Volume 55 Treatises 31: Rites 9

嘉禮三

Part Three: Auspicious Rites

天子納后儀皇太子納妃儀親王婚禮公主婚禮品官婚禮庶人婚禮皇帝視學儀經筵日講東宮出閣講學儀諸王讀書儀

Imperial Wedding Rites for Installing the Empress; Crown Prince Wedding Rites; Princely Wedding Rites; Imperial Princess Wedding Rites; Wedding Rites for Ranked Officials; Commoners' Wedding Rites; The Emperor Visits the Imperial Academy; The Classics Lectern; Daily Lectures; Eastern Palace Emergence-from-Seclusion Study Rites; Princely Study Rites

天子納后儀

Imperial Wedding Rites for Installing the Empress

凡納采問名，前期擇日，遣官告天地宗廟。至期，設御座、制案、節案、鹵簿、彩輿、中和大樂如儀。禮部陳禮物于丹陛上及文樓下。質明，皇帝冕服升座，百官朝服行禮訖，各就位。正副使朝服四拜，執事舉制案、節案，由中門出，禮物隨之，俱置丹陛中道。傳制官宣制曰：「茲選某官某女爲皇后，命卿等持節行納采問名禮。」正副使四拜，駕興。舉制、節案由奉天門中門出。正副使取節及制書置彩輿中，儀仗大樂前導，出大明門。釋朝服，乘馬行，詣皇后第。第中設使者幕次於大門外左，南向，設香案於正堂，設制、節案於南，別設案於北。使者至，引禮導入幕次，執事官陳禮物於正堂。使者出次，奉制書於案。禮官先入，立於東；主婚朝服出，立於西。禮官曰：「奉制建后，遣使行納采問名禮。」引主婚者出迎。使者捧制書及節，主婚者隨至堂，置制書及節於案。正副使分立案左右。主婚者四拜，詣案前跪。正使取納采制，宣曰：「朕承天序，欽紹鴻圖。經國之道，正家爲本。夫婦之倫，乾坤之義，實以相宗祀之敬，協奉養之誠，所資惟重。祗遵聖母皇太后命，遣使持節，以禮採擇。」宣訖，授主婚者。主婚者授執事者，置於北案上稍左。副使取問名制，宣曰：「朕惟夫婦之道，大倫之本。正位乎內，必資名家。特遣使持節以禮問名，尚佇來聞。」宣訖，授如前，置案上稍右。主婚者俯伏，興。執事舉表案，以表授主婚者。主婚者跪授正使，表曰：「臣某，伏承嘉命。正使某官某等，重宣制詔，問臣名族。臣女，臣夫婦所生，先臣某官某之曾孫，先臣某官某之孫，先臣某官某之外孫。臣女今年若干，謹具奏聞。」主婚者俯伏，興，退四拜。使者出，置表彩輿中。主婚者前曰：「請禮從者。」酒饌畢，主婚者捧幣以勞使者。使者出，主婚者送至大門外。使者隨彩輿入大明門左門，至奉天門外，以表節授司禮監，覆命。

For the betrothal and name-inquiry stages, a date was chosen in advance and officials were sent to report the ceremony to Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples. On the appointed day, the throne, commission and tally tables, guard of honor, ceremonial carriage, and Grand Harmony ensemble were arranged as prescribed. The Ministry of Rites laid out the ceremonial gifts on the vermillion steps and at the foot of the Literary Tower. At first light the emperor, in full court regalia, took the throne; the officials in audience dress completed their obeisances and returned to their stations. The chief and deputy envoys, in court dress, made four prostrations; attendants carried the commission and tally tables out through the central gate, the gifts following, and placed everything along the center of the vermillion steps. The edict proclaimer announced: "The daughter of such-and-such an official is chosen as empress. You are commanded to bear the tally and perform the betrothal and name-inquiry rites." The chief and deputy envoys made four prostrations, and the emperor's procession withdrew. The commission and tally tables were borne out through the central gate of the Gate of Reverent Heaven. The chief and deputy envoys placed the tally and commission documents in the ceremonial carriage; with guard of honor and ceremonial music leading, they passed out through the Gate of Great Brilliance. They changed out of court dress, mounted, and rode to the empress-elect's residence. At the residence, an envoy pavilion was erected to the left of the outer gate, facing south; an incense table stood in the main hall; commission and tally tables were placed to the south and a separate table to the north. On the envoys' arrival, ushers led them into the pavilion while officiants laid out the ceremonial gifts in the main hall. The envoys emerged from the pavilion and set the commission document on the table. Ritual officials entered first and took their places on the east side; the bride's father, in court dress, came out and stood on the west side. The ritual official announced: "By imperial command an empress is to be installed; envoys have been sent to perform the betrothal and name-inquiry rites." The bride's father was led out to welcome them. The envoys carried the commission and tally; the bride's father followed them into the hall, where the documents were set on the tables. The chief and deputy envoys stood to either side of the tables. The bride's father made four prostrations, then advanced and knelt before the tables. The chief envoy took up the betrothal edict and proclaimed: "Having received Heaven's mandate, I reverently carry forward the great enterprise. The art of governing the realm rests upon putting the household in order. The relation of husband and wife embodies the cosmic order of Heaven and Earth; it sustains reverence for the ancestral temples and harmonizes the duty of filial service—nothing weighs more heavily upon it. In reverent obedience to the Empress Dowager's command, envoys bearing the tally are sent to make the ritual selection." When the proclamation ended, he handed the document to the bride's father. The bride's father passed it to an attendant, who placed it on the northern table, slightly to the left. The deputy envoy took up the name-inquiry edict and proclaimed: "I regard the bond of husband and wife as the root of the great human relations. The inner household must be rightly ordered, and that requires a family of eminent standing. Envoys bearing the tally are specially sent to inquire the name by ritual; I await your reply." When the proclamation ended, he handed it over in the same manner, and it was set on the table slightly to the right. The bride's father prostrated himself and rose. An attendant brought forward the memorial table and handed the memorial to the bride's father. The bride's father knelt and presented it to the chief envoy; the memorial read: "Your subject So-and-so humbly receives the gracious command. The chief envoy, such-and-such an official, has again proclaimed the imperial edict and inquired into my clan and lineage. My daughter, born to my wife and me, is the great-granddaughter of the late official such-and-such, the granddaughter of the late official such-and-such, and the maternal granddaughter of the late official such-and-such. My daughter is this year of such-and-such an age; I respectfully report this for your information." The bride's father prostrated himself, rose, withdrew, and made four prostrations. The envoys withdrew and placed the memorial in the ceremonial carriage. The bride's father stepped forward and said: "Please honor my attendants with ritual courtesy." After the feast, the bride's father presented silks to reward the envoys. The envoys left, and the bride's father saw them to the outer gate. The envoys followed the ceremonial carriage through the left gate of the Gate of Great Brilliance to the Gate of Reverent Heaven, delivered the memorial and tally to the Directorate of Ceremonial, and reported their mission complete.

次納吉、納徵、告期，傳制遣使，並如前儀。但納徵用玄纁、束帛、六馬、穀圭等物，制詞曰：「茲聘某官某女爲皇后，命卿等持節行納吉、納徵、告期禮。」皇后第，陳設如前，惟更設玉帛案。使者至，以制書、玉帛置案上，六馬陳堂下。執事先設皇后冠服諸物於正堂。禮官入，主婚者出迎，執事舉玉帛案，正使捧納吉、納徵制書，副使捧告期制書，執節者捧節，以次入，各置於案。主婚者四拜，詣案前跪。正使取制書，宣曰：「大婚之卜，龜筮師士協從。敬循禮典，遣使持節告吉。」又宣曰：「卿女有貞靜之德，稱母儀之選，宜共承天地宗廟。特遣使持節，以禮納徵。」宣訖，授主婚者。正副使又捧圭及玄纁以授主婚者，俱如前儀。副使取制書，宣曰：「歲令月良，吉日某甲子，大婚維宜。特遣使持節，以禮告期。」宣訖，授如前儀。主婚者四拜，使者持節出，主婚者禮使者，使者還，覆命如初。

Next came the auspicious confirmation, betrothal gifts, and announcement of the wedding date; an edict was issued and envoys sent, all following the same ritual as before. For the betrothal gifts alone, dark-red and light-red silks, bundled silks, six horses, grain jades, and the like were used; the edict read: "The daughter of such-and-such an official is betrothed as empress. You are commanded to bear the tally and perform the rites of auspicious confirmation, betrothal gifts, and date announcement." At the empress-elect's residence the arrangements were as before, with the addition of a table for jade and silks. On the envoys' arrival, they set the commission documents and jade and silks on the tables, with the six horses arrayed below the hall. Attendants had already laid out in the main hall the empress's crown, robes, and related items. Ritual officials entered; the bride's father came out to welcome them; attendants brought forward the jade-and-silk table; the chief envoy carried the edicts for auspicious confirmation and betrothal gifts; the deputy envoy carried the date-announcement edict; the tally bearer carried the tally; they entered in succession and placed each item on its table. The bride's father made four prostrations and knelt before the tables. The chief envoy took up the edict and proclaimed: "The divination for the great wedding has been performed; tortoise, milfoil, masters, and officers all concurred. In reverent accordance with the ritual canon, envoys bearing the tally are sent to announce the auspicious outcome." He further proclaimed: "Your daughter possesses steadfast and tranquil virtue and is worthy to be chosen as a model of motherhood; she is fit to share in honoring Heaven, Earth, and the ancestral temples. Envoys bearing the tally are specially sent to present the betrothal gifts by ritual." When the proclamation ended, he handed it to the bride's father. The chief and deputy envoys again presented the jade tablet and dark-red and light-red silks to the bride's father, all as before. The deputy envoy took up the edict and proclaimed: "The season is favorable and the month auspicious; on the propitious day of such-and-such a cyclical date the great wedding is most fitting. Envoys bearing the tally are specially sent to announce the wedding date by ritual." When the proclamation ended, he handed it over as before. The bride's father made four prostrations; the envoys bore the tally and withdrew; the bride's father rewarded the envoys; they returned and reported their mission complete, as before.

