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卷五十四 志第三十 禮八

Volume 54 Treatises 30: Rites 8

Chapter 54 of 明史 · History of Ming
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Chapter 54
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Part Two: Auspicious Rites
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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
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Rites for Investing the Empress
4
殿 沿
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
殿退西 使 西 使 使西
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
簿 殿 使 殿 殿 使 殿西 使 使 使使使 退 使使使 退 使 使 使使 殿 使 使使 使使使使 使 使使使 使 使 西 使 使 使 使使 使退殿西使西 使 退 殿殿 退 殿
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
殿 西 輿輿 使宿 殿
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
殿殿 殿 殿 殿
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.
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Rites for Investing a Consort
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殿 殿 殿 使 殿 殿
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.
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Rites for Investing the Crown Prince and Crown Princess
12
使
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.
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殿 殿 殿 殿 殿 殿 殿殿 殿 殿 殿西 西
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.
14
殿 殿 使 殿
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.
15
殿 殿使 殿
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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Investing Princes and Princess Consorts
17
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.
18
殿 殿 殿 使 殿 使 使 西 殿 殿 殿 殿 殿
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.
19
殿使
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.
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Investing Imperial Princesses
21
使 使 使殿
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
The Emperor's Coming-of-Age Ceremony
23
殿
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.
24
使殿 西殿西西 輿 西 西 使 退西 使 使 退西 祿 使 使 使 使 祿祿退 退 殿西西 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.
25
殿殿殿
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.
26
Crowning the Crown Prince and Imperial Sons
27
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.
28
殿殿 殿西西 殿 殿 西 西 西 西殿 西 殿 殿 殿退
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.
29
殿 殿 殿退 祿 祿 西 殿
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
祿
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
殿 殿殿 殿殿西
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
殿
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.
33
The Capping Rite of Ranked Officials
34
仿
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.
35
西 西 西 西 西西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西西 西西 西 退西 西 西 西 西西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 西 退 使西
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.
36
西西 西 西
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
西 西 西西 西西 西
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
The Capping Rite for Commoners
39
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.
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西 西西 西 西 西 西 西 退 退
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.
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