內外命婦於中宮。 皆如正旦宴會儀。
The next day, officials submitted congratulatory memorials and petitions. The emperor received congratulations in the hall according to the usual ceremony. A day was then chosen for the temple-visitation rite; officials were first dispatched to offer full sacrificial victims and announce that the empress would soon pay her reverent visit. Beforehand the empress observed three days of fasting, while titled ladies of the inner and outer courts and officiating inner officials fasted for one day. The empress's places for obeisance were set outside the temple gate and within the temple; the inner titled ladies' attendant positions were set in the southern part of the temple courtyard; and the outer titled ladies' positions were set south of them. The announcer stood to the east and west of the empress's obeisance position; the usher stood north of the inner titled ladies; and the incense officer stood to the right of the incense table. Hand-washing vessels were set out east of the steps, with the hand-washing officer at his station there. On the appointed day, titled ladies of the inner and outer courts assembled outside the inner gate of the central palace, each wearing her pheasant robe. The empress wore the nine-dragon four-phoenix crown and ceremonial robe. She left through the inner palace gate, entered her palanquin, descended outside the outer gate, and mounted the double-pheasant carriage. The ceremonial band was posted but did not play. The chief mistress of ceremony arranged the guard of honor, followed by the outer titled ladies in their carriages, then the inner titled ladies—all proceeding ahead as guides. The director of the inner palace eunuchs attended her, while palace guards with arms arrayed marched before and behind as escort. When the empress reached the temple gate, the usher led the titled ladies in ahead of her. The empress descended from her carriage; the announcer guided her in through the left gate to her position, where she stood facing north. Each titled lady took her place and stood facing north. The announcer called for obeisance, the usher echoed the call, and the empress and titled ladies all performed two prostrations and rose. The announcer directed them to the hand-washing station; they washed and dried their hands, ascended the eastern steps, and came before the spirit tablet. The announcer called for three offerings of incense; the incense officer held the incense to the right; the empress offered incense three times; they were guided back to their places; and obeisance was called as before. The announcer declared the rite complete; the empress left through the temple's left gate, and the titled ladies withdrew in turn. The empress mounted her carriage, with the titled ladies leading the way as on the outward journey. Once past the temple, the ceremonial band struck up, and the empress returned to the palace. That day the emperor hosted a banquet for officials in the Hall of Cultivating the Person, while the empress hosted inner and outer titled ladies in the central palace. Both banquets followed the New Year's Day feast ceremony.
8
及成祖即位,冊皇后徐氏,其制小異。 皇帝皮弁服御華蓋殿,翰林院官以詔書用寶訖,然後御奉天殿,傳制皇后受冊。 禮畢,翰林官以詔書授禮部官,禮部官奉詔書於承天門開讀。 皇帝還宮,率皇后具服詣奉先殿謁告畢。 皇后具服於內殿,俟皇帝升座。 贊引女官導詣拜位,行謝恩禮,樂作。 八拜,興,樂止。 禮畢。 次日,皇帝皇后受賀宴會,如前儀。 天順八年,增定親王於皇帝前慶賀,次詣皇太后慶賀,次詣皇后前八拜儀。 嘉靖十三年,冊皇后方氏,禮臣具儀注,有謁告內殿儀,無謁告太廟世廟之禮,帝命議增。 於是禮臣以儀上。 先期齋三日,所司陳設如時祫儀。 至日,皇帝御輅,皇后妃御翟車,同詣太廟。 命官奉七廟主升神座訖。 皇帝奉高皇帝主,皇后奉高皇后主,出升神座。 迎神、上香、奠帛、祼獻,樂作止,皆如儀。 次詣世廟行禮,同上儀。 隆慶元年增定,頒詔次日,命婦行見皇后禮。
When the Yongle Emperor took the throne and invested Empress Xu, the procedure differed slightly. The emperor in leather cap and court dress took his place in the Hall of Flowering Canopy while Hanlin officials sealed the edict; he then proceeded to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to issue the command for the empress to receive her commission. When the ceremony was finished, Hanlin officials handed the edict to the Ministry of Rites, whose officials presented it at the Gate of Receiving Heaven for public reading. The emperor returned to the palace and, with the empress in full ceremonial dress, paid a reverent visit of announcement at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors. The empress, in full ceremonial dress, waited in the inner hall for the emperor to take his seat. Female officials guided her to the obeisance position to perform the thanksgiving rite as music began. She performed eight prostrations, then rose; the music stopped. The ceremony was finished. The next day the emperor and empress received congratulations and hosted banquets according to the earlier procedure. In the eighth year of the Tianshun reign, regulations were added requiring princes to offer congratulations before the emperor, then before the empress dowager, and then to perform eight prostrations before the empress. In the thirteenth year of Jiajing, when Empress Fang was invested, ritual officials drew up regulations that included announcement in the inner hall but not at the Grand Ancestral Temple or Imperial Ancestral Temple; the emperor ordered them to propose additions. The ritual officials thereupon submitted the revised ceremony. Three days of fasting were observed beforehand, and the responsible offices arranged the setting according to the seasonal combined-sacrifice ceremony. On the appointed day the emperor rode in the imperial carriage while the empress and consorts rode in pheasant carriages, and all proceeded together to the Grand Ancestral Temple. Officials were ordered to present the spirit tablets from the seven temples and install them upon the spirit seats. The emperor bore the tablet of the Hongwu Emperor and the empress bore the tablet of his empress; together they installed them upon the spirit seats. Welcoming the spirits, offering incense, presenting silks, and pouring libations, with music beginning and stopping—all followed the prescribed ceremony. They next proceeded to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and performed the same ceremony. In the first year of Longqing a further regulation was added: on the day after the edict was promulgated, titled ladies performed the audience ceremony with the empress.
9
冊妃之儀
Rites for Investing a Consort
10
自洪武三年冊孫氏爲貴妃,定皇帝不御殿,承制官宣制曰:「妃某氏,特封某妃,命卿等持節行禮。」 但授冊,無寶,餘並如中宮儀。 永樂七年,定冊妃禮。 皇帝皮弁服御華蓋殿,傳制。 至宣宗立孫貴妃,始授寶,憲宗封萬貴妃,始稱皇,非洪武之舊矣。 嘉靖十年,帝冊九嬪,禮官上儀注。 先日,所司陳設儀仗如朔望儀。 至期,皇帝具袞冕,告太廟、世廟訖,易皮弁服,御華蓋殿。 百官公服入行禮。 正、副使朝服承制,舉節冊至九嬪宮。 九嬪迎於宮門外,隨至拜位。 女官宣冊,九嬪受冊,先後八拜。 送節出宮門覆命。 九嬪隨具服候,皇后率詣奉先殿謁告,及詣皇帝、皇后前謝恩,俱如冊妃禮。 惟圭用次玉,谷文、銀冊少殺於皇妃五分之一。 二十年,冊德妃張氏,以妃將就室,而帝方靜攝,不傳制,不謁告內殿,餘並如舊。
From the third year of Hongwu, when Lady Sun was invested as honored consort, it was established that the emperor did not appear in the hall; the edict proclaimer announced: "Consort So-and-so is specially enfeoffed with the title of such-and-such consort. You are commanded to bear the imperial tally and perform the ceremony. Only the commission document was conferred, without an imperial seal; otherwise the procedure followed that for the central palace. In the seventh year of Yongle the ceremony for investing a consort was formally established. The emperor, wearing leather cap and court dress, took his place in the Hall of Flowering Canopy and issued the command. Under the Xuande Emperor, when Honored Consort Sun was installed, an imperial seal was conferred for the first time; under the Chenghua Emperor, when Honored Consort Wan was enfeoffed, she was first styled "imperial"—a departure from Hongwu practice. In the tenth year of Jiajing the emperor invested nine imperial concubines, and ritual officials submitted the ceremonial regulations. On the eve of the ceremony the responsible offices arrayed guards of honor as on the new- and full-moon occasions. On the appointed day the emperor in full ceremonial robes announced the event at the Grand Ancestral Temple and Imperial Ancestral Temple; afterward he changed into leather cap and court dress and took his place in the Hall of Flowering Canopy. Officials in court dress entered to perform the ceremony. The chief and deputy envoys, in court dress, received the imperial command and bore the tally and commission to the palace of the nine imperial concubines. The nine imperial concubines welcomed them outside the palace gate and proceeded to the obeisance position. Female officials read the commission aloud; the nine imperial concubines received it and performed eight prostrations in turn. They returned the tally, left through the palace gate, and reported back that the mission was complete. The nine imperial concubines then donned full ceremonial dress; the empress led them to announce the event at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors and to offer thanks before the emperor and empress—all following the consort-investiture procedure. Their scepters were of secondary jade with grain-pattern ornament, and their silver commission documents were one-fifth smaller than those for honored imperial consorts. In the twentieth year, when Virtuous Consort Zhang was invested, the emperor was in quiet regency and the consort was about to take up residence; no edict was transmitted and no announcement was made in the inner hall, but otherwise the old procedure was followed.
11
冊皇太子及皇太子妃儀
Rites for Investing the Crown Prince and Crown Princess
12
自漢代始稱皇太子,明帝始有臨軒、冊拜之儀。 唐則年長者臨軒冊授,幼者遣使內冊。 宋惟用臨軒。 元惟用內冊,不以長幼。
The title crown prince dates from the Han dynasty; under Emperor Ming of Later Han the ceremony of hall audience and investiture prostration first appeared. Under the Tang, an elder heir received investiture at the hall, while a younger heir was invested inside the palace by dispatched envoys. The Song used only the hall-audience ceremony. The Yuan used only inner investiture, without regard to the heir's age.