次發冊奉迎，所司陳設如前儀。禮部陳雁及禮物于丹陛上，內官監陳皇后鹵簿車輅於奉天門外。制詞曰：「茲冊某官某女爲皇后，命卿等持節奉冊寶，行奉迎禮。」正副使以冊寶置彩輿中，隨詣皇后第。至門，取制書冊寶置案上。禮官先入，主婚者朝服出見。禮官曰：「奉制冊后，遣使持節奉冊寶，行奉迎禮。」主婚者出迎。執事者舉案前行，使者捧制書及節，執事者以雁及禮物從之。至堂中，各置於案。使者左右立，主婚者四拜，退立於西南。

Next came the issuance of the investiture and the welcoming escort; the responsible offices made the arrangements as before. The Ministry of Rites laid out the wild geese and ceremonial gifts on the vermillion steps; the Directorate of Palace Attendants arrayed the empress's guard of honor and carriage outside the Gate of Reverent Heaven. The edict read: "The daughter of such-and-such an official is invested as empress. You are commanded to bear the tally, present the investiture and imperial seal, and perform the welcoming escort rite." The chief and deputy envoys placed the investiture and seal in the ceremonial carriage and proceeded to the empress-elect's residence. At the gate they removed the commission, investiture, and seal and set them on the tables. Ritual officials entered first; the bride's father, in court dress, came out to receive them. The ritual official announced: "By imperial command an empress is invested; envoys bearing the tally present the investiture and seal to perform the welcoming escort rite." The bride's father came out to welcome them. Attendants carried the tables forward; the envoys bore the commission and tally; attendants followed with the wild geese and ceremonial gifts. In the hall, each item was placed on its table. The envoys stood to either side; the bride's father made four prostrations, withdrew, and took his place to the southwest.

女官以九龍四鳳冠禕衣進皇后。內官陳儀仗於中堂前，設女樂於堂下，作止如常儀。使者以節冊寶授司禮監官，內贊導入中堂。皇后具服出閣，詣香案前，向闕立，四拜。贊宣冊，皇后跪。宣冊官宣訖，以授皇后。皇后搢圭，受冊，以授女官。女官跪受，立於西。贊宣寶，如宣冊儀。贊出圭，贊興，四拜訖，皇后入閣。司禮監官持節出，授使者，報受冊寶禮畢。主婚者詣案前跪。正使取奉迎制宣訖，授主婚者。副使進雁及禮物。主婚者皆跪受，如前儀。主婚者興，使者四拜出。主婚者禮使者如初。女官奏請皇后出閣。自東階下，立香案前，四拜。升堂，南向立。主婚者進立於東，西向，曰：「戒之敬之，夙夜無違。」退立於東階。母進，立於西，東向，施衿結帨，曰：「勉之敬之，夙夜無違。」退立於西階。內執事請乘輿，皇后降階升輿。導從出，儀仗大樂前行，次彩輿，正副使隨，次司禮監官擁導，從大明門中門入。百官朝服於承天門外班迎，候輿入，乃退。皇后至午門外，鳴鐘鼓，鹵簿止。正副使以節授司禮監，覆命。捧冊寶官捧冊寶，儀仗女樂前導，進奉天門。至內庭幕次，司禮監以冊寶授女官。皇后出輿，由西階進。皇帝由東階降迎於庭，揖皇后入內殿。帝詣更服處，具袞冕。后詣更服處，更禮服。同詣奉先殿，行謁廟禮。祭畢，還宮。合巹，帝更皮弁，升內殿。后更衣，從升。各升座，東西相向。執事者舉饌案於前，女官取四金爵，酌酒以進。既飲，進饌。復進酒、進飯訖，女官以兩巹酌酒，合和以進。既飲，又進饌畢，興，易常服。帝從者餕后之饌，后從者餕帝之饌。

Female officials brought the empress-elect her nine-dragon four-phoenix crown and ceremonial robes. Inner palace officials arrayed the guard of honor before the central hall and stationed female musicians below; music began and ceased according to the usual ritual. The envoys handed the tally, investiture, and seal to an official of the Directorate of Ceremonial; inner announcers led the procession into the central hall. The empress-elect, fully attired, emerged from her chamber, advanced to the incense table, faced the imperial palace, and made four prostrations. The announcer proclaimed the investiture; the empress-elect knelt. When the investiture proclaimer had finished, he handed the document to the empress-elect. The empress-elect inserted the jade tablet, received the investiture, and handed it to a female official. The female official knelt to receive it and stood on the west side. The announcer proclaimed the seal, following the same ritual as for the investiture. The announcer called for the jade tablet to be removed and for her to rise; when the four prostrations were finished, the empress-elect withdrew to her chamber. An official of the Directorate of Ceremonial bore the tally out, handed it to the envoys, and reported that the rite of receiving the investiture and seal was complete. The bride's father advanced and knelt before the tables. The chief envoy took up the welcoming escort edict, finished the proclamation, and handed it to the bride's father. The deputy envoy presented the wild geese and ceremonial gifts. The bride's father knelt to receive them all, as before. The bride's father rose; the envoys made four prostrations and withdrew. The bride's father rewarded the envoys as before. A female official announced that the empress-elect was requested to emerge from her chamber. She descended the eastern steps, stood before the incense table, and made four prostrations. She ascended the hall and stood facing south. The bride's father advanced and stood on the east side, facing west, and said: "Be warned and be reverent; morning and night, do not stray." He withdrew and took his place on the eastern steps. The mother advanced, stood on the west side facing east, adjusted the collar and tied the sash, and said: "Strive and be reverent; morning and night, do not stray." She withdrew and took her place on the western steps. Inner attendants invited her to mount the carriage; the empress-elect descended the steps and entered it. The procession set out; guard of honor and ceremonial music led, then the ceremonial carriage, with the chief and deputy envoys following and officials of the Directorate of Ceremonial escorting; they entered through the central gate of the Gate of Great Brilliance. Officials in court dress formed ranks outside the Gate of Accepting Heaven to welcome her; when the carriage had entered, they withdrew. When the empress reached the outside of the Meridian Gate, bells and drums sounded and the guard of honor halted. The chief and deputy envoys handed the tally to the Directorate of Ceremonial and reported their mission complete. Officials bearing the investiture and seal led the way, with guard of honor and female musicians preceding them into the Gate of Reverent Heaven. At the inner court pavilion, the Directorate of Ceremonial handed the investiture and seal to female officials. The empress descended from the carriage and entered by the western steps. The emperor descended the eastern steps to welcome her in the courtyard, bowed to her, and escorted her into the inner hall. The emperor went to the robing chamber and donned his dragon robes and crown. The empress went to the robing chamber and changed into ceremonial dress. Together they proceeded to the Hall of Imperial Ancestors and performed the temple obeisance rite. When the sacrifice was finished, they returned to the palace. They shared the nuptial cups; the emperor changed into the leather cap and ascended the inner hall. The empress changed her robes and followed him up. Each took a seat, facing one another across the east-west axis. Attendants brought forward the food table; female officials took four golden goblets, poured wine, and presented it. After they had drunk, the meal was served. Wine and rice were served again; when this was finished, female officials poured wine from two nuptial cups, mingled them, and presented the mixture. After they had drunk and the meal was finished, they rose and changed into ordinary dress. The emperor's attendants ate the empress's leftover food; the empress's attendants ate the emperor's leftover food.

次日早，帝后皆禮服，候太后升座。帝后進座前。宮人以腶修盤立於后左，帝后皆四拜。執事舉案至，宮人以腶修盤授后，后捧置於案。女官舉案，后隨至太后前，進訖，復位。帝后皆四拜。三日早，帝冕服，后禮服，同詣太后宮，行八拜禮。還宮，帝服皮弁，升座。女宮導后，禮服詣帝前，行八拜禮。后還宮，升座。引禮導在內親屬及六尚等女官，行八拜禮；次各監局內官內使，行八拜禮。是日，皇帝御奉天殿。頒詔如常儀。四日早，皇帝服袞冕御華蓋殿，親王八拜，次執事官五拜，遂升奉天殿，百官進表，行慶賀禮。是日，太后及皇后各禮服升座。親王入，八拜出，次內外命婦慶賀及外命婦進表箋，皆如常儀。五日行盥饋禮，尚膳監具膳修。皇后禮服詣太后前，四拜。尚食以膳授皇后，皇后捧膳進於案，復位，四拜，退立於西南。俟膳畢，引出。

Early the next morning, the emperor and empress, both in ceremonial dress, waited for the empress dowager to take her seat. The emperor and empress advanced before her seat. Palace women stood to the empress's left holding a tray of cured meat; the emperor and empress each made four prostrations. Attendants brought the table forward; a palace woman handed the cured-meat tray to the empress, who placed it on the table. Female officials carried the table; the empress followed to the empress dowager, presented the offering, and returned to her place. The emperor and empress each made four prostrations. Early on the third day, the emperor in full court regalia and the empress in ceremonial dress together visited the empress dowager's palace and performed the eight-prostration rite. They returned to the palace; the emperor donned the leather cap and took his seat. Female palace officials guided the empress, in ceremonial dress, before the emperor, where she performed the eight-prostration rite. The empress returned to her palace and took her seat. Ushers led the inner kin and female officials such as the Six Chiefs, who performed the eight-prostration rite; next the inner eunuchs and attendants of each directorate performed the eight-prostration rite. That day the emperor presided in the Hall of Reverent Heaven. An edict was promulgated according to the usual ritual. Early on the fourth day, the emperor in dragon robes and crown presided in the Hall of Flowering Canopy; imperial princes made eight prostrations, then officiating officials five; he then ascended the Hall of Reverent Heaven, where officials submitted memorials and the congratulatory rite was performed. That day the empress dowager and empress, each in ceremonial dress, took their seats. Imperial princes entered, made eight prostrations, and withdrew; next inner and outer titled ladies offered congratulations, and outer titled ladies submitted memorials and letters—all according to the usual ritual. On the fifth day the hand-washing and food-offering rite was performed; the Directorate of Imperial Viands prepared the dishes. The empress, in ceremonial dress, went before the empress dowager and made four prostrations. The Chief of Food Service handed the dishes to the empress; she bore them forward and set them on the table, returned to her place, made four prostrations, and withdrew to stand in the southwest. When the meal was finished, she was led out.

皇太子納妃儀

Crown Prince Wedding Rites

納采、問名。制曰：「奉制納某氏女爲皇太子妃，命卿等行納采問名禮。」至妃第，儐者出，詣使者前曰：「敢請事。」使者曰：「儲宮納配，屬於令德。邦有常典，使某行納采之禮。」儐者入告，主婚者曰：「臣某之子，昧於壼儀，不足以備採擇。恭承製命，臣某不敢辭。」儐者出告，使者入，陳禮物於庭，宣制曰：「某奉詔採擇。」奠雁禮畢，使者出。儐者復詣使者前曰：「敢請事。」使者曰：「儲宮之配，採擇既諧。將加卜筮，奉制問名。」儐者入告，主婚者曰：「制以臣某之女，可以奉侍儲宮，臣某不敢辭。儐者出告。使者復入，陳禮奠雁如儀，宣制曰：「臣某奉詔問名，將謀諸卜筮。」主婚者曰：「臣某第幾女，某氏出。」

Betrothal and name inquiry. The edict read: "By imperial command the daughter of such-and-such a clan is received as crown princess. You are commanded to perform the betrothal and name-inquiry rites." At the crown princess-elect's residence, the usher came out, approached the envoy, and said: "May I ask your business?" The envoy said: "The heir apparent's consort must be a woman of outstanding virtue. The state has its established canon; I am sent to perform the betrothal rite." The usher went in to report; the bride's father said: "My daughter is unversed in inner-chamber propriety and is unworthy to be chosen. Reverently receiving the imperial command, your subject So-and-so dares not decline." The usher came out to report; the envoy entered, displayed the gifts in the courtyard, and proclaimed: "I, So-and-so, bear the imperial command to make the selection." When the wild-goose presentation rite was finished, the envoy withdrew. The usher again approached the envoy and said: "May I ask your business?" The envoy said: "The selection for the heir apparent's consort is now settled. Divination is next to be performed; by imperial command I inquire the name." The usher went in to report; the bride's father said: "The command designates my daughter as fit to serve the heir apparent; your subject So-and-so dares not decline. The usher came out to report. The envoy entered again, displayed the gifts and presented the wild geese as prescribed, and proclaimed: "Your subject So-and-so, bearing the imperial command to inquire the name, will consult divination." The bride's father said: "Your subject's such-and-such-numbered daughter, born of the such-and-such clan."

次納吉。儐者請事如前，使者曰：「謀諸卜筮，其佔協從，制使某告吉。」儐者入告，主婚者曰：「臣某之子蠢愚，懼弗克堪。卜筮云吉，惟臣之幸，臣謹奉典制。」儐者出告。使者入，陳禮奠雁如儀，宣制曰：「奉制告吉。」

Next came the auspicious confirmation. The usher asked his business as before; the envoy said: "Having consulted divination, the omens are favorable; by imperial command I, So-and-so, announce the auspicious outcome." The usher went in to report; the bride's father said: "My daughter is foolish and dull; I fear she will not measure up. The divination declares it auspicious—this is my good fortune alone; your subject reverently follows the canonical ritual." The usher came out to report. The envoy entered, displayed the gifts and presented the wild geese as prescribed, and proclaimed: "By imperial command I announce the auspicious outcome."

又次納徵。儐者出告，使者入陳玉帛禮物，不奠雁，宣制曰：「某奉制告成。」

Next came the betrothal gifts. The usher came out to report; the envoy entered, displayed jade, silks, and gifts without presenting wild geese, and proclaimed: "I, So-and-so, by imperial command announce completion."

又次請期。辭曰：「詢於龜筮。某月某日吉，制使某告期。」主婚者曰：「敢不承命。」陳禮奠雁如儀。

Next came the request for the wedding date. The address read: "Having consulted tortoise and milfoil, such-and-such a month and day are auspicious; by imperial command I, So-and-so, announce the date." The bride's father said: "How dare I not accept the command?" Gifts were displayed and wild geese presented as prescribed.

又次告廟。遣使持節授冊寶儀注，悉見前。

Next came the announcement to the ancestral temple. The ritual procedures for dispatching envoys bearing the tally to present the investiture and seal are all as set forth above.

又次醮戒。皇帝服通天冠、絳紗袍，御奉天殿，百官侍立。引進導皇太子至丹陛，四拜。入殿東門就席位，東向立。司爵以醆進，皇太子跪，搢圭，受醆祭酒。司饌以饌進，跪受亦如之。興，就席坐，飲食訖，導詣御座前跪。皇帝命之曰：「往迎爾相，承我宗事，勖帥以敬。」皇太子曰：「臣某謹奉制旨。」俯伏，興。出至丹陛，四拜畢，皇帝還宮，皇太子出。

Next came the libation and abstention rite. The emperor wore the Heaven-Penetrating crown and crimson gauze robe, presided in the Hall of Reverent Heaven, and all officials stood in attendance. An usher guided the crown prince to the vermillion steps, where he made four prostrations. He entered the hall's eastern gate, took his assigned place, and stood facing east. The Master of Goblets presented the cup; the crown prince knelt, inserted the jade tablet, received the cup, and offered libation. The Master of Food presented the dishes; he knelt to receive them in the same way. He rose, took his seat, finished eating and drinking, was led before the imperial throne, and knelt. The emperor charged him: "Go welcome your consort, undertake our ancestral duties, and lead her with reverence." The crown prince said: "Your subject So-and-so reverently receives the imperial command." He prostrated himself and rose. He went out to the vermillion steps; when the four prostrations were finished, the emperor returned to the palace and the crown prince departed.

又次親迎。前一日，有司設皇太子次於妃氏大門外，南向，東宮官次於南，東西相向。至日質明，東宮官具朝服陳鹵簿鼓吹於東宮門外。皇太子冕服乘輿出，侍衛導從如儀。至宮門降輿升輅，東宮官皆從至妃第，回轅南向，降輅升輿。至次，降輿入就次，東宮官皆就次。先是，皇太子將至，主婚者設會宴女。至期，妃服褕翟花釵，出就閣南面立，傅姆立於左右。主婚者具朝服立於西階之下。引進導皇太子出次，立於大門之東，西向。儐者朝服出，立於門東曰：「敢請事。」引進跪啓訖，皇太子曰：「某奉制親迎。」引進受命興，承傳於儐者。儐者入告，導主婚者出迎於大門外之西，東向再拜。皇太子答拜。引進導皇太子入門而左，執雁者從。儐者導主婚者入門而右。皇太子升東階進，立於閣門戶前，北向立。主婚者升西階，立於西，東向。引進啓奠雁，執雁者以雁進。皇太子受雁，以授主婚者。主婚者跪受，興，以授左右，退立於西。皇太子再拜，降自東階，出至次以伺。主婚者不降送。初，皇太子入門，妃母出，立於閣門外，奠雁位之西，南向。皇太子拜訖，宮人傅姆導妃出，立於母左。主婚者命之曰：「戒之戒之，夙夜恪勤，毋或違命。」母命之曰：「勉之勉之，爾父有訓，往承惟欽。」庶母申之曰：「恭聽父母之言。」宮人傅姆擎執導從，妃乘輿出門，降輿，乘鳳轎。皇太子揭簾訖，遂升輅，侍從如來儀。至東宮門外，降輅乘輿。至閣，降輿入，俟於內殿門外之東，西面。司閨導妃詣內殿門外之西，東面。皇太子揖妃入，行合巹禮，如中宮儀。

Next came the personal welcoming escort. On the previous day the responsible offices erected the crown prince's pavilion outside the bride's clan main gate, facing south; Eastern Palace officials' pavilions were placed to the south, facing one another across the east-west axis. On the appointed day at first light, Eastern Palace officials in court dress arrayed the guard of honor and musicians outside the Eastern Palace gate. The crown prince, in full ceremonial robes, rode out in the carriage with guards and escort as prescribed. At the palace gate he descended from the carriage and mounted the chariot; Eastern Palace officials all followed to the crown princess-elect's residence; the chariot turned south, he descended, and again mounted the carriage. At the pavilion he descended from the carriage, entered, and took his place; Eastern Palace officials all took their places. Beforehand, when the crown prince was about to arrive, the bride's father prepared a feast for the bride. When the time came, the crown princess-elect in pheasant-embroidered robes and floral hairpins emerged to the chamber, stood facing south, and nurse-mothers stood on either side. The bride's father, in court dress, stood below the western steps. An usher led the crown prince out of the pavilion; he stood to the east of the main gate, facing west. The usher in court dress came out, stood to the east of the gate, and said: "May I ask your business?" The usher knelt to report; when he had finished, the crown prince said: "I, So-and-so, by imperial command come to welcome my bride in person." The usher received the command, rose, and relayed it to the gate usher. The usher went in to report and led the bride's father out to welcome him to the west of the outer gate; facing east, he made two prostrations. The crown prince returned the bow. The usher led the crown prince through the gate to the left; the bearer of the wild geese followed. The usher led the bride's father through the gate to the right. The crown prince ascended the eastern steps, advanced, and stood before the chamber door facing north. The bride's father ascended the western steps, took his place on the west side, and faced east. The usher opened the wild geese presentation; the bearer of the wild geese advanced with them. The crown prince received the wild geese and presented them to the bride's father. The bride's father knelt to receive them, rose, passed them to attendants on either side, withdrew, and took his place on the west. The crown prince made two prostrations, descended the eastern steps, went out to the pavilion, and waited. The bride's father did not descend to see him off. Earlier, when the crown prince entered the gate, the crown princess-elect's mother came out and stood outside the chamber gate, west of the wild geese presentation position, facing south. When the crown prince had finished bowing, palace women and nurse-mothers led the crown princess-elect out; she stood to her mother's left. The bride's father charged her: "Be warned—be warned; morning and night be reverently diligent, and never disobey the command." Her mother charged her: "Strive—strive; your father has instructions—go forth and receive them with reverence." Her concubine-mother added: "Respectfully heed your parents' words." Palace women and nurse-mothers attended and guided her; the crown princess-elect mounted a carriage, went out through the gate, stepped down, and mounted the phoenix sedan. After the crown prince had lifted the curtain, he mounted the chariot; his attendants followed as on the outward journey. At the Eastern Palace gate, he descended from the chariot and mounted a carriage. At the pavilion, he stepped down and entered; he waited east of the inner hall gate, facing west. The Director of the Inner Chambers led the crown princess-elect to the west side outside the inner hall gate, facing east. The crown prince bowed and received the crown princess-elect inside; they performed the nuptial cup ceremony according to the empress's rite.