13
明興,定制,冊皇太子,所司陳設如冊后儀。 設皇太子拜位於丹陛上。 中嚴,皇帝袞冕御謹身殿,皇太子冕服俟於奉天門。 外辦,皇帝升奉天殿,引禮導皇太子入奉天東門。 樂作,由東階升至丹陛位,樂止。 百官各就丹墀位。 樂作,皇太子再拜,興,樂止。 承制官由殿中門出,立於門外,曰:「有制」。 皇太子跪。 宣制曰:「冊長子某爲皇太子。」 皇太子俯伏,興,樂作。 再拜。 樂止。 引禮導皇太子由殿東門入,樂作。 內贊導至御座前,樂止。 內贊贊跪,贊宣冊。 宣畢,贊搢圭,贊授冊。 皇太子搢圭,跪受冊,以授內侍。 復贊授寶,如授冊儀。 贊出圭,皇太子出圭,俯伏,興,由殿東門出。 執事官舉節冊寶隨出。 皇太子復位,樂作。 四拜興,樂止。 由東階降,樂作。 至奉天門,樂止。 儀仗、鼓樂迎冊寶至文華殿,持節官持節覆命,禮部官奉詔書赴午門開讀,百官迎詔至中書省,頒行。 侍儀奏禮畢,駕興,還宮。 皇太子詣內殿,候皇后升座,行朝謝禮,四拜,恭謝曰:「小子某,茲受冊命,謹詣母后殿下恭謝。」 復四拜,禮畢。 親王、世子、郡王俟於文華殿陛上。 皇太子升座,親王以下由東陛升,就拜位四拜。 長王恭賀曰:「小弟某,茲遇長兄皇太子榮膺冊寶,不勝欣忭之至,謹率諸弟詣殿下稱賀。」 賀畢,皆四拜。 皇太子興,以次出。 諸王詣中宮四拜,長王致詞賀畢,皆四拜出。 是日,皇太子詣武英殿見諸叔,行家人禮,四拜,諸叔西向坐受。 見諸兄,行家人禮,二拜,諸兄西向立受。 次日,百官進表箋慶賀,內外命婦慶賀中宮,如常儀。 乃擇日,太子謁太廟。
At the founding of the Ming dynasty regulations were established: for investing the crown prince, the responsible offices arranged the setting as for an empress investiture. The crown prince's obeisance position was set upon the red steps. At the middle watch of vigil the emperor in full ceremonial robes took his place in the Hall of Cultivating the Person, while the crown prince in coronet and robes waited at the Gate of Supreme Harmony. When preparations outside were complete, the emperor ascended the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the usher guided the crown prince in through its eastern gate. Music began; he ascended the eastern steps to his place on the red steps; the music stopped. Officials each took their places on the red courtyard. Music began; the crown prince performed two prostrations and rose; the music stopped. The edict receiver emerged through the hall's central gate, stood outside, and announced, "By imperial command." The crown prince knelt. The proclamation ran: "The eldest son So-and-so is invested as crown prince. The crown prince bowed low to the ground and rose as music began. He performed two more prostrations. The music stopped. The usher guided the crown prince in through the hall's eastern gate as music began. The inner announcer guided him before the imperial throne; the music stopped. The inner announcer called for him to kneel and for the commission to be read aloud. When the reading was finished, he called for the scepter to be tucked in and for the commission to be conferred. The crown prince tucked in his scepter, knelt to receive the commission, and passed it to an inner attendant. He again called for the seal to be conferred, following the same procedure as for the commission. He called for the scepter to be removed; the crown prince removed it, bowed low, rose, and left through the hall's eastern gate. Officiating officials bore the tally, commission, and seal and followed him out. The crown prince returned to his place as music began. He performed four prostrations and rose; the music stopped. He descended the eastern steps as music began. He reached the Gate of Supreme Harmony; the music stopped. Guards of honor and ceremonial music escorted the commission and seal to the Hall of Literary Glory; the tally-bearer reported back; Ministry of Rites officials presented the edict at the Meridian Gate for public reading; officials received the edict at the Secretariat and promulgated it. The ceremonial attendant announced that the rite was complete; the emperor's carriage departed; and the court returned to the palace. The crown prince went to the inner hall and waited for the empress to take her seat; he then performed the court thanksgiving rite with four prostrations and said: "Your son So-and-so, having received this commission, respectfully comes before Your Majesty to offer his thanks. He performed four more prostrations, and the ceremony was finished. Princes, princely heirs, and commandery princes waited on the steps of the Hall of Literary Glory. The crown prince took his seat; princes and those of lower rank ascended the eastern steps, took their places, and performed four prostrations. The eldest prince respectfully said: "Your younger brother So-and-so, on learning that our eldest brother the crown prince has received the commission and seal, is overcome with joy and respectfully leads his younger brothers to Your Highness to offer congratulations. When the congratulations were finished, all performed four prostrations. The crown prince rose, and they withdrew in turn. The princes went to the central palace and performed four prostrations; the eldest prince delivered the congratulatory address; when finished, all performed four prostrations and withdrew. That day the crown prince went to the Hall of Martial Glory to see his uncles and performed family obeisance with four prostrations; the uncles sat facing west to receive him. He saw his elder brothers and performed family obeisance with two prostrations; the elder brothers stood facing west to receive him. The next day officials submitted congratulatory memorials and petitions, and titled ladies of the inner and outer courts congratulated the central palace according to the usual ceremony. A day was then chosen for the crown prince to pay reverent visit to the Grand Ancestral Temple.
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洪武二十八年,皇太子、親王俱授金冊,不用寶。 永樂二年定,先三日齋戒,遣官祭告天地、宗廟,受冊寶畢,先詣太廟謁告,後至奉天殿謝恩,乃入謝中宮。 二十二年十月,冊東宮,以梓宮在殯,樂設而不作。 奉先殿行禮畢,仍詣几筵謁告。 宣德二年十一月,皇子生,羣臣表請立太子,三年二月行禮,以太子尚幼,乃命正、副使授冊寶於文華門。 成化十一年以冊立皇太子禮成,文武官分五等,賜綵緞有差。 嘉靖十八年二,月冊東宮,帝詣南郊告上帝,詣太廟告皇祖,自北郊及列聖宗廟以下皆遣官。 時太子方二歲,保姆奉之,迎冊寶於文華殿門,詣皇帝前謝恩,皇后、貴妃代太子八拜。 詣皇后前,貴妃代八拜。 詣貴妃前,保姆代四拜。 餘如常儀。
In the twenty-eighth year of Hongwu the crown prince and princes all received gold commission documents, without an imperial seal. In the second year of Yongle it was established that three days of fasting preceded the ceremony, with officials dispatched to announce the event to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples; after receiving the commission and seal, the crown prince first visited the Grand Ancestral Temple, then went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to offer thanks, and finally entered the central palace to thank the empress. In the tenth month of the twenty-second year, when the Eastern Palace heir was invested, the late emperor's coffin still lay in state, so music was posted but not played. After the ceremony at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors was finished, they still paid reverent visit at the spirit table. In the eleventh month of the second year of Xuande a prince was born and officials memorialized to have him named heir; the ceremony was performed in the second month of the third year, but because the heir was still young the chief and deputy envoys were ordered to confer the commission and seal at the Gate of Literary Glory. In the eleventh year of Chenghua, when the crown prince investiture was completed, civil and military officials were divided into five grades and rewarded with colored silks in varying amounts. In the second month of the eighteenth year of Jiajing, when the Eastern Palace heir was invested, the emperor announced the event to the Supreme Lord at the southern suburb and to the imperial ancestor at the Grand Ancestral Temple, while officials were dispatched for announcements from the northern suburb and the temples of successive emperors downward. The heir was then only two years old; a nurse held him as the commission and seal were received at the gate of the Hall of Literary Glory; the empress and honored consort performed eight prostrations before the emperor on his behalf. Before the empress, the honored consort again performed eight prostrations on his behalf. Before the honored consort, the nurse performed four prostrations on his behalf. The remainder followed the usual ceremony.
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其皇太子妃受冊,與皇太子同日傳制。 節冊將至內殿,妃降自東階,迎置於案。 贊就拜位,贊跪,妃跪。 贊宣冊,女官跪取冊,立宣畢。 贊授冊,贊搢圭。 女官以冊授妃,妃搢圭,受冊訖,以授女官。 女官跪受,捧立。 贊出圭,興,四拜。 禮畢,內官持節出,妃送至殿外,正副使持節覆命。 是日,妃具禮服詣奉先殿行謁告禮。 隨詣宮門,俟皇帝、皇后升座,入謝恩,行八拜禮。 又詣各宮皇妃前,行四拜禮。 還宮,詣皇太子前,亦四拜。 禮畢,升座,王妃、公主、郡主及外命婦,于丹墀拜賀如儀。
The crown princess received her commission on the same day, with the edict transmitted together with the crown prince's. As the tally and commission approached the inner hall, the princess descended the eastern steps to receive them and set them upon the table. The announcer directed her to the obeisance position, called for her to kneel, and she knelt. The announcer called for the commission to be read; a female official knelt, took the document, rose, and read it aloud to the end. The announcer called for the commission to be conferred and for the scepter to be tucked in. A female official handed the commission to the princess; she tucked in her scepter, received the document, and passed it back to the female official. The female official knelt to receive it and stood holding it aloft. The announcer called for the scepter to be removed; she rose and performed four prostrations. When the ceremony was finished, an inner official bore the tally out; the princess escorted the envoys to the hall's entrance; and the chief and deputy envoys returned the tally and reported back. That day the princess, in full ceremonial dress, paid a reverent visit of announcement at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors. She then went to the palace gate, waited for the emperor and empress to take their seats, entered to offer thanks, and performed eight prostrations. She then went before the honored imperial consorts of each palace and performed four prostrations. She then returned to the palace and, before the crown prince, performed four prostrations as well. When the ceremony was finished, she took her seat; princess consorts, princesses, commandery princesses, and external titled ladies offered congratulatory bows in the courtyard according to the prescribed rite.
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冊親王及王妃儀
Investing Princes and Princess Consorts
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漢冊親王於廟。 唐臨軒冊命,禮極詳備。 宋有冊命之文,皆上表辭免,惟迎官誥還第。 元亦降制命之,不行冊禮。
Under the Han, princes were invested at the ancestral temple. Under the Tang, princes received investiture at hall audience in rites of the utmost detail and completeness. The Song issued investiture documents, but recipients always memorialized to decline; they merely received the officials bearing the patent and returned to their residences. The Yuan likewise issued command-investitures and did not perform the formal investiture ceremony.
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明洪武三年定制,冊命親王,先期告宗廟,所司陳設如冊東宮儀。 至日,皇帝御奉天殿,皇太子、親王由奉天東門入。 樂作,升自東陛。 皇太子由殿東門入,內贊導至御前,侍立位。 親王入至丹陛拜位,樂止。 贊拜,樂作。 再拜,興,樂止。 承制官承制如儀,諸王皆跪,宣制曰:「封皇子某爲某王,某爲某王。」 宣畢,諸王俯伏,興。 贊拜,樂作。 再拜,興,樂止。 引禮導王由殿東外入,樂作。 內贊引至御座前拜位,樂止。 王跪。 贊授冊,捧冊官以冊授讀冊官,讀訖,以授丞相。 丞相授王,王搢圭受,以授內使。 授寶如上儀。 訖,王出圭,俯伏,興。 引禮導王出,復位。 以次引諸王入殿,授冊寶如儀。 內使以冊寶置彩亭訖,贊拜,樂作。 諸王皆四拜,興,樂止。 內使舉亭前行,親王由東階降,樂作。 出奉天東門,樂止。 禮部尚書請詔書用寶,赴午門開讀。 禮畢,皇帝還宮,皇太子出。 王年幼,則遣官齎冊寶授之。 丞相承制至王所,東北立,西南向,宣制。 最幼者行保抱之禮。 是日,親王朝謝皇后、太子,與東宮受冊朝謝同。 親王各自行賀,幼者詣長者,行四拜禮。 百官詣親王賀,亦行四拜禮。 丞相至殿上跪,文武官於庭中。 丞相致詞曰:「某官某等,茲遇親王殿下榮膺冊寶,封建禮成,無任欣忭之至。」 賀畢,丞相及百官復四拜。 次日,皇太子冕服於奉天殿朝賀皇帝,太子致詞曰:「長子某,茲遇諸弟某等受封建國,謹詣父皇陛下稱賀。」 賀中宮,致詞曰:「謹詣母后殿下稱賀。」 百官進表箋賀皇帝及中宮、東宮,如東宮受冊儀。 內外命婦賀中宮,致詞曰:「妾某氏等,茲遇親王受封建國,恭詣皇后殿下稱賀。」 是日,百官及命婦各賜宴。 擇日,諸王謁太廟。 時秦、晉、燕、楚、吳五王皆長,而齊、潭、趙、魯四王方幼,故兼具其制。 靖江王則以親王封,故視秦、晉儀。
In the third year of Hongwu the Ming established regulations for investing princes: the ancestral temple was notified in advance, and the responsible offices arranged the setting according to the Eastern Palace investiture ceremony. On the appointed day the emperor took his place in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the crown prince and princes entered through its eastern gate. Music began as they ascended the eastern steps. The crown prince entered through the hall's eastern gate; the inner announcer guided him to the attendant position before the throne. The princes entered to the obeisance position on the red steps, and the music stopped. The announcer called for obeisance as music began. They performed a second prostration, then rose; the music stopped. The edict proclaimer received the imperial command as prescribed; all princes knelt as he proclaimed: "Imperial Son So-and-so is enfeoffed as Prince of Such-and-such, and So-and-so as Prince of Such-and-such. When the proclamation was finished, all princes bowed low and then rose. The announcer called for obeisance as music began. They performed a second prostration, then rose; the music stopped. The usher guided the prince in through the hall's outer eastern entrance as music began. The inner announcer guided him to the obeisance position before the throne, and the music stopped. The prince knelt. The announcer called for the commission to be conferred; the bearer handed the document to the reader, and when the reading was finished it was passed to the chief counsellor. The chief counsellor handed the commission to the prince; the prince tucked in his scepter, received it, and passed it to an inner attendant. The imperial seal was conferred according to the procedure above. When this was finished, the prince removed his scepter, bowed low, and rose. The usher guided the prince out, and he returned to his place. Each prince was then led into the hall in turn and received the commission and seal according to the prescribed ceremony. After inner attendants placed the commission and seal in the ceremonial canopy, the announcer called for obeisance as music began. All princes performed four prostrations, then rose; the music stopped. Inner attendants raised the canopy and moved forward as the princes descended the eastern steps to music. They passed out through the eastern gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the music stopped. The Minister of Rites requested that the edict be sealed and presented at the Meridian Gate for public reading. When the ceremony was finished, the emperor returned to the palace and the crown prince withdrew. If a prince was still young, officials were dispatched to carry the commission and seal and confer them upon him. The chief counsellor received the imperial command and went to the prince's residence, standing at the northeast and facing southwest to proclaim the edict. The youngest prince received the rite of being held in arms. That day the princes paid court thanks to the empress and crown prince, following the same procedure as when the Eastern Palace heir received investiture. Each prince offered congratulations in turn; younger princes went before their elders and performed four prostrations. Officials went to congratulate the princes, likewise performing four prostrations. The chief counsellor knelt on the hall while civil and military officials stood in the courtyard. The chief counsellor delivered the congratulatory address: "We, So-and-so and the other officials, on this occasion of Your Highness receiving the commission and seal and completing your enfeoffment, are filled with inexpressible joy. When congratulations were finished, the chief counsellor and all officials again performed four prostrations. The next day the crown prince, in full regalia, paid court congratulations to the emperor in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and said: "Your eldest son So-and-so, on this occasion of my brothers So-and-so and others receiving enfeoffment and establishment of their domains, respectfully come before Your Majesty to offer congratulations. Congratulating the empress, he said: "I respectfully come before Your Majesty to offer congratulations." Officials submitted memorials and congratulatory documents to the emperor, the empress, and the Eastern Palace, following the Eastern Palace investiture ceremony. Internal and external titled ladies congratulated the empress, saying: "We, Lady So-and-so and the others, on this occasion of princes receiving enfeoffment and establishment of their domains, respectfully come before Her Majesty to offer congratulations. That day banquets were bestowed upon officials and titled ladies alike. A day was chosen for all princes to pay reverent visit at the Grand Ancestral Temple. At that time the Princes of Qin, Jin, Yan, Chu, and Wu were all grown, while the Princes of Qi, Tan, Zhao, and Lu were still young; the regulations therefore combined both procedures. The Prince of Jingjiang was enfeoffed with full princely rank and therefore followed the ceremony used for the Princes of Qin and Jin.
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二十八年定制,親王嫡長子,年十歲,授金冊寶,立爲王世子。 次嫡及庶子皆封郡王。 凡王世子必以嫡長,王年三十,正妃未有嫡子,其子止爲郡王。 待王與正妃年五十無嫡子,始立庶長子爲王世子,襲封。 朝廷遣人行冊命之禮。 成化末,封興、岐、益、衡、雍五王,帝親告奉先殿,遣使就各王府冊之,罷臨軒禮。 而諸王當襲封者,俱於歲終遣官冊封。 嘉靖中,改於孟春,著爲令。 冊王妃與冊太子妃儀同。
Regulations established in the twenty-eighth year provided that a prince's eldest legitimate son, at age ten, received the gold commission and seal and was installed as heir prince of the princely domain. Second sons by the principal consort and all sons of concubines were enfeoffed as commandery princes. The heir prince of a princely domain had to be the eldest legitimate son; if at age thirty the prince's principal consort still had no legitimate son, any son born to her could only be enfeoffed as a commandery prince. Only when the prince and principal consort reached fifty without a legitimate son was the eldest son of a concubine installed as heir prince to inherit the enfeoffment. The court dispatched officials to perform the commission-investiture ceremony. Near the end of the Chenghua reign, when the Princes of Xing, Qi, Yi, Heng, and Yong were enfeoffed, the emperor personally announced the event at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors and dispatched envoys to invest each prince at his residence, abolishing the hall-audience ceremony. Princes due to inherit enfeoffments were all invested by dispatched officials at year's end. During the Jiajing reign the timing was changed to early spring and established as regulation. Investing a princess consort followed the same ceremony as investing the crown princess.
20
冊公主儀
Investing Imperial Princesses
21
洪武九年七月,命使冊公主。 設冊案於清乾宮御座之東南,冊用銀字鍍金。 皇帝、皇后升御座,遣使捧冊傳制如儀。 使者至華蓋殿,公主拜受,其儀略與冊太子妃同。 凡皇姑曰大長公主,皇姊妹曰長公主,皇女曰公主,親王女曰郡主,郡王女曰縣主,孫女曰郡君,曾孫女曰縣君,玄孫女曰鄉君。 郡主以下,受誥封,不冊命。
In the seventh month of the ninth year of Hongwu, envoys were ordered to invest an imperial princess. A table for the commission document was placed southeast of the throne in the Palace of Pure Qi; the commission itself bore silver characters plated with gold. The emperor and empress took their seats and dispatched envoys to bear the commission and transmit the imperial command according to the prescribed ceremony. When the envoys reached the Hall of Flowering Canopy, the princess bowed to receive the commission; the ceremony was largely the same as that for investing the crown princess. In general, the emperor's paternal aunts were styled Grand Senior Princesses; his sisters, Senior Princesses; his daughters, Princesses; princes' daughters, Commandery Princesses; commandery princes' daughters, County Princesses; granddaughters, Commandery Ladies; great-granddaughters, County Ladies; and great-great-granddaughters, Township Ladies. Those below the rank of commandery princess received patent enfeoffment rather than formal commission investiture.