又次朝見。其日，妃詣內殿陛下，候皇帝升座。司閨導妃入，北面立，再拜，自西階升。宮人奉棗慄盤，進至御座前授妃。妃奠於御前，退復位，再拜。禮畢，詣皇后前，奉腶修盤，如上儀。

Next came the court audience. That day the crown princess-elect went to the foot of the inner hall's steps and waited for the emperor to take the throne. The Director of the Inner Chambers led the crown princess-elect in; she stood facing north, made two prostrations, and ascended the western steps. A palace woman bore a tray of dates and chestnuts, advanced to the imperial throne, and handed it to the crown princess-elect. The crown princess-elect presented it before the throne, withdrew to her place, and made two prostrations. When the rite was finished, she went before the empress and presented a tray of salted and dried meats, as before.

又次醴妃，次盥饋，次謁廟，次羣臣命婦朝賀，皆如儀。

Next came the sweet-wine presentation to the crown princess-elect, then the hand-washing and food-offering rite, then the temple visit, then congratulations from officials and titled ladies—all as prescribed.

四年，冊開平王常遇春女爲皇太子妃。禮部上儀注，太祖覽之曰：「贄禮不用笄，但用金盤，翟車用鳳轎，雁以玉爲之。古禮有親迎執綏御輪，今用轎，則揭簾是矣。其合巹，依古制用匏。妃朝見，入宮中，乘小車，以帷幕蔽之。謁廟，則皇太子俱往。禮成後三日，乃宴羣臣命婦。」著爲令。

In the fourth year, the daughter of Chang Yuchun, Prince of Kaiping, was invested as crown princess. The Ministry of Rites submitted the ritual protocol; the founding emperor reviewed it and said: "For the gift presentation, do not use hairpins—use only a gold tray; replace the pheasant-embroidered carriage with the phoenix sedan; the wild geese should be made of jade. Ancient rites had the groom in personal welcome hold the bridle and turn the wheel; now that a sedan is used, lifting the curtain suffices. For the nuptial cups, follow the ancient system and use gourds. When the crown princess-elect paid court audience and entered the palace, she rode in a small carriage screened by curtains. For the temple visit, the crown prince should accompany her. Only three days after the rites were complete should officials and titled ladies be banqueted." This was established as a regulation.

成化二十二年，更定婚禮。凡節冊等案，俱由奉天左門出。皇太子親迎，由東長安門出。親迎日，妃服燕居服，隨父母家廟行禮。執事者具酒饌，妃飲食訖。父母坐堂上，妃詣前各四拜。父命之曰：「爾往大內，夙夜勤慎，孝敬無違。」母命之曰：「爾父有訓，爾當敬承。」合巹前，於皇太子內殿各設拜位。皇太子揖妃入就位，再拜，妃四拜，然後各升座。廟見後，百官朝賀，致詞曰：「某官臣某等，恭惟皇太子嘉禮既成，益綿宗社隆長之福。臣某等不勝欣忭之至，謹當慶賀。」帝賜宴如正旦儀。命婦詣太后皇后前賀，亦賜宴，致詞曰：「皇太子嘉聘禮成，益綿景福。」餘大率如洪武儀。

In the twenty-second year of Chenghua, the wedding rites were revised. In general, the tally, commission, and related tables all passed out through the left gate of the Gate of Receiving Heaven. When the crown prince went in personal welcome, he departed through the Eastern Chang'an Gate. On the day of personal welcome, the crown princess-elect wore everyday dress and followed her parents to the family ancestral shrine to perform the rites. Attendants prepared wine and food; when the crown princess-elect had finished eating and drinking. Her parents sat in the hall; the crown princess-elect went before each and made four prostrations. Her father charged her: "When you go to the inner palace, morning and night be diligent and careful; in filial reverence, do not transgress." Her mother charged her: "Your father has instructions; you must respectfully receive them." Before the nuptial cups, obeisance positions were set out for each in the crown prince's inner hall. The crown prince bowed and received the crown princess-elect to their places; he made two prostrations, she four, and then each took a seat. After the temple audience, officials offered congratulations, saying: "We officials So-and-so and others respectfully consider that the crown prince's auspicious rite is now complete, and the blessings of the ancestral temple and state will be ever lengthened and increased. We, your subjects So-and-so and others, are overcome with joy and respectfully offer our congratulations." The emperor granted a banquet as on New Year's Day. Titled ladies went before the empress dowager and empress to offer congratulations and were also granted banquets, saying: "The crown prince's auspicious betrothal rite is complete; may blessings and good fortune ever increase." The rest followed the Hongwu rites in general.

親王婚禮

Princely Wedding Rites

唐制，皇子納妃，命親王主婚。宋皆皇帝臨軒醮戒，略與皇太子同。明因之。

Under the Tang system, when an imperial son received a consort, an imperial prince was appointed to preside over the wedding. Under the Song, the emperor always received them at the imperial hall for the farewell libation and admonition, broadly the same as for the crown prince. The Ming followed this.

其宣制曰：「冊某氏爲某王妃。」納采，致詞曰：「某王之儷，屬於懿淑，使某行納采禮。」問名詞曰：「某既受命，將加諸卜筮協從，使某告吉。」主婚者曰：「制以臣某之子，可以奉侍某王，臣某不敢辭。」納吉詞曰：「卜筮協從，使某告吉。」主婚者曰：「臣某之子，愚弗克堪。卜貺之吉，臣與有幸，謹奉典制。」納徵詞曰：「某王之儷，卜既協吉，制使某以儀物告成。」主婚者曰：「奉制賜臣以重禮，臣某謹奉典制。」請期詞曰：「某月日涓吉，制使某告期。」主婚者曰：「謹奉命。」醮戒命曰：「往迎爾相，用承厥家，勖帥以敬。」其親迎、合巹、朝見、盥饋，並如皇太子。盥饋畢，王皮弁服，妃翟衣，詣東宮前，行四拜禮。東宮坐受，東宮妃立受二拜，答二拜。王與妃至妃家，妃父出迎。王先入，妃父從之。至堂，王立於東，妃父母立於西。王四拜，妃父母立受二拜，答二拜。王中坐，其餘親屬見王，四拜，王皆坐受。妃入中堂，妃父母坐，妃四拜。其餘序家人禮。

The proclamation read: "Invest Lady Such-and-such as princess consort of Prince Such-and-such." For betrothal gifts, the address read: "The consort of Prince Such-and-such belongs to one of gracious virtue; I am sent to perform the betrothal gift rite." The name-inquiry address read: "Having received the command, I, So-and-so, will consult divination for concord; I am sent to announce the auspicious outcome." The bride's father said: "The command designates my daughter as fit to serve Prince Such-and-such; your subject So-and-so dares not decline." The auspicious-confirmation address read: "The divination agrees in concord; I am sent to announce the auspicious outcome." The bride's father said: "Your subject's daughter is dull and unworthy. The divination's auspicious gift—your subject is fortunate; I respectfully receive the prescribed rites." The betrothal gift address read: "The consort of Prince Such-and-such—the divination having agreed on an auspicious day—by command I, So-and-so, announce completion with ceremonial gifts." The bride's father said: "Receiving by command such weighty ceremonial gifts, your subject So-and-so respectfully receives the prescribed rites." The date-announcement address read: "On such-and-such month and day an auspicious date has been chosen; by command I, So-and-so, announce the date." The bride's father said: "I respectfully accept the command." The farewell libation admonition read: "Go forth to welcome your mate; thereby uphold the household; take the lead in reverence." Personal welcome, nuptial cups, court audience, and hand-washing and food-offering—all followed the crown prince's rites. When the hand-washing and food-offering rite was finished, the prince in leather cap and the princess consort in pheasant-embroidered robes went before the Eastern Palace and made four prostrations. The Eastern Palace heir received them seated; the crown princess received standing, accepting two prostrations and returning two. When the prince and princess consort arrived at her family home, her father came out to welcome them. The prince entered first; her father followed him. At the hall, the prince stood on the east; her parents stood on the west. The prince made four prostrations; her parents received standing, accepting two prostrations and returning two. The prince sat in the central seat; the remaining kinsmen, on meeting the prince, made four prostrations, and the prince received them all seated. The princess consort entered the central hall; her parents sat; she made four prostrations. The rest followed the order of family rites.

太祖之世，皇太子、皇子有二妃。洪武八年十一月，徵衛國公鄧愈女爲秦王次妃，不傳制，不發冊，不親迎。正副使行納徵禮，冠服擬唐、宋二品之制，儀仗視正妃稍減。婚之日，王皮弁服，導妃謁奉先殿。王在東稍前，妃西稍後。禮畢入宮，王與正妃正坐，次妃詣王前四拜，復詣正妃前四拜。次妃東坐，宴飲成禮。次日朝見，拜位如謁殿。謁中宮，不用棗慄腶修，餘並同。

In the founding emperor's reign, the crown prince and imperial sons each had two consorts. In the eleventh month of the eighth year of Hongwu, the daughter of Duke of Weiguo, Deng Yu, was summoned as secondary consort of the Prince of Qin; no edict was transmitted, no commission issued, and no personal welcome was performed. The chief and deputy envoys performed the betrothal gift rite; caps and robes followed the Tang and Song second-rank system; ceremonial guard was slightly reduced from that for the principal consort. On the wedding day, the prince in leather cap guided the consort to pay respects at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors. The prince stood slightly forward on the east; the consort slightly behind on the west. When the rite was finished they entered the palace; the prince and principal consort sat in the central seats; the secondary consort went before the prince and made four prostrations, then before the principal consort and made four prostrations. The secondary consort sat on the east; drinking and feasting completed the rite. The next day she paid court audience; obeisance positions were as for visiting the hall. For visiting the empress, dates, chestnuts, salted meat, and dried meat were not used; the rest was the same.