22
皇帝加元服儀
The Emperor's Coming-of-Age Ceremony
23
古者冠必於廟,天子四加。 魏以後始冠於正殿,又以天子至尊,禮惟一加,歷代因之。
In antiquity the capping ceremony had to be performed at the temple, and the Son of Heaven received four investitures. From the Wei dynasty onward capping was performed in the main hall; because the Son of Heaven stood supreme, the rite was reduced to a single investiture, and successive dynasties followed this practice.
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明洪武三年定制。 先期,太史院卜日,工部制冕服,翰林院撰祝文,禮部具儀注。 中書省承制,命某官攝太師,某官攝太尉。 既卜日,遣官告天地、宗廟。 前一日,內使監令陳御冠席於奉天殿正中,其南設冕服案及香案寶案。 侍儀司設太師、太尉起居位於文樓南,西向,設拜位於丹墀內道,設侍立位於殿上御席西,設盥洗位於丹陛西。 其百官及諸執事位次如大朝儀。 是日質明,鼓三嚴,百官入。 皇帝服空頂幘、雙童髻、雙玉導、絳紗袍,御輿以出。 侍衛警蹕奏如儀。 皇帝升座。 鳴鞭報時訖,通班贊各供事。 太師太尉先入,就拜位,百官皆入。 贊拜,樂作。 四拜,興,樂止。 引禮導太師先詣盥洗位,搢笏盥帨訖,出笏,由西陛升。 內贊接引至御席西,東向立。 引禮復導太尉盥搢訖,入立於太師南。 侍儀奏請加元服。 太尉詣皇帝前,少右,跪搢笏。 脫空頂幘以授內使,置於箱。 進櫛設纚畢,出笏,興,退立於西。 太師前,北向立。 內使監令取冕立於左,太師祝曰:「令月吉日,始加元服,壽考維祺,以介景福。」 內使監令捧冕,跪授太師。 太師搢笏,跪受冕。 加冠、加簪纓訖,出笏,興,退立於西。 御用監令奏請皇帝著袞服,皇帝興,著袞服。 侍儀奏請就御座,內贊贊進醴,樂作。 太師詣御前北面立,光祿卿奉酒進授太師,太師搢笏受酒,祝曰:「甘醴惟厚,嘉薦令芳。 承天之休,壽考不忘。」 祝訖,跪授內使。 內使跪受酒,捧進。 皇帝受,祭少許,啐酒訖,以虛盞授內使,樂止。 內使受盞降,授太師。 太師受盞興,以授光祿卿,光祿卿受盞退。 太師出笏,退,復位。 內贊導太師太尉出殿西門,樂作,降自西階。 引禮導至丹墀拜位,樂止。 贊拜,樂作。 太師太尉及文武官皆四拜,興,樂止。 三舞蹈,山呼,俯伏,興,樂作。 復四拜,樂止。 禮畢,皇帝興,鳴鞭,樂作。 入宮,樂止。 百官出。 皇帝改服通天冠、絳紗袍,拜謁太后,如正旦儀。 擇日謁太廟,與時祭同。 明日,百官公服稱賀,賜宴謹身殿。
Regulations were established in the third year of Hongwu. Beforehand the Directorate of Astronomy divined the auspicious day, the Ministry of Works made the coronet and robes, the Hanlin Academy drafted the prayer text, and the Ministry of Rites prepared the ceremonial regulations. The Secretariat received the imperial command and appointed such-and-such official to serve as acting Grand Preceptor and such-and-such official as acting Grand Commandant. Once the day was chosen, officials were dispatched to announce the event to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temple. On the eve of the ceremony, the director of inner attendants had the imperial capping mat placed in the center of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, with tables for the coronet and robes, incense, and the seal set to the south. The Directorate of Ceremonial Attendants placed standing positions for the Grand Preceptor and Grand Commandant south of the Literary Tower, facing west; obeisance positions on the inner path of the red courtyard; attendant positions west of the imperial mat on the hall; and ablution positions west of the red steps. The positions of officials and various functionaries followed the grand audience ceremony. At dawn that day, after the triple drum signal marking the third watch of vigil, officials entered. The emperor wore an open-topped headcloth, double child topknots, double jade hairpins, and a crimson gauze robe, and went out in the imperial palanquin. Guards cleared the way and reported according to the prescribed ceremony. The emperor ascended the throne. After the whip was cracked and the hour reported, the relay announcer called each official to take up his duty. The Grand Preceptor and Grand Commandant entered first and took their obeisance positions; then all officials entered. The announcer called for obeisance as music began. They performed four prostrations, then rose; the music stopped. The usher first guided the Grand Preceptor to the ablution place; he inserted his tablet, washed and dried his hands, removed the tablet, and ascended the western steps. The inner announcer guided him to the west of the imperial mat, where he stood facing east. The usher then guided the Grand Commandant through ablution and insertion of his tablet; when finished he entered and stood south of the Grand Preceptor. Ceremonial attendants reported a request for the capping investiture. The Grand Commandant went before the emperor, slightly to the right, knelt, and inserted his tablet. He removed the open-topped headcloth and handed it to an inner attendant, who placed it in a box. He presented the comb and set the cap strings; when finished he removed his tablet, rose, withdrew, and stood to the west. The Grand Preceptor stepped forward and stood facing north. The director of inner attendants took the coronet and stood to the left; the Grand Preceptor intoned the prayer: "On this auspicious day of this month, the first capping investiture begins; may you attain long life and good fortune, and thereby receive great blessing. The director of inner attendants held the coronet, knelt, and handed it to the Grand Preceptor. The Grand Preceptor inserted his tablet, knelt, and received the coronet. When the crowning and addition of hairpin and tassel were finished, he removed his tablet, rose, withdrew, and stood to the west. The director of the Imperial Workshop reported a request for the emperor to put on sacrificial robes; the emperor rose and donned them. Ceremonial attendants reported a request for him to take the imperial seat; the inner announcer called for the ritual wine to be presented as music began. The Grand Preceptor went before the throne and stood facing north; the Minister of Imperial Entertainments presented wine and handed it to him; the Grand Preceptor inserted his tablet, received the wine, and intoned the prayer: "Sweet wine indeed is rich; fine offerings are fragrant and good. Receiving Heaven's favor, may long life never be forgotten. When the prayer was finished, he knelt and handed the cup to an inner attendant. The inner attendant knelt to receive the wine and bore it forward in presentation. The emperor received it, offered a small libation, performed the ritual sip, handed the empty cup to the inner attendant, and the music stopped. The inner attendant received the cup, descended, and passed it to the Grand Preceptor. The Grand Preceptor received the cup and rose, then handed it to the Minister of Imperial Entertainments, who received it and withdrew. The Grand Preceptor removed his tablet, withdrew, and returned to his place. The inner announcer guided the Grand Preceptor and Grand Commandant out through the hall's western gate as music began; they descended the western steps. The usher guided them to the obeisance position on the red courtyard, and the music stopped. The announcer called for obeisance as music began. The Grand Preceptor, Grand Commandant, and civil and military officials all performed four prostrations and rose; the music stopped. They performed three ritual dance prostrations and the mountain shout, bowed low, and rose as music began. They performed four more prostrations, and the music stopped. When the ceremony was finished, the emperor rose; the whip was cracked, and music began. He entered the palace, and the music stopped. The officials withdrew. The emperor changed into the Heaven-Penetrating Coronet and crimson gauze robe and paid reverent visit to the Empress Dowager according to the New Year's Day ceremony. A day was chosen for a visit to the Grand Ancestral Temple, following the seasonal sacrifice ceremony. The next day officials in formal dress offered congratulations, and a banquet was granted at the Hall of Self-Cultivation.
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萬曆三年正月,帝擇日長髮,命禮部具儀。 大學士張居正等言:「禮重冠婚,皇上前在東宮已行冠禮,三加稱尊,執爵而酳。 巨禮既成,可略其細。 不必命部臣擬議。 第先期至奉先殿、弘孝殿、神霄殿以長髮告。 禮畢,詣兩宮皇太后,行五拜三叩頭禮,隨御乾清宮受賀。」 帝是之,遂著爲令。
In the first month of the third year of Wanli the emperor chose an auspicious day to let his hair grow long and ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare the ceremony. Grand Secretaries Zhang Juzheng and others said: "The rites attach great weight to capping and marriage. His Majesty, while still in the Eastern Palace, has already undergone the capping ceremony with three investitures conferring titles of honor and the goblet for palate-cleansing. Since the great ceremony is already complete, the minor details may be omitted. There is no need to order ministry officials to draft proposals. It is enough to go beforehand to the Hall of Veneration of Ancestors, the Hall of Grand Filiality, and the Hall of Divine Azure to announce that the hair is being let grow long. When that ceremony is finished, he should go to both palaces of the Empress Dowager and perform five bows and three kowtows, then proceed to the Palace of Heavenly Purity to receive congratulations. The emperor approved this and established it as a regulation.
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皇太子皇子冠禮
Crowning the Crown Prince and Imperial Sons
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《禮》曰:「冠於阼,以著代也。 醮於客位,三加彌尊,加有成也。 已冠而字之,成人之道也。」 「雖天子之元子,猶士也。」 其禮歷代用之。 明皇太子加元服,參用周文王、成王冠禮之年,近則十二,遠則十五。 嘉靖二十四年,穆宗在東宮,方十歲,欲行冠禮。 大學士嚴嵩、尚書費寀初皆難之,後遂阿旨以爲可行,而請稍簡煩儀,止取成禮。 帝以冠當具禮,至二十八年始行之。
The Rites says: "Capping at the eastern steps marks the transfer of succession. The libation at the guest position and three investitures, each more honored than the last, show that each stage brings the rite toward completion. After capping one bestows a courtesy name—this is the way of adulthood." Even the eldest son of the Son of Heaven is still treated like a common gentleman." This rite was used through successive dynasties. For the Ming crown prince's coming-of-age ceremony, the ages at which King Wen and King Cheng of Zhou underwent the capping rite were taken as reference: as early as twelve and as late as fifteen. In the twenty-fourth year of Jiajing, Muzong was in the Eastern Palace at just ten years of age and wished to undergo the capping ceremony. Grand Secretaries Yan Song and Minister Fei Cai initially opposed the idea, but later acceded to the imperial wish and deemed it feasible, requesting that the cumbersome ceremony be simplified and only the essential rite retained. The emperor held that the capping should be performed with the full ceremony, and it was not carried out until the twenty-eighth year.
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其儀洪武元年定。 前期,太史監卜日,工部置袞冕諸服,翰林院撰祝文。 中書省承制。 命某官爲賓,某官贊。 既卜日,遣官告天地宗廟。 前一日,陳御座香案於奉天殿,設皇太子次於殿東房,賓贊次於午門外。 質明,執事官設罍洗於東階,設皇太子冠席於殿上東南,西向,設醴席於西階上,南向,張帷幄於東序內,設褥席於帷中,又張帷於序外。 御用監陳服於帷內東,領北上,袞服九章、遠遊冠、絳紗袍、折上巾、緇纚犀簪在服南,櫛又在南。 司尊實醴於側尊,加勺冪,設於醴席之南。 設坫於尊東,置二爵。 進饌者實饌,設於尊北。 諸執事者各立其所。 鼓三嚴,文武官入。 皇帝服通天冠、絳紗袍,升座如常儀。 賓贊就位,樂作。 四拜興,樂止。 侍儀司跪承制,降至東階,詣賓前,稱有敕。 賓贊及在位官皆跪。 宣制曰:「皇太子冠,命卿等行禮。」 皆俯伏,興,四拜。 文武侍從班俱就殿內位,賓贊執事官詣東階下位。 東宮官及太常博士詣殿前東房,導皇太子入就冠席,二內侍夾侍,東宮官後從,樂作。 即席西南向,樂止。 賓贊以次詣罍洗,樂作。 搢笏,盥帨,出笏,樂止。 升自西階,執事者奉折上巾進,賓降一等受之。 右執項,左執前,進太子席前,北面祝畢,跪冠,樂作。 賓興,席南北面立。 贊冠者進席前,北面跪,正冠,興,立於賓後。 內侍跪進服,皇太子興,服訖,樂止。 賓揖皇太子復坐。 賓贊降,詣罍洗訖,贊進前跪,脫折上巾,置於箱,興,以授內侍。 執事者奉遠遊冠進,賓降二等受之,樂作,進冠如前儀。 贊進前,北面跪,簪結紘,內侍跪進服,樂止。 賓揖皇太子復坐。 又詣罍洗,贊脫冠,執事者奉袞冕進,賓降三等受之,樂作。 進冠結紘,內侍跪進服,如前儀,樂止。 太常博士導皇太子降自東階,樂作。 由西階升,即醴席,南向坐,樂止。 賓詣罍洗盥帨訖,贊冠者取爵、盥爵、帨爵,詣司尊所酌醴,授賓。 賓受爵,跪進於皇太子。 祝畢,皇太子搢圭,跪受爵,樂作。 飲訖,奠爵,執圭。 進饌者奉饌於前,皇太子搢圭,食訖,執圭,興,樂止。 徹爵與饌。 博士導皇太子降自西階,至殿東房,易朝服,詣丹墀拜位,北向。 東宮官屬各復拜位。 賓贊詣皇太子位稍東,西向。 賓少進字之辭曰:「奉敕字某。」 皇太子再拜,跪聽宣敕。 復再拜,興。 進御前跪奏曰:「臣不敏,敢不祗承。」 奏畢,復位。 侍立官並降殿復位,四拜禮畢,皇帝興。 內給事導皇太子入內殿,見皇后,如正旦儀。 明日謁廟,如時享禮。 又明日,百官朝服詣奉天殿稱賀,退易公服,詣東宮稱賀,錫宴。
The regulations were established in the first year of Hongwu. Beforehand the Directorate of Astronomy divined the auspicious day, the Ministry of Works prepared the sacrificial robes and other garments, and the Hanlin Academy drafted the prayer text. The Secretariat received the imperial command. Such-and-such official was appointed guest, and such-and-such official announcer. Once the day was chosen, officials were dispatched to announce the event to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temple. On the eve of the ceremony, the imperial throne and incense table were set out in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the crown prince's waiting place in the hall's eastern side room, and the guest and announcer waited outside the Meridian Gate. At dawn officiating officials set the ablution vessel at the eastern steps, the crown prince's capping mat in the hall's southeast facing west, and the ritual wine mat on the western steps facing south; canopies were spread in the eastern wing with a mat inside, and another canopy outside the wing. The Imperial Workshop laid out the garments on the east side inside the canopy, collars facing north: sacrificial robes with nine emblems, the Far-Traveling Coronet, crimson gauze robe, folded-up cap, black cap strings, and rhinoceros hairpin south of the robes, with the comb further south. The director of vessels filled the side urn with ritual wine, added the ladle and cover, and placed it south of the ritual wine mat. A spirit stand was placed east of the urn with two goblets upon it. The food presenter filled the food offering and placed it north of the urn. All functionaries took up their respective positions. After the triple drum signal marking the third watch of vigil, civil and military officials entered. The emperor wore the Heaven-Penetrating Coronet and crimson gauze robe and ascended the throne according to the usual ceremony. The guest and announcer took their positions as music began. They performed four prostrations and rose; the music stopped. The Directorate of Ceremonial Attendants knelt to receive the imperial command, descended to the eastern steps, went before the guest, and announced that an edict was forthcoming. The guest, announcer, and officials in attendance all knelt. The edict was proclaimed: "The crown prince is to be capped; you are commanded to perform the ceremony. All bowed low, rose, and performed four prostrations. The civil and military attendant ranks all took their places inside the hall, while the guest, announcer, and functionaries went to positions below the eastern steps. Eastern Palace officials and the Grand Master of Sacrifices went to the hall's eastern side room and guided the crown prince to the capping mat; two inner attendants flanked him with Eastern Palace officials following behind as music began. He took his seat facing southwest, and the music stopped. The guest and announcer proceeded in turn to the ablution vessel as music began. They inserted their tablets, washed and dried their hands, removed their tablets, and the music stopped. They ascended the western steps; a functionary presented the folded-up cap, and the guest descended one step to receive it. Holding the back with his right hand and the front with his left, he advanced before the crown prince's mat; facing north, he finished the prayer, knelt, and placed the cap as music began. The guest rose and stood north of the mat, facing south. The crown assistant advanced before the mat, knelt facing north, straightened the coronet, rose, and stood behind the guest. An inner attendant knelt and presented the robe; the crown prince rose, and when he had finished dressing, the music stopped. The guest bowed to the crown prince, who resumed his seat. The guest and announcer descended and went to the ablution vessel; when finished, the announcer advanced, knelt, removed the folded-up cap, placed it in a box, rose, and handed it to an inner attendant. A functionary presented the Far-Traveling Coronet; the guest descended two steps to receive it; music began, and he advanced to crown the prince as in the previous stage. The announcer advanced, knelt facing north, pinned and tied the cap strings; an inner attendant knelt and presented the robe, and the music stopped. The guest bowed to the crown prince, who resumed his seat. They again went to the ablution vessel; the announcer removed the coronet; a functionary presented the sacrificial coronet and robes; the guest descended three steps to receive them as music began. He advanced to crown him and tie the cap strings; an inner attendant knelt and presented the robe as in the previous stage, and the music stopped. The Grand Master of Sacrifices guided the crown prince down the eastern steps as music began. He ascended the western steps, took his place at the ritual wine mat facing south, and the music stopped. The guest went to the ablution vessel and finished washing and drying his hands; the crown assistant took the goblet, washed and dried it, went to the director of vessels to pour ritual wine, and handed it to the guest. The guest received the goblet and knelt to present it to the crown prince. When the prayer was finished, the crown prince inserted his scepter, knelt to receive the goblet, and music began. When he had finished drinking, he set down the goblet and held the scepter. The food presenter presented food before him; the crown prince inserted his scepter; when he had finished eating, he held the scepter and rose, and the music stopped. The goblet and food were removed. The master guided the crown prince down the western steps to the hall's eastern side room, where he changed into court dress, then went to the obeisance position on the red courtyard facing north. Eastern Palace staff each returned to their obeisance positions. The guest and announcer went to a position slightly east of the crown prince, facing west. The guest slightly advanced and spoke the words for bestowing the courtesy name: "By imperial command, the courtesy name is So-and-so. The crown prince performed two prostrations, knelt, and listened to the imperial command. He performed two more prostrations and rose. He advanced before the throne, knelt, and reported: "Your subject is unworthy; how dare I not respectfully accept. When the report was finished, he returned to his place. Attendant officials all descended from the hall and returned to their places; after four prostrations the ceremony was complete, and the emperor rose. An inner chamberlain guided the crown prince into the inner hall to see the empress according to the New Year's Day ceremony. The next day he visited the ancestral temple according to the seasonal offering ceremony. On the following day officials in court dress went to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to offer congratulations; they then withdrew, changed into formal dress, went to the Eastern Palace to offer congratulations, and a banquet was granted.