公主婚禮

Imperial Princess Wedding Rites

古者天子嫁女，不自主婚，以同姓諸侯主之，故曰公主。唐猶以親王主婚。宋始不用，惟令掌婚者於內東門納表，則天子自爲主矣。明因之。

In antiquity, when the Son of Heaven gave a daughter in marriage, he did not himself preside over the wedding; a feudal lord of the same surname presided, hence the title "princess." Under the Tang, an imperial prince still presided over the wedding. Under the Song this was first abandoned; only the superintendent of the wedding was ordered to submit the memorial at the Inner Eastern Gate, and thus the Son of Heaven himself became the presiding host. The Ming followed this.

凡公主出降，行納采問名禮，婿家備禮物表文於家庭，望闕再拜。掌婚者奉至內東門，詣內使前曰：「朝恩貺室於某官某之子，某習先人之禮，使臣某請納采。」以表跪授內使。內使跪受，奉進內殿，執雁及禮物者從入。內使出，掌婚者曰：「將加卜筮，使臣某問名。」進表如初，內使出曰：「有制。」掌婚者跪，內使宣曰；「皇帝第幾女，封某公主。」掌婚者俯伏，興。入就次，賜宴出。

Generally, when an imperial princess was given in marriage, betrothal gift and name-inquiry rites were performed; the groom's family prepared gifts and a memorial at home and bowed twice toward the palace. The superintendent of the wedding bore them to the Inner Eastern Gate, went before the inner attendant, and said: "Imperial grace has bestowed a chamber upon the son of Official So-and-so; I, So-and-so, versed in my ancestors' rites, send your subject So-and-so to request betrothal gifts." He knelt and handed the memorial to the inner attendant. The inner attendant knelt to receive it, bore it into the inner hall, and those bearing the wild geese and gifts followed in. The inner attendant came out; the superintendent of the wedding said: "I will consult divination next; I send your subject So-and-so to inquire the name." He presented the memorial as before; the inner attendant came out and said: "There is an imperial command." The superintendent of the wedding knelt; the inner attendant proclaimed: "The emperor's such-and-such-numbered daughter is enfeoffed as Princess Such-and-such." The superintendent of the wedding prostrated himself and rose. He entered the pavilion; a banquet was granted, and he departed.

納吉儀與納采同。掌婚者致詞曰：「加諸卜筮，佔曰從吉，謹使臣某敢告納徵。」婿傢俱玄纁、玉帛、乘馬、表文如儀。掌婚者致詞曰：「朝恩貺室於某官某之子某，有先人之禮，使臣某以束帛、乘馬納徵。」請期詞曰：「某命臣某謹請吉日。」

The auspicious-confirmation rite was the same as the betrothal gift rite. The superintendent of the wedding addressed, saying: "Having consulted divination, the augury reads concord with auspiciousness; I respectfully send your subject So-and-so to announce the betrothal gifts." The groom's escort all brought dark-red and light-red silks, jade and silks, horses, and the memorial, as prescribed. The superintendent of the wedding addressed, saying: "By imperial grace a marriage alliance has been granted to the son of Official So-and-so, So-and-so; in accordance with ancestral rites, I send your subject So-and-so to present betrothal gifts of silk bundles and horses." The speech for requesting the wedding date said: "So-and-so orders your subject So-and-so respectfully to request an auspicious day."

親迎日，婿公服告廟曰：「國恩貺室於某，以某日親迎，敢告。」將行，父醮於廳，隨意致戒。婿再拜出，至內東門內。內使延入次，執雁及奉禮物者各陳於庭。其日，公主禮服辭奉先殿，詣帝后前四拜，受爵。帝后隨意訓戒。受命訖，又四拜。降階，內命婦送至內殿門外，公主升輦。至內東門，降輦。婿揭簾，公主升轎。婿出次立。執雁者以雁跪授婿，婿受雁，跪進於內使。內使跪受以授左右。婿再拜，先出，乘馬還。公主鹵簿車輅後發，公侯百官命婦送至府。婿先候於門。公主至，婿揭簾。公主降，同詣祠堂。婿東，公主西，皆再拜。進爵，讀祝，又再拜。出，詣寢室。婿公主相向再拜，各就坐，婿東，公主西。進饌合巹如儀，復相向再拜。明日，見舅姑。舅姑坐於東，西向。公主立於西，東向，行四拜禮。舅姑答二拜。第十日，駙馬朝見謝恩，行五拜禮。

On the day of the personal welcome, the groom in official dress announced at the ancestral temple, saying: "By the grace of the state a marriage alliance has been granted to So-and-so; on such-and-such a day I will go in person to welcome her— I respectfully announce this." When he was about to set out, his father performed the libation in the hall and offered such admonitions as he thought fit. The groom made two prostrations and left, proceeding to the inside of the Inner Eastern Gate. An inner attendant invited him into the pavilion; those carrying wild geese and those bearing ceremonial gifts each laid out their offerings in the courtyard. That day, the imperial princess in full ceremonial dress took leave at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors, went before the emperor and empress and made four prostrations, and received the libation. The emperor and empress offered such instruction and admonition as they thought fit. When she had received their charge, she made four prostrations again. She descended the steps; inner palace ladies escorted her to the outer gate of the inner hall, and the imperial princess mounted her palanquin. When she reached the Inner Eastern Gate, she descended from the palanquin. The groom raised the curtain, and the imperial princess entered the sedan chair. The groom stepped out of the pavilion and stood waiting. The bearer of the wild geese knelt and handed them to the groom; the groom received them and, kneeling, presented them to the inner attendant. The inner attendant knelt to receive them and passed them to attendants on either side. The groom made two prostrations, went out ahead of her, mounted his horse, and rode back. The imperial princess's guard of honor and carriage followed afterward; dukes, marquises, ranked officials, and palace ladies escorted her to the residence. The groom waited first at the gate. When the imperial princess arrived, the groom raised the curtain. The imperial princess alighted, and together they went to the ancestral shrine. The groom stood on the east, the imperial princess on the west, and both made two prostrations. Wine was offered, the prayer was read aloud, and they made two prostrations again. They left and went to the bridal chamber. The groom and imperial princess faced each other and made two prostrations; each then took a seat— the groom on the east, the imperial princess on the west. Food and the joined nuptial cups were presented according to ritual; they faced each other and made two prostrations again. The next day she met her parents-in-law. Her parents-in-law sat on the east side, facing west. The imperial princess stood on the west, facing east, and performed the four-prostration rite. Her parents-in-law returned two prostrations. On the tenth day, the imperial son-in-law attended court to express his gratitude, performing the five-prostration rite.

初，洪武九年，太祖以太師李善長子祺爲駙馬都尉，尚臨安公主。先期告奉先殿。下嫁前二日，命使冊公主。冊後次日，謁奉先殿。又定駙馬受誥儀，吏部官捧誥命置龍亭，至太師府，駙馬朝服拜受。次日，善長及駙馬謝恩。後十日，始請婚期。二十六年，稍更儀注。然儀注雖存，其拜姑舅及公主駙馬相向拜之禮，終明之世實未嘗行也。明年，又更定公主、郡主封號、婚禮，及駙馬、儀賓品秩。

At first, in the ninth year of Hongwu, the founding emperor appointed Li Shanchang's son Qi Chief Imperial Consort-in-Law and betrothed him to Princess Lin'an. In advance they made announcement at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors. Two days before the princess's descent in marriage, envoys were dispatched to invest the imperial princess. The day after the investiture, they paid respects at the Hall of Imperial Ancestors. They also fixed the rite by which the imperial son-in-law received his edict of appointment: a Ministry of Personnel official bore the edict and commission, placed them in the dragon pavilion, proceeded to the Grand Mentor's residence, and the imperial son-in-law in court dress bowed to receive them. The next day, Shanchang and the imperial son-in-law went to express their gratitude. Ten days later they first requested the wedding date. In the twenty-sixth year the ritual regulations were slightly revised. Yet although the ritual regulations remained on the books, the rites of bowing to parents-in-law and the mutual prostrations of imperial princess and imperial son-in-law were in fact never performed throughout the Ming. The following year, titles and wedding rites for imperial princesses and commandery princesses, together with the ranks of imperial sons-in-law and ceremonial guests, were again fixed.

弘治二年，冊封仁和長公主，重定婚儀。入府，公主駙馬同拜天地，行八拜禮。堂內設公主座於東，西向，駙馬東向座，餘如前儀。嘉靖二年，工科給事中安磐等言：「駙馬見公主，行四拜禮，公主坐受二拜。雖貴賤本殊，而夫婦分定，於禮不安。」不聽。崇禎元年，教習駙馬主事陳鍾盛言：「臣都習駙馬鞏永固，駙馬黎明於府門外月臺四拜，云至三月後，則上堂、上門、上影壁，行禮如前。始視膳於公主前，公主飲食於上，駙馬侍立於旁，過此，方議成婚。駙馬饋果餚書臣，公主答禮書賜，皆大失禮。夫既合巹，則儼然夫婦，安有跪拜數月，稱臣侍膳，然後成婚者？《會典》行四拜於合巹之前，明合巹後無拜禮也。以天子館甥，下同隸役，豈所以尊朝廷？」帝是其言，令永固即擇日成婚。

In the second year of Hongzhi, when Princess Renhe the Eldest was invested, the wedding rites were newly established. Upon entering the residence, the imperial princess and imperial son-in-law together bowed to Heaven and Earth, performing eight prostrations. Within the hall the imperial princess's seat was placed on the east, facing west, and the imperial son-in-law's seat faced east; the rest followed the earlier rites. In the second year of Jiajing, An Pan of the Secretariat of Works, Supervising Secretary, and others said: "When the imperial son-in-law meets the imperial princess, he performs the four-prostration rite, and the imperial princess sits and receives two prostrations. Though noble and humble are fundamentally different, the roles of husband and wife are fixed, and in ritual this is improper." The emperor did not accept this. In the first year of Chongzhen, Chen Zhongsheng, supervising director of instruction for imperial sons-in-law, said: "Your subject instructed the imperial son-in-law Gong Yonggu. At dawn the imperial son-in-law made four prostrations on the moon terrace outside the residence gate; it was said that after three months he would ascend to the hall, the gate, and the spirit screen wall and perform the same rites as before. Only then would he attend meals in the imperial princess's presence; the imperial princess ate above while the imperial son-in-law stood in attendance at her side, and only after this was marriage to be discussed. The imperial son-in-law presented fruit and delicacies in a letter addressing himself as "your subject," and the imperial princess replied with a courtesy gift letter— all of this was grossly contrary to ritual. Once the nuptial cups are joined, they are plainly husband and wife— how can there be months of prostrations, calling oneself "subject" and attending meals, and only then marrying? The Institute Regulations prescribe four prostrations before the joining of the nuptial cups; clearly after the nuptial cups are joined there are no prostration rites. When the Son of Heaven lodges his son-in-law, yet treats him like a common servitor— is this how the court is to be honored?" The emperor approved his argument and ordered Yonggu to choose a day at once and marry.