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成化十四年,續定皇太子冠禮。 先日,設幕次於文華殿東序,設節案、香案、冠席、醴席、盥洗、司尊所等,具如儀。 內侍張帷幄,陳袍服、皮弁服、袞服、圭帶、舄、翼善冠、皮弁、九旒冕。 質明,皇帝御奉天殿傳制,遣官持節。 皇太子迎於文華殿門外,捧入,置於案,退。 禮部官導皇太子詣香案前,樂作。 四拜,樂止。 行初加冠禮。 內侍奉翼善冠,賓祝曰:「吉月令辰,乃加元服。 懋敬是承,永介景福。」 樂作。 賓跪進冠,興,樂止。 禮部官啓易服,皇太子入幄,易袍服出,啓復坐。 行再加冠禮。 內侍奉皮弁,賓祝曰:「冠禮申舉,以成令德。 敬慎威儀,惟民之式。」 冠畢,入幄,易皮弁服舄出,啓復坐。 行三加冠禮。 內侍奉冕旒,賓祝曰:「章服鹹加,飭敬有虔。 永固皇圖,於千萬年。」 冠畢,入幄,易袞服出,啓復坐。 行醮禮,皇太子詣醴席,樂作。 即坐,樂止。 光祿寺官舉醴案,樂作。 贊酌醴授賓,賓執爵詣席前,樂止。 賓祝曰:「旨酒孔馨,加薦再芳。 受天之福,萬世其昌。」 賓跪進爵,皇太子搢圭,受爵,置於案。 教坊司作樂,奏《喜千春之曲》。 次啓進酒,皇太子舉爵飲訖,奠爵於案,樂止。 光祿寺官進饌,樂作。 至案,樂止。 饌訖,出圭,徹案,賓贊復位。 鳴贊贊受敕戒。 皇太子降階,樂作。 至拜位,樂止。 宣敕戒官詣皇太子前稍東,西向立,曰:「有制」。 皇太子跪,宣敕戒曰:「孝事君親,友于兄弟。 親賢愛民,居由仁義。 毋怠毋驕,茂隆萬世。」 樂作。 四拜興,樂止。 持節官捧節出,樂作。 皇太子送節至殿門外,還東序。 內侍導還宮,樂止。 賓贊等官持節覆命,餘如舊儀。 是日,皇太子詣皇太后、皇帝、皇后前謝,俱行五拜三叩頭禮,用樂。 明日,皇帝及皇太子受羣臣賀,如儀。
In the fourteenth year of Chenghua the crown prince capping ceremony was revised. On the previous day a tent was set up in the eastern wing of the Hall of Literary Glory, with the tally table, incense table, capping mat, ritual wine mat, ablution place, director of vessels station, and the like all prepared according to the prescribed rite. Inner attendants spread canopies and laid out robe garments, leather-cap attire, sacrificial robes, scepter and belt, shoes, the Good-Wing Coronet, leather cap, and nine-tassel coronet. At dawn the emperor took his place in the Hall of Supreme Harmony to transmit the edict and dispatched an official bearing the tally. The crown prince received the tally outside the gate of the Hall of Literary Glory, bore it in, placed it on the table, and withdrew. A Ministry of Rites official guided the crown prince before the incense table as music began. He performed four prostrations, and the music stopped. The first capping investiture was performed. Inner attendants presented the Good-Wing Coronet, and the guest intoned the prayer: "On this auspicious day and hour, the capping investiture begins. May you bear reverence upon you and ever receive Heaven's abundant blessing. Music began. The guest knelt and presented the coronet, then rose as the music stopped. A Ministry of Rites official reported a request for a change of garments; the crown prince entered the canopy, changed into robe garments, came out, reported back, and resumed his seat. The second capping investiture was performed. Inner attendants presented the leather cap, and the guest intoned the prayer: "The capping rite is now solemnly performed, to complete your excellent virtue. Be reverent and cautious in dignity and bearing, a model for the people. When the crowning was finished, he entered the canopy, changed into leather-cap attire and shoes, came out, reported back, and resumed his seat. The third capping investiture was performed. Inner attendants presented the coronet with tassels, and the guest intoned the prayer: "Regalia and robes are all now bestowed; perform the rite with adorned reverence and devotion. May the royal design endure for ten thousand years. When the crowning was finished, he entered the canopy, changed into sacrificial robes, came out, reported back, and resumed his seat. The libation rite was performed; the crown prince proceeded to the ritual wine mat as music began. He took his seat, and the music stopped. An official of the Directorate of Imperial Banquets presented the ritual wine table as music began. The announcer called for the ritual wine to be poured and handed to the guest; the guest took the goblet and went before the mat as the music stopped. The guest intoned the prayer: "The fine wine is richly fragrant; offered again with redoubled fragrance. Receive Heaven's blessing; may your line flourish for ten thousand generations. The guest knelt and presented the goblet; the crown prince inserted his scepter, received the goblet, and set it on the table. The Directorate of Music performed, playing "The Melody of Joyful Thousand Springs." Next a report was made to present wine; the crown prince raised the goblet, drank it dry, placed the goblet on the table, and the music stopped. An official of the Directorate of Imperial Banquets presented the food as music began. When he reached the table, the music stopped. When he had finished the food, he removed his scepter; the table was cleared; and the guest and announcer returned to their positions. The chief announcer called for the admonitory command to be received. The crown prince descended the steps as music began. When he reached the obeisance position, the music stopped. The official charged with proclaiming the admonitory command went to a position slightly east of the crown prince, stood facing west, and said: "There is an imperial command." The crown prince knelt as the admonitory command was proclaimed: "Serve your sovereign and parents with filial piety; be friendly to your brothers. Cherish the worthy and love the people; let your conduct be governed by benevolence and righteousness. Be neither slack nor arrogant; may your flourishing endure for ten thousand generations. Music began. He performed four prostrations and rose as the music stopped. The official bearing the tally carried the tally out as music began. The crown prince escorted the tally to outside the hall gate and returned to the eastern wing. Inner attendants guided him back to the palace, and the music stopped. The guest, announcer, and other officials bore the tally back to report completion; the remainder followed the established rite. That same day the crown prince went before the empress dowager, emperor, and empress to offer thanks; before each he performed five bows and three kowtows, with music. The next day the emperor and crown prince received congratulations from the assembled officials according to the prescribed ceremony.
30
皇子冠禮。 初加,進網巾,祝詞曰:「茲惟吉日,冠以成人。 克敦孝友,福祿來駢。」 再加,進翼善冠,祝詞曰:「冠禮斯舉,賓由成德。 敬慎威儀,維民之則。」 三加,進袞冕,祝詞曰:「冠至三加,命服用章。 敬神事上,永固籓邦。」 酌醴祝曰:「旨酒嘉薦,載芬載芳。 受茲景福,百世其昌。」 敕戒詞曰:「孝於君親,友于兄弟。 親賢愛民,率由禮義。 毋溢毋驕,永保富貴。」 其陳設執事及傳制謁謝,並如皇太子儀。 初,皇子冠之明日,百官稱賀畢,詣王府行禮。 成化二十三年,皇子冠之次日,各詣奉天門東廡序坐,百官常服四拜。
The Capping Rite of Imperial Sons. At the first investiture the net cap was presented; the prayer read: "On this auspicious day the crown marks your passage into manhood. May you be steadfast in filial piety and brotherly affection; may blessings and emolument come in abundance. At the second investiture the Good-Wing Coronet was presented; the prayer read: "The capping rite is now performed; through this ritual complete your virtue. Be reverent and cautious in dignity and bearing, a standard for the people. At the third investiture the sacrificial coronet and robes were presented; the prayer read: "With the crown at the third investiture, rank and regalia take their proper emblems. Revere the spirits and serve your sovereign; may your princely domain endure forever. When pouring the ritual wine the prayer read: "Fine wine offered in excellent sacrifice, redolent with fragrance. Receive this great blessing; may your line flourish for a hundred generations. The admonitory command read: "Be filial toward your sovereign and parents; be friendly to your brothers. Cherish the worthy and love the people; let your conduct be guided by ritual and righteousness. Do not overstep your bounds or grow arrogant; may you forever preserve wealth and honor. The arrangements, functionaries, transmission of edicts, and presentation of thanks all followed the crown prince ceremony. Originally, on the day following an imperial son's capping, after officials had offered their congratulations they went to the princely residence to perform the ceremony. In the twenty-third year of Chenghua, on the day following an imperial son's capping, each went to the eastern corridor of the Gate of Receiving Heaven and took seats in order; officials in ordinary dress performed four prostrations.
31
萬曆二十九年,禮部尚書馮琦言:「舊制皇太子冠,設冠席、醴席於文華殿內。 今文華殿爲皇上臨御遣官之地,則皇太子冠醴席,應移於殿之東序。 又親王冠,舊設席於皇極門之東廡。 今皇太子移席於殿東序,則親王應移席於殿西序。」 從之。
In the twenty-ninth year of Wanli, Minister of Rites Feng Qi stated: "Under the old regulations, at the crown prince's capping the capping mat and ritual wine mat were set inside the Hall of Literary Glory. Now that the Hall of Literary Glory is where His Majesty takes his seat to dispatch officials, the crown prince's capping and ritual wine mats should be moved to the hall's eastern wing. For the capping of princes of the blood, mats were formerly set in the eastern corridor of the Gate of Imperial Supremacy. Now that the crown prince's mats are moved to the hall's eastern wing, princes of the blood should move their mats to the hall's western wing. This proposal was approved.
32
永樂九年十一月,命皇太子嫡長子爲皇太孫,冠於華蓋殿,其儀與皇太子同。
In the eleventh month of the ninth year of Yongle, the crown prince's eldest legitimate son was appointed imperial grand heir and capped in the Hall of Flowering Canopy; the ceremony was the same as for the crown prince.
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品官冠禮
The Capping Rite of Ranked Officials
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古者男子二十而冠,大夫五十而後爵,故無大夫冠禮。 唐制,三加,一品之子以袞冕,逮九品之子以爵弁,皆仿士禮而增益之。
In antiquity men underwent the capping ceremony at twenty, and grand officers received nobility only after fifty; accordingly there was no capping rite for grand officers. Under Tang regulations there were three investitures: sons of first-rank officials wore sacrificial coronet and robes, while those of ninth rank and above wore the noble cap; all followed the scholar's rite with additions.
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明洪武元年定制,始加緇布冠,再加進賢冠,三加爵弁。 其儀,前期擇日,主者告於家廟,乃筮賓。 前二日,戒賓及贊冠者。 明日,設次於大門外之右,南向。 至日,夙興,設洗於阼階東南,東西當東霤,六品以下當東榮,南北以堂深。 罍水在洗東,加勺冪。 篚在洗西南。 肆實巾一於篚,加冪。 設席於東房西牖下,陳服於席東,領北上。 莞筵四,加藻席四,在南。 側尊甒醴在服北,加勺冪,設坫在尊北。 四品以下,設篚無坫,饌陳於坫北。 設先於東房,近北。 罍在洗西,篚在洗東北,肆實以巾。 質明,賓贊至門外,掌次者引之次。 賓贊公服,諸行事者各服其服,就位。 冠各一笥,人執之,侍於西階之西,東面北上。 設主席於阼階上,西面; 設賓席於西階,東面; 冠者席於主者東北,西面。 主者公服立於阼階下,當東序,西面。 諸親公服立於罍洗東南,西面北上。 尊者在別室。 儐者公服立於門內道東,北面。 冠者雙童髻、空頂幘、雙玉導、彩褶、錦紳、烏皮履,六品以下,導不以玉,立於房中,南面。 主者、贊冠者公服立於房內戶東,西面。 賓及贊冠者出次,立於門西,東面北上。 儐者進受命,出立門東,西面,曰:「敢請事。」 賓曰:「某子有嘉禮,命某執事。」 儐者入告,主者迎賓於大門外之東,西面,再拜,賓答拜。 主者揖贊冠者,贊冠者報揖。 又揖賓,賓報揖。 主者入,賓贊次入,及內門至階。 主者請升,賓三辭,乃升。 主者自阼階,立於席東,西向; 賓自西階,立於席西,東向。 賓贊冠者及庭,盥於洗,升自西階,入於東房,立於主贊冠者之南,西面。 主贊冠者導冠者立於房外之西,南面。 賓贊冠者取纚櫛簪,跪奠於筵南端,退立於席北,少東,西面。 賓揖冠者,冠者進升席,西向坐。 賓贊冠者進筵前,東西跪,脫雙童髻,櫛畢,設纚,興,復位立。 賓降至罍,洗盥訖,詣西階。 主者立於席後西面,賓立於西階上,東面。 執緇布冠者升,賓降一等受之,右執項,左執前,進冠者筵前,東向立。 祝用士禮祝詞,祝畢,跪冠。 興,復位。 賓贊冠者進筵前,東面跪,結纓,興,復位。 冠者興,賓揖之適房,賓主皆坐。 冠者衣青衣素裳出戶西,南面立,賓主俱興。 賓揖冠者,冠者進升席,西向坐。 賓贊冠者跪,脫緇布冠,櫛畢,設纚。 賓進進賢冠,立祝,如初加禮。 祝畢,跪冠,興,復位。 賓贊冠者跪,脫進賢冠,櫛畢,設纚。 賓進爵弁,立祝,如再加禮。 賓贊冠者,設簪結纓如前。 冠者適房,著爵弁之服出。 主贊冠者徹纚櫛及筵,入於房。 又設筵於室戶西,南向。 冠者出房戶西,南面立。 主贊洗觶於房,酌醴出,南面立。 賓揖冠者就筵西,南面立。 賓受醴,進冠者筵前,北面立。 祝畢,冠者拜受觶,賓復西階上答拜。 執饌者進饌於筵,冠者左執觶,右取脯,祭於籩豆間。 贊者取胏一以授冠者,奠觶於薦西以祭。 冠者坐取觶,祭醴,奠觶,再拜,賓答拜。 冠者執觶興,賓主俱坐。 冠者升筵,跪奠觶於薦東。 興,進,北面跪取脯,降自西階。 入見母,進奠脯於席前。 退,再拜出。 母不在,則使人受脯於西階下。
Regulations established in the first year of Hongwu specified: first investiture with the black cloth cap, second with the Scholar-Aspiring Coronet, and third with the noble cap. As for the ceremony, beforehand an auspicious day was chosen; the host reported to the family temple, then divined for a guest. Two days before, the guest and crown announcer were notified. The next day a tent was set up to the right outside the main gate, facing south. On the day itself, rising early, the ablution place was set southeast of the eastern steps—east-west aligned with the eastern eaves for fifth rank and above, aligned with the eastern rafter for sixth rank and below, north-south according to the depth of the hall. The water jar stood east of the ablution place, with ladle and cover placed upon it. The basket was placed southwest of the ablution place. One cloth for drying the hands was placed in the basket, and a cover was set on top. A mat was set below the western window of the eastern side room, with garments laid out east of the mat, collars facing north. Four rush mats with four embroidered mats placed on top, to the south. A side vessel holding black millet ritual wine stood north of the garments, with ladle and cover set upon it; an offering stand was placed north of the vessel. For fourth rank and below, a basket was set but no offering stand; food was displayed to the north. The ancestral tablet was set in the eastern side room, near the north wall. The water jar stood west of the ablution place, the basket northeast of it, with the drying cloth placed inside. At dawn the guest and announcer arrived outside the gate; the tent master led them to the tent. The guest and announcer wore formal court dress; each functionary wore his designated garments and took his position. Each coronet in its own box was held by an attendant and placed west of the western steps, standing facing east from north to south. The host's mat was placed on the eastern steps, facing west; the guest's mat on the western steps, facing east; and the crown-wearer's mat northeast of the host, facing west. The host, in formal court dress, stood below the eastern steps at the eastern wing, facing west. Relatives in formal court dress stood southeast of the water jar and ablution place, facing west from north to south. The honoree waited in a separate room. The usher, in formal court dress, stood east of the path inside the gate, facing north. The crown-wearer wore double child topknots, an open-topped headcloth, double jade hairpins, a colored pleated robe, brocade sash, and black leather shoes—for sixth rank and below, hairpins without jade—standing in the side room facing south. The host and crown announcer, in formal court dress, stood east of the door inside the room, facing west. The guest and crown announcer emerged from the tent and stood west of the gate, facing east from north to south. The usher advanced to receive instructions, went out, and stood east of the gate facing west, saying: "I venture to inquire as to the business at hand. The guest replied: "Such-and-such's son has an auspicious ceremony; he has commanded me to officiate. The usher entered to report; the host went out to receive the guest east of the main gate, faced west, and performed two bows; the guest returned the bows. The host bowed with clasped hands to the crown announcer, who returned the bow. He then bowed to the guest, who returned the bow. The host entered; the guest and announcer followed in order, proceeding to the inner gate and the steps. The host invited him to ascend; the guest declined three times, then ascended. The host ascended the eastern steps and stood east of the mat, facing west; the guest ascended the western steps and stood west of the mat, facing east. The guest's crown announcer entered the courtyard, washed at the ablution place, ascended the western steps, entered the eastern side room, and stood south of the host's crown announcer, facing west. The host's crown announcer led the crown-wearer to stand west of the room's exterior, facing south. The guest's crown announcer took the binding cord, comb, and hairpin, knelt and placed them at the south end of the ceremonial mat, then withdrew to stand north of the seat mat, slightly to the east, facing west. The guest bowed with clasped hands to the crown-wearer, who advanced, ascended the seat mat, and sat facing west. The guest's crown announcer went before the ceremonial mat and knelt facing east and west, removed the double child topknots, finished combing, set the binding cord, rose, and returned to his standing position. The guest descended to the water jar, finished washing at the ablution place, and proceeded to the western steps. The host stood behind the seat mat facing west, while the guest stood atop the western steps facing east. The bearer of the black cloth cap ascended; the guest descended one step to receive it, holding the nape with his right hand and the front with his left, then advanced to before the crown-wearer's ceremonial mat and stood facing east. He intoned the prayer using the scholar's rite wording; when the prayer was finished, he knelt and placed the cap upon him. He rose and returned to his position. The guest's crown announcer went before the ceremonial mat, knelt facing east, tied the cap tassels, rose, and returned to his position. The crown-wearer rose; the guest bowed with clasped hands and directed him to the side room; guest and host both took their seats. The crown-wearer, dressed in a green upper garment and plain lower skirt, came out west of the door and stood facing south; guest and host both rose. The guest bowed with clasped hands to the crown-wearer, who advanced, ascended the seat mat, and sat facing west. The guest's crown announcer knelt, removed the black cloth cap, finished combing his hair, and set the binding cord. The guest advanced with the Scholar-Aspiring Coronet, stood and intoned the prayer, following the procedure of the first investiture. When the prayer was finished, he knelt and placed the cap upon him, rose, and returned to his position. The guest's crown announcer knelt, removed the Scholar-Aspiring Coronet, finished combing his hair, and set the binding cord. The guest advanced with the noble cap, stood and intoned the prayer, following the procedure of the second investiture. The guest's crown announcer set the hairpin and tied the cap tassels, as before. The crown-wearer went to the side room, donned the noble-cap attire, and came out. The host's crown announcer cleared away the binding cord, comb, and ceremonial mat, and entered the side room. Another ceremonial mat was set west of the chamber door, facing south. The crown-wearer came out west of the side-room door and stood facing south. The host's crown announcer washed the single-handled cup in the side room, poured the ritual wine, came out, and stood facing south. The guest bowed with clasped hands, directing the crown-wearer to approach west of the ceremonial mat and stand facing south. The guest received the ritual wine, advanced to before the crown-wearer's ceremonial mat, and stood facing north. When the prayer was finished, the crown-wearer bowed and received the cup; the guest returned to the top of the western steps and returned the bow. The food bearer presented food at the ceremonial mat; the crown-wearer held the cup in his left hand, took cured meat with his right, and made an offering between the basket and stem-cup. The announcer took one piece of meat with bone and handed it to the crown-wearer, who set the cup west of the offering mat to make an offering. The crown-wearer sat, took the cup, offered the ritual wine, set down the cup, and performed two bows; the guest returned the bows. The crown-wearer rose holding the cup; guest and host both took their seats. The crown-wearer ascended the ceremonial mat, knelt, and set the cup east of the offering mat. He rose, advanced, knelt facing north and took the cured meat, then descended the western steps. He entered to see his mother, advanced, and set the cured meat before her mat. He withdrew, performed two bows, and went out. If the mother was not present, someone was sent to receive the cured meat below the western steps.