凡選駙馬，禮部榜諭在京官員軍民子弟年十四至十六，容貌齊整、行止端莊、有家教者報名，司禮內臣於諸王館會選。不中，則博訪於畿內、山東、河南。選中三人，欽定一人，餘二人送本處儒學，充廩生。自宣德時，駙馬始有教習，用學官爲之。正統以後，令駙馬赴監讀書習禮。嘉請六年，始定禮部主事一人，專在駙馬府教習。

Generally, in selecting an imperial son-in-law, the Ministry of Rites posted notices calling sons of officials, soldiers, and commoners in the capital aged fourteen to sixteen who were handsome, dignified in deportment, and well brought up to register; eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial conducted the selection at the Princes' Lodge. If none qualified, they searched broadly in the capital region, Shandong, and Henan. Three were selected; one was chosen by imperial decision, and the other two were sent to local Confucian schools in their home districts to serve as stipend students. From the Xuande era, imperial sons-in-law first received instructors, drawn from academic officials. After the Zhengtong era, imperial sons-in-law were ordered to attend the Directorate of Education to study and learn ritual. In the sixth year of Jiajing, one supervising secretary of the Ministry of Rites was first appointed to instruct exclusively at the imperial son-in-law's residence.

品官婚禮

Wedding Rites for Ranked Officials

周制，凡公侯大夫士之婚娶者，用六禮。唐以後，儀物多以官品爲降殺。明洪武五年詔曰：「古之婚禮，結兩姓之歡，以重人倫。近世以來，專論聘財，習染奢侈。其儀制頒行。務從節儉，以厚風俗。」故其時品節詳明，皆有限制，後克遵者鮮矣。

Under Zhou institutions, all marriages among dukes, marquises, grand masters, and servitors followed the Six Rites. After the Tang, ceremonial objects were mostly scaled down according to official rank. In the fifth year of Hongwu an edict said: "The marriage rites of antiquity joined two families in mutual joy to uphold human relations. In recent times people have fixated on betrothal wealth and grown accustomed to extravagance. Its ritual regulations were promulgated. Practice thrift to strengthen custom." Thus at that time grades and observances were detailed and clear, all with fixed limits; afterward few were able to observe them.

其制，凡品官婚娶，或爲子聘婦，皆使媒氏通書。女氏許之，擇吉納采。主婚者設賓席。至日，具祝版告廟訖，賓至女氏第。主婚者公服出迎，揖賓及媒氏人。雁及禮物陳於廳。賓左主右，媒氏立於賓南，皆再拜。賓詣主人曰：「某官以伉儷之重施於某，某率循典禮，謹使某納采。」主婚者曰：「某之子弗嫺姆訓，既辱採擇，敢不拜嘉。」賓主西東相向坐，徹雁受禮訖，復陳雁及問名禮物。賓興，詣主婚者曰：「某官慎重婚禮，將加卜筮，請問名。」主婚者進曰：「某第幾女，妻某氏出。」或以紅羅，或以銷金紙，書女之第行年歲。賓辭，主婚者請禮從者。禮畢，送賓至門外。

The regulations held that whenever ranked officials married, or betrothed wives for their sons, a matchmaker was sent to exchange letters. When the bride's family assented, an auspicious day was chosen for the betrothal gift rite. The presiding host set out seats for the envoy. On the appointed day, once prayer boards had been prepared and the ancestral temple notified, the envoy arrived at the bride's family's residence. The presiding host in official dress went out to welcome them, bowing to the envoy and the matchmaker. Wild geese and ceremonial gifts were laid out in the hall. The envoy stood on the left, the host on the right; the matchmaker stood south of the envoy, and all made two prostrations. The envoy addressed the host: "Official So-and-so, with the weight of marriage alliance, bestows this upon So-and-so; I, following ritual precedent, respectfully send So-and-so to present betrothal gifts." The presiding host said: "So-and-so's son is not well trained in a matron's instruction; having honored us with your selection, how dare I not accept with gratitude." Host and envoy sat facing each other, west and east; when the wild geese had been removed and the gifts received, wild geese and name-inquiry gifts were displayed again. The envoy rose and addressed the presiding host: "Official So-and-so weighs the marriage rite heavily and will consult divination; I request to inquire the name." The presiding host stepped forward: "So-and-so's such-and-such-numbered daughter, born of Lady So-and-so." On red silk or gilt paper was written the daughter's birth order and age. The envoy took leave, and the presiding host invited the gift-bearing attendants. When the rite was finished, the envoy was escorted to the gate.

納吉如納采儀。賓致詞曰：「某官承嘉命，稽諸卜筮，龜筮協從，使某告吉。」主婚者曰：「某未教之女，既以吉告，其何敢辭。」納徵如納吉儀，加玄纁束帛、函書，不用雁。賓致詞曰：「某官以伉儷之重，加惠某官，率循典禮。有不腆之幣，敢請納徵。」主婚者曰：「某官貺某以重禮，某敢不拜受。」賓以函書授主婚者，主婚者亦答以函書。請期，亦如納吉儀。

The auspicious-confirmation rite followed the betrothal gift rite. The envoy addressed: "Official So-and-so, receiving your gracious command and having examined divination— tortoise and milfoil in concord— sends me to announce auspiciousness." The presiding host said: "So-and-so's untaught daughter— now that auspiciousness has been announced, how could I decline." The betrothal gift rite followed the auspicious-confirmation rite, adding dark-red and light-red silk bundles and letter cases, without wild geese. The envoy addressed: "Official So-and-so, with the weight of marriage alliance, adds grace to Official So-and-so, following ritual precedent. I have unworthy gifts and respectfully request to present betrothal gifts." The presiding host said: "Official So-and-so bestows heavy gifts upon me; how dare I not accept them with a bow." The envoy handed the letter case to the presiding host, and the presiding host also replied with a letter case. Requesting the wedding date likewise followed the auspicious-confirmation rite.

親迎日，婿父告於禰廟。婿北面再拜立，父命之曰：「躬迎嘉偶，釐爾內治。」婿進曰：「敢不承命。」再拜，媒氏導婿之女家。其日，女氏主婚者告廟訖，醴女如家人禮。婿至門，下馬，就大門外之次。女從者請女盛服，就寢門內，南向坐。婿出次，主婚者出迎於門外，揖而入。主婚者入門而右。婿入門而左，執雁者從，至寢戶前，北面立。主婚者立於戶東，西向。婿再拜，奠雁，出就次。主婚者不降送。婿既出，女父母南向坐，保母導女四拜。父命之曰：「往之女家，以順爲正，無忘肅恭。」母命之曰：「必恭必戒，毋違舅姑之命。」庶母申之曰：「爾忱聽於訓言，毋作父母羞。」保姆及侍女翼女出門，升車。儀衛導前，送者乘車後。婿先還以俟。婦車至門，出迎於門內，揖婦入。及寢門，婿先升階，婦從升。入室，婿盥於室之東南，婦從者執巾進水以沃之；婦盥於室之西北，婿從者執巾進水以沃之。盥畢，各就坐，婿東，婦西。舉食案，進酒，進饌。酒食訖，復進如初。侍女以巹注酒，進於婿婦前。各飲畢，皆興，立於座南，東西相向，皆再拜。婿婦入室，易服。婿從者餕婦之餘，婦從者餕婿之餘。

On the day of the personal welcome, the groom's father announced at the shrine of the recent ancestor. The groom, facing north, made two prostrations and stood; his father charged him: "Go in person to welcome your excellent mate; put your inner household in order." The groom stepped forward: "How dare I not accept the charge." He made two prostrations, and the matchmaker guided the groom to the bride's home. That day, the bride's family's presiding host finished announcing at the temple and performed the cordial to the bride according to family rites. When the groom reached the gate, he dismounted and went to the pavilion outside the main gate. The bride's attendants had the bride dress splendidly and sit facing south inside the bridal chamber door. The groom came out of the pavilion; the presiding host went out to welcome him at the gate and bowed him in. The presiding host entered the gate and turned right. The groom entered the gate and turned left, the goose bearer following behind; they proceeded to the bridal chamber door, where he stood facing north. The presiding host stood to the east of the door, facing west. The groom bowed twice, presented the wild geese, then withdrew to the pavilion. The presiding host did not come down to escort him out. After the groom had departed, the bride's parents seated themselves facing south, and the nursemaid guided the bride in four bows. The father admonished her: "When you go to your husband's home, let obedience be your guiding principle; never forget reverence and decorum." The mother admonished her: "Be ever reverent and ever watchful; do not defy the commands of your husband's parents." The concubine mother added: "Heed these words of instruction with all your heart; do not bring shame upon your parents." The nursemaid and serving maids flanked the bride as she passed through the gate and mounted the carriage. Ceremonial guards led the procession; those seeing her off followed in carriages behind. The groom returned home first to await her arrival. When the bride's carriage reached the gate, the groom went out to welcome her within the gate and bowed her inside. At the bridal chamber door, the groom ascended the steps first, and the bride followed. Entering the chamber, the groom washed his hands at the southeast corner of the room, while the bride's attendants held towels and brought water to pour over them; the bride washed at the northwest corner, while the groom's attendants held towels and brought water to pour over her hands. When the washing was complete, each took a seat: the groom to the east, the bride to the west. Food trays were brought forward; wine was served, then the dishes. When the wine and food were finished, a second round was served as before. Serving maids filled the nuptial cup with wine and presented it before the groom and bride. When each had finished drinking, they all rose and stood south of their seats, facing each other east and west, and bowed twice. The groom and bride entered the chamber and changed their garments. The groom's attendants ate what the bride had left; the bride's attendants ate what the groom had left.