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初,冠者入見母,賓主俱興。 賓降,當西序東面立,主者降,當東序西面立。 冠者出,立於西階東,南面。 賓少進字之,辭同士禮。 冠者再拜,跪曰:「某不敏,夙夜祗承。」 賓出,主者送於內門外,西向,請禮從者。 賓就次,主者入。
At the outset, when the crown-wearer entered to see his mother, guest and host both rose. The guest descended and stood at the western wing facing east; the host descended and stood at the eastern wing facing west. The crown-wearer came out and stood east of the western steps, facing south. The guest advanced slightly and bestowed the style name, using the same wording as in the scholar's rite. The crown-wearer performed two bows, knelt, and said: "I, So-and-so, am unworthy; day and night I shall reverently uphold this charge. The guest departed; the host escorted him outside the inner gate, faced west, and invited courtesy for his attendants. The guest went to his tent; the host entered.
37
初,賓出,冠者東面見諸親,諸親拜之,冠者答拜。 冠者西向拜賓贊,賓贊亦答拜。 見諸尊於別室,亦如之。 賓主既釋服,入醴席,一獻訖,賓與衆賓出次,立於門東,西面。 主者出揖賓,賓報揖。 主者先入,賓及衆賓從之。 至階,賓立於西階上,主者立於東階上,衆賓立於西階下。 主者授幣篚於賓贊,復位,還阼階上,北面拜送。 賓贊降自西階,主者送賓於大門外,西面,再拜而入。 孤子則諸父諸兄戒賓。 冠之日,主者紒而迎賓,冠於阼階下,其儀亦如之。 明日見廟,冠者朝服入南門中庭道西,北面再拜出。
At the outset, when the guest departed, the crown-wearer faced east to greet his relatives; the relatives bowed to him, and he returned the bows. The crown-wearer faced west and bowed to the guest's crown announcer, who returned the bow. He received the honorees in the separate room in the same manner. After guest and host had changed out of ceremonial dress, they entered the ritual-wine mat; when one round of offering was complete, the guest and attendant guests went out to the tent and stood east of the gate, facing west. The host went out and bowed with clasped hands to the guest, who returned the bow. The host entered first; the guest and attendant guests followed. Reaching the steps, the guest stood atop the western steps, the host atop the eastern steps, and the attendant guests below the western steps. The host handed the basket of gifts to the guest's crown announcer, returned to his position, went back atop the eastern steps, and bowed facing north in farewell. The guest's crown announcer descended the western steps; the host escorted the guest outside the main gate, faced west, performed two bows, and reentered. For an orphan, paternal uncles and elder brothers notified the guest in the host's stead. On the day of capping, the host with bound hair received the guest; the capping took place below the eastern steps, and the procedure was the same. The next day he visited the ancestral temple: the crown-wearer, in court dress, entered the southern gate to the west of the central courtyard path, faced north, performed two bows, and departed.
38
庶人冠禮
The Capping Rite for Commoners
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古冠禮之存者惟士禮,後世皆推而用之。 明洪武元年詔定冠禮,下及庶人,纖悉備具。 然自品官而降,鮮有能行之者,載之禮官,備故事而已。
Of the ancient capping rites, only the scholar's rite survives; later ages all extended and applied it. In the first year of Hongwu, the Ming court issued an edict fixing the capping rite, extending it down to commoners, with every detail fully specified. Yet from ranked officials downward, few could actually perform it; it was recorded in the rite offices and served merely as precedent.
40
凡男子年十五至二十,皆可冠。 將冠,筮日,筮賓,戒賓,俱如品官儀。 是日,夙興,張幄爲房於廳事東,皆盛服。 設盥於阼階下東南,陳服於房中西牖下。 席二在南,酒在服北次。 襆頭巾帽,各盛以盤,三人捧之,立於堂下西階之西,南向東上。 主人立於阼階下,諸親立於盥東,儐者立於門外以俟賓。 冠者雙紒袍,勒帛素履待於房。 賓至,主人出迎,揖而入。 坐定,冠者出於房,執事者請行事。 賓之贊者取櫛總篦幧頭,置於席南端。 賓揖冠者,即席西向坐。 贊者爲之櫛,合紒施總,加幧頭。 賓降,主亦降,立於阼階下。 賓盥,主人揖讓,升自西階,復位。 執事者進巾,賓降一等受之,詣冠者席前,東向。 祝詞同品官。 祝訖,跪著巾。 興,復位。 冠者興,賓揖之入房,易服,深衣大帶,出就冠席。 賓盥如初。 執事者進帽,賓降二等受之。 進祝,跪,冠訖,興,復位。 揖冠者入房,易服,襴衫要帶,出就冠席。 賓盥如初。 執事者進襆頭,賓降三等受之。 進祝,跪,冠訖,興,復位。 揖冠者入房,易公服出。 執事者徹冠席,設醴席於西階,南向。 贊者酌醴出房,立於冠者之南。 賓揖冠者即席,西向立。 賓受醴,詣席前北面祝。 冠者拜受,賓答拜。 執事者進饌,冠者即席坐,飲食訖,再拜。 賓答拜。 冠者離席,立於西階之東,南向。 賓字之,如品官詞。 冠者拜,賓答拜。 冠者拜父母,父母爲之起。 拜諸父之尊者,遂出見鄉先生及父之執友。 先生執友皆答拜。 賓退,主人請禮賓,固請,乃入,設酒饌。 賓退,主人酬賓贊,侑以幣。 禮畢,主人以冠者見於祠堂,再拜出。
Any man between the ages of fifteen and twenty could undergo the capping ceremony. When about to cap, divining the day, divining the guest, and notifying the guest—all followed the procedure for ranked officials. On that day, rising early, a canopy was hung as a side room east of the reception hall; all wore full ceremonial dress. Hand-washing vessels were set southeast below the eastern steps; garments were laid out below the western window of the side room. Two mats were placed to the south; wine was set next, north of the garments. The futou, kerchief, and cap—each placed on a tray and held by one of three attendants—stood west of the western steps below the hall, facing south from east to north. The host stood below the eastern steps; relatives stood east of the hand-washing place; the usher stood outside the gate awaiting the guest. The crown-wearer, with hair bound in double coils and wearing a robe girded with a plain sash and plain shoes, waited in the side room. When the guest arrived, the host went out to receive him, bowed with clasped hands, and entered together. When all were seated, the crown-wearer came out from the side room, and the functionary requested that the rite proceed. The guest's announcer took the comb, hair-binding, hairpin, and headcloth, and placed them at the south end of the seat mat. The guest bowed with clasped hands to the crown-wearer, who immediately took the seat mat and sat facing west. The announcer combed his hair, gathered and bound it, applied the hair-binding, and placed the headcloth upon him. The guest descended; the host also descended; both stood below the eastern steps. The guest washed; the host bowed with clasped hands in deference; the guest ascended the western steps and returned to his position. The functionary presented the kerchief; the guest descended one step to receive it, then went before the crown-wearer's seat mat facing east. The prayer wording was the same as for ranked officials. When the prayer was finished, he knelt and placed the kerchief upon him. He rose and returned to his position. The crown-wearer rose; the guest bowed with clasped hands and directed him into the side room; he changed into a deep robe and great sash, came out, and approached the capping seat. The guest washed as before. The functionary presented the cap; the guest descended two steps to receive it. He advanced, intoned the prayer, knelt, completed the capping, rose, and returned to his position. He bowed with clasped hands, directing the crown-wearer into the side room; the crown-wearer changed into a round-collared robe with sash, came out, and approached the capping seat. The guest washed as before. The functionary presented the futou; the guest descended three steps to receive it. He advanced, intoned the prayer, knelt, completed the capping, rose, and returned to his position. He bowed with clasped hands, directing the crown-wearer into the side room; the crown-wearer changed into formal dress and came out. The functionary cleared the capping seat and set the ritual-wine mat on the western steps, facing south. The announcer poured the ritual wine, came out from the side room, and stood south of the crown-wearer. The guest bowed with clasped hands, directing the crown-wearer to approach the seat and stand facing west. The guest received the ritual wine, went before the mat facing north, and intoned the prayer. The crown-wearer bowed and received it; the guest returned the bow. The functionary presented food; the crown-wearer took his seat, finished eating and drinking, and performed two bows. The guest returned the bows. The crown-wearer left his seat and stood east of the western steps, facing south. The guest bestowed the style name, using the wording prescribed for ranked officials. The crown-wearer bowed; the guest returned the bow. The crown-wearer bowed to his parents; his parents rose in acknowledgment. He bowed to the senior paternal uncles, then went out to pay his respects to the village elder and his father's close friends. The teacher and the father's friends all returned the bows in reply. When the guest withdrew, the host invited the ritual officiant to stay for a meal; after repeated urging the officiant entered, and wine and food were set out. When the guest withdrew, the host rewarded the guest's announcer with silks as a supplementary gift. When the ceremony was finished, the host presented the newly capped youth at the ancestral shrine; the youth performed two prostrations and withdrew.