明日見宗廟，設婿父拜位於東階下，婿於其後；主婦拜位於西階下，婦於其後。諸親各以序分立。其日夙興，婿父以下各就位，再拜。贊禮引婦至庭中，北面立。婿父升自東階，詣神位前，跪。三上香，三祭酒，讀祝，興，立於西。婦四拜，退，復位。婿父降自西階就拜位，婿父以下皆再拜，禮畢。次見舅姑。其日，婦立堂下，伺舅姑即座，就位四拜。保姆引婦升自西階，至舅前，侍女奉棗慄授婦。婦進訖，降階四拜。詣姑前，進腶修，如前儀。次舅姑醴婦，如家人禮。次盥饋。其日，婦家備饌至婿家。舅姑即座，婦四拜。升自西階，至舅前。從者舉食案以饌授婦，婦進饌，執事者加匕箸。進饌於姑，亦如之。食訖，徹饌，婦降階就位，四拜，禮畢。舅姑再醴婦，如初儀。

The next day they paid respects at the ancestral temple; the groom's father's bowing position was set below the eastern steps, with the groom standing behind him; the chief hostess's bowing position was below the western steps, with the bride standing behind her. All relatives took their places in order of precedence. On that day they rose at dawn; from the groom's father downward, each took his place and bowed twice. The ritual announcer led the bride into the courtyard, where she stood facing north. The groom's father ascended the eastern steps, proceeded before the spirit tablet, and knelt. He offered incense three times and poured libation three times, read the prayer, then rose and stood to the west. The bride performed four bows, withdrew, and returned to her position. The groom's father descended the western steps to his bowing position; from the groom's father downward, all bowed twice, and the rite was finished. Next came the presentation to the parents-in-law. On that day the bride stood below the hall, waiting until her parents-in-law were seated; then she took her place and performed four bows. The nursemaid led the bride up the western steps to before her father-in-law, where serving maids presented dates and chestnuts for her to offer. When the bride had finished presenting the gifts, she descended the steps and performed four bows. She proceeded before her mother-in-law and presented dried meat, following the same procedure as before. Next the parents-in-law presented ceremonial wine to the bride, following the rites observed within the family. Next came the rite of hand-washing and serving food. On that day the bride's family prepared a feast and sent it to the groom's home. When the parents-in-law were seated, the bride performed four bows. She ascended the western steps to before her father-in-law. Attendants raised food trays and handed the dishes to the bride; she presented them, and the officiants added spoons and chopsticks. She presented dishes to her mother-in-law in the same manner. When the meal was finished and the dishes cleared, the bride descended the steps, took her place, performed four bows, and the rite was complete. The parents-in-law again presented ceremonial wine to the bride, following the initial ceremony.

庶人婚禮

Wedding Rites for Commoners

皇帝視學儀

Rites for the Emperor's Inspection of the Imperial Academy

《禮》曰：「凡始立學者，必釋奠於先聖先師。」週末淪喪，禮廢不行。漢明帝始幸辟雍。唐以後，天子視學，始設講榻。洪武十五年，太祖將幸國子監。議者言，孔子雖聖，乃人臣，禮宜一奠而再拜。太祖不從，命禮部尚書劉仲質定其制。

The Rites states: "Whenever a school is first established, a libation sacrifice must be performed to the previous sage and previous teacher." By the end of the Zhou dynasty the rites had fallen into ruin and were no longer observed. Emperor Ming of Han was the first to visit the Enclosure of Refinement. From the Tang dynasty onward, when the Son of Heaven inspected the academy, a lectern was first established for the occasion. In the fifteenth year of Hongwu, the Founding Emperor was preparing to visit the Imperial Academy. Counselors argued that although Confucius was a sage, he remained a subject, and the proper rite should be one libation and two bows. The Founding Emperor would not accept this and ordered Minister of Rites Liu Zhongzhi to establish the proper regulations.

前期設御幄於大成門東，南向，設御座於彝倫堂。至日，學官率諸生迎駕於成賢街左。皇帝入御幄，具皮弁服，詣先師神位，再拜。獻爵，復再拜。四配、十哲、兩廡分獻，如常儀。皇帝入御幄，易常服。升輿，至彝倫堂升座。學官諸生五拜叩頭，東西序立於堂下。三品以上及侍從官，以次入堂，東西序立。贊進講，祭酒、司業、博士、助教四人由西門入，至堂中。贊舉經案於御前，禮部官奏，請授經於講官。祭酒跪受。賜講官坐。及以經置講案，叩頭，就西南隅几榻坐講。賜大臣翰林儒臣坐，皆叩頭，序坐於東西，諸生圜立以聽。講畢，叩頭，退就本位。司業、博士、助教，各以次進講。出堂門，復位。贊宣制，學官諸生列班俱北面跪，聽宣諭，五拜叩頭。禮畢，學官諸生出成賢街送駕。明日，祭酒率學官上表謝恩。

In advance an imperial pavilion was erected east of the Great Completion Gate, facing south, and the imperial throne was placed in the Hall of Human Relations. On the appointed day, academy officials led the students to welcome the imperial procession on the left side of the Street of Accomplished Worthies. The emperor entered the imperial pavilion, put on dark cap and ceremonial robes, proceeded to the spirit tablet of the previous teacher, and bowed twice. He presented the libation cup and bowed twice again. Separate offerings for the Four Correlate Sages, the Ten Wise Ones, and the two wing halls were made according to the usual ceremony. The emperor returned to the imperial pavilion and changed into ordinary dress. He mounted his carriage, proceeded to the Hall of Human Relations, and took the throne. Academy officials and students performed five bows and kowtows, then stood below the hall in ranks to the east and west. Officials of third rank and above, together with attendant officials, entered the hall in order and took their places in ranks to the east and west. The announcer called for the lecture to begin; the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Erudite, and Assistant Instructor—the four lecturers—entered through the western gate and proceeded to the center of the hall. The announcer raised the classic lectern before the emperor; a Ministry of Rites official memorialized, requesting that the classic be entrusted to the lecturer. The Chancellor knelt and received it. Seats were granted to the lecturers. When the classic had been placed on the lectern, he kowtowed, then took his seat on the couch in the southwest corner to deliver the lecture. Seats were granted to grand ministers and Hanlin scholar-officials; all kowtowed and took their seats in order to the east and west, while the students stood in a circle to listen. When the lecture was finished, he kowtowed, withdrew, and returned to his original position. The Vice-Chancellor, Erudite, and Assistant Instructor each delivered their lectures in turn. They exited through the hall gate and returned to their positions. The announcer proclaimed the imperial edict; academy officials and students all formed ranks facing north and knelt, listened to the proclamation, and performed five bows and kowtows. When the ceremony was complete, academy officials and students went out to the Street of Accomplished Worthies to see off the imperial procession. The next day the Chancellor led the academy officials in submitting a memorial expressing gratitude for the imperial favor.

永樂四年，禮部尚書鄭賜引宋制，請服靴袍，再拜。帝不從，仍行四拜禮。進講畢，賜百官茶。禮部請立視學之碑，帝親制文勒石。祭酒等表謝。帝御奉天門，賜百官宴，仍賜祭酒、司業糹寧絲羅衣各二襲，學官三十五人各糹寧絲衣一襲，監生三千餘人各鈔五錠。正統九年，帝幸國子監，如儀。禮畢，賜公、侯、伯、駙馬、武官都督以上、文官三品以上及翰林學士至檢討、國子監祭酒至學錄宴。

In the fourth year of Yongle, Minister of Rites Zheng Ci cited Song dynasty precedent and requested that the emperor wear boots and court robes and perform two bows. The emperor would not accept this and continued to perform the rite of four bows. When the lectures were finished, tea was bestowed upon all officials. The Ministry of Rites requested that a stele commemorating the academy inspection be erected; the emperor personally composed the inscription and had it carved in stone. The Chancellor and the others submitted memorials of thanks. The emperor presided at the Gate of Reverent Heaven and granted a banquet to all officials; he also bestowed upon the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor two suits each of ramie-silk gauze robes, upon thirty-five academy officials one suit each of ramie-silk robes, and upon more than three thousand students five ingots of paper money apiece. In the ninth year of Zhengtong, the emperor visited the Imperial Academy according to the established ceremony. When the ceremony was complete, banquets were granted to dukes, marquises, earls, and imperial sons-in-law; to military officials of regional commander rank and above; to civil officials of third rank and above; to Hanlin academicians down to proofreaders; and to Imperial Academy officials from the Chancellor down to the Registrar.

先是，視學祭先師，不設牲，不奏樂。至成化元年，始用牲樂。視學之日，樂設而不作。禮畢，百官慶賀，賜衣服，賜宴，皆及孔、顏、孟三氏子孫。弘治元年，定先期致齋一日，奠加幣，牲用太牢，改分獻官爲分奠官。嘉靖元年，定衍聖公率三氏子孫，祭酒率學官諸生，上表謝恩，皆賜宴於禮部。十三年，以先師祀典既正，再視學，命大臣致奠啓聖公祠。萬曆四年，定次日行慶賀禮，頒賞如舊，免賜宴。

Previously, when the emperor inspected the academy and sacrificed to the previous teacher, no sacrificial animals were offered and no music was played. In the first year of Chenghua, sacrificial animals and music were first employed. On the day of the academy inspection, musical instruments were set in place but not played. When the ceremony was complete, all officials offered congratulations; grants of clothing and banquets were extended to the descendants of the Kong, Yan, and Meng clans as well. In the first year of Hongzhi, it was decreed that abstention be observed one day in advance, that libation offerings be augmented with silks, that a grand sacrificial ox be used, and that separate offering officials be renamed separate libation officials. In the first year of Jiajing, it was decreed that the Duke Continuator of the Sage would lead the descendants of the three clans, that the Chancellor would lead academy officials and students in submitting memorials of thanks, and that all would be granted banquets at the Ministry of Rites. In the thirteenth year, since the sacrificial canon for the previous teacher had been rectified, the emperor again inspected the academy and ordered grand ministers to perform libation at the Shrine of the Sage's Progenitor. In the fourth year of Wanli, it was decreed that congratulations would be offered the following day, rewards distributed as before, but banquets no longer granted.

初，憲宗取三氏子孫赴京觀禮，又命衍聖公分獻。至世宗，命衍聖公及顏、孟二博士，孔氏老成者五人，顏、孟各二人，赴京陪祀。

Initially, the Chenghua Emperor summoned descendants of the three clans to the capital to observe the ceremony, and also ordered the Duke Continuator of the Sage to make separate offerings. Under the Jiajing Emperor, the Duke Continuator of the Sage and the two Erudites of the Yan and Meng clans were ordered to the capital to assist in the sacrifice, together with five senior members of the Kong clan and two each from the Yan and Meng clans.

明初無定日，亦無定所。正統初，始著爲常儀，以月之二日御文華殿進講，月三次，寒暑暫免。其制，勳臣一人知經筵事，內閣學士或知或同知。尚書、都御史、通政使、大理卿及學士等侍班，翰林院、春坊官及國子監祭酒二員進講，春坊官二員展書，給事中御史各二員侍儀，鴻臚寺、錦衣衛堂上官各一員供事，鳴讚一讚禮，序班四舉案，勳臣或駙馬一人領將軍侍衛。

In the early Ming there was neither a fixed day nor a fixed venue. At the beginning of the Zhengtong reign it was first established as a regular ceremony: on the second day of each month the emperor would preside at the Hall of Literary Glory for lectures, three times monthly, with temporary suspension during extreme cold and heat. Under these regulations, one meritorious minister oversaw Classics Lectern affairs, while Grand Secretaries might serve as overseers or associate overseers. Ministers, the Censor-in-Chief, the Commissioner of the Transmission Office, the President of the Court of Judicial Review, and academicians attended in the attendance roster; Hanlin Academy and Eastern Palace officials together with two Imperial Academy Chancellors delivered lectures; two Eastern Palace officials unfolded the books; two supervising secretaries and two censors each attended the ceremony; one senior official each from the Court of State Ceremonial and the Embroidered Uniform Guard performed service duties; one ceremonial announcer proclaimed the rites; four ushers raised the lecterns; and one meritorious minister or imperial son-in-law led the guard attendants.

禮部擇吉請，先期設御座於文華殿，設御案於座東稍南，設講案於案南稍東。是日，司禮監先陳所講《四書》、經、史各一冊置御案，一冊置講案，皆《四書》東，經、史西。講官各擇撰講章置冊內。帝升座，知經筵及侍班等官于丹陛上，五拜三叩頭。後每講止行叩頭禮。以次上殿，東西序立。序班二員，舉御案於座前，二員舉講案置御案南正中。鴻臚官贊進講。講官二員從東西班出，詣講案前，北向並立。東西展書官各至御案南銅鶴下，相向立。鴻臚官贊講拜，興。東班展書官詣御案前，跪展《四書》，退立於東鶴下。講官至講案前立，奏講某書，講畢退。展書官跪掩書，仍退立鶴下。西班展書官展經或史，講官進講，退，如初。鴻臚官贊講官拜，興。各退就東西班，展書官隨之，序班徹御案講案。禮畢，命賜酒飯。各官出至丹陛，行叩頭禮。至左順門，酒飯畢，入行叩頭禮。

The Ministry of Rites chose an auspicious day and memorialized; in advance the imperial throne was placed in the Hall of Literary Glory, the imperial lectern slightly south and east of the throne, and the lecture lectern slightly east and south of the imperial lectern. On that day the Directorate of Ceremonial first placed one volume each of the Four Books, classics, and histories to be lectured upon on the imperial lectern, and one volume on the lecture lectern; in each case the Four Books were placed to the east, the classics and histories to the west. Each lecturer selected and composed lecture chapters and placed them within the bound volumes. When the emperor took his seat, the overseer of Classics Lectern affairs and the officials on the attendance roster performed five bows and three kowtows on the vermillion steps. Thereafter, at each lecture only the kowtow ceremony was observed. They entered the hall in succession and stood in ranks to the east and west. Two ushers carried the imperial lectern before the throne; two others carried the lecture lectern and set it directly south of the imperial lectern. A Court of State Ceremonial official announced the commencement of the lecture. Two lecturers stepped forward from the eastern and western ranks, proceeded to the lecture lectern, and stood side by side facing north. The book-unfolding officials from the east and west each took position beneath the bronze cranes south of the imperial lectern and stood facing each other. The Court of State Ceremonial official announced the lecturers' bow, and they rose. The eastern book-unfolding official approached the imperial lectern, knelt to unfold the Four Books, then withdrew to stand beneath the eastern crane. The lecturer stood before the lecture lectern, announced which text would be lectured upon, delivered the lecture, and withdrew. The book-unfolding official knelt to close the book, then withdrew again to stand beneath the crane. The western book-unfolding official unfolded a classic or history; the lecturer delivered the lecture and withdrew, following the same procedure as before. The Court of State Ceremonial official announced the lecturers' bow, and they rose. All withdrew to the eastern and western ranks, the book-unfolding officials following; the ushers removed the imperial and lecture lecterns. When the ceremony was complete, the emperor ordered wine and a meal to be granted. The officials proceeded to the vermillion steps and performed the kowtow ceremony. At the Left Gate of Compliance, after the wine and meal were finished, they performed the kowtow ceremony.

隆慶元年，定先一日告奉先殿，告几筵。是日，帝詣文華殿左室，展禮先聖先師。講章於前兩日先進呈覽。萬曆二年，定春講以二月十二日起，至五月初二日止，秋講以八月十二日起，至十月初二日止，不必題請。

In the first year of Longqing it was decreed that on the day before, announcement would be made at the Hall of Ancestors Venerated and before the spirit tablets. On that day the emperor went to the left chamber of the Hall of Literary Glory and performed rites to the prior sages and teachers. The lecture chapters were submitted two days in advance for the emperor's review. In the second year of Wanli it was decreed that spring lectures ran from the twelfth day of the second month to the second day of the fifth month, and autumn lectures from the twelfth day of the eighth month to the second day of the tenth month, with no need to memorialize for permission.

日講，御文華穿殿，止用講讀官內閣學士侍班，不用侍儀等官。講官或四或六。開讀初，吉服，五拜三叩首，後常服，一拜三叩首。閣臣同侍於殿內，候帝口宣「先生來」，同進，叩首，東西立。讀者先至御前一揖，至案展書，壓金尺，執牙籤。讀五過，掩書一揖退。先書，次經，次史，進講如讀儀。侍書官侍習書畢，各叩頭退。於文華殿賜茶，文華門賜酒飯。

For daily lectures, the emperor presided in the connecting hall of the Hall of Literary Glory; only the lecturers, readers, and Grand Secretaries served on the attendance roster, without ceremony-attending officials or the like. There were either four or six lecturers. At the first session of reading, the emperor wore ceremonial dress and performed five bows and three kowtows; thereafter in ordinary dress he performed one bow and three kowtows. Grand Secretaries attended together within the hall; when the emperor orally proclaimed "Let the teachers enter," they entered together, kowtowed, and stood to the east and west. The reader first approached the emperor and bowed once, then went to the lectern to unfold the book, weighting it with a gold ruler and holding an ivory bookmark. He read through the passage five times, closed the book, bowed once, and withdrew. The sequence was first the book, then the classic, then the history; the lecture followed the same procedure as the reading. Attending scribe officials supervised calligraphy practice; when it was complete, each kowtowed and withdrew. Tea was served in the Hall of Literary Glory, and wine and a meal at the Gate of Literary Glory.

午講，隆慶六年定。每日早講畢，帝進暖閣少憩，閱章奏。閣臣等退西廂房，久之，率講官再進午講，講《通鑑節要》及《貞觀政要》。講畢，帝還宮。凡三、六、九視朝日，暫免講讀。

The afternoon lecture was established in the sixth year of Longqing. Each day after the morning lecture, the emperor retired to the warm pavilion for a brief rest and to review memorials. The Grand Secretaries withdrew to the western side chamber; after some time they led the lecturers back for the afternoon session, lecturing on Essentials from the Comprehensive Mirror and Essentials of Governance in the Zhenguan Era. When the lecture was finished, the emperor returned to the inner palace. On the third, sixth, and ninth days when the emperor held court audience, lectures and reading were temporarily suspended.

又嘉靖六年定制，月三、八日，經筵日講官二員，講《大學衍義》。十年，定無逸殿講儀。質明，帝常服乘輦至殿門，衆官於門外迎候。帝降輦，乘板輿，至殿升座。各官於殿門外一拜三叩首，入內，東西序立。贊進講，講官大學士一員出班叩首。命賜坐，一叩首，乃坐。講畢，展書官跪掩講章，講官叩頭復班。又學士一員承旨坐講，如初禮畢。各官至豳風亭候駕至，亭內賜宴。

Regulations established in the sixth year of Jiajing further specified that on the third and eighth of each month, two Classics Lectern daily lecturers would lecture on Elaboration of the Meaning of the Great Learning. In the tenth year, the lecture ceremony for the Hall of Non-Indulgence was established. At daybreak the emperor, in ordinary dress, rode the palanquin to the hall gate, where officials awaited him outside. The emperor descended from the palanquin, was carried on a board litter into the hall, and took his seat. Each official performed one bow and three kowtows outside the hall gate, then entered and stood in ranks to the east and west. When the lecture was announced, one lecturing Grand Secretary stepped forward from the ranks and kowtowed. On being granted permission to sit, he kowtowed once and then took his seat. When the lecture was finished, the book-unfolding official knelt to close the lecture text; the lecturer kowtowed and returned to his place in the ranks. Then another academician, receiving the imperial command, sat to deliver a lecture; when finished, the ceremony concluded as before. The officials proceeded to the Bin Wind Pavilion to await the emperor's arrival, and a banquet was served within the pavilion.

東宮出閣講學儀

Eastern Palace Emergence-from-Seclusion Study Rites

太祖命學士宋濂授皇太子、諸王經於大本堂，後於文華後殿。世宗改爲便殿，遂移殿東廂。天順二年，定出閣儀。是日早，侍衛侍儀如常。執事官於文華後殿四拜，鴻臚官請皇太子升殿，師保等於丹陛上四拜。各官退出，內侍導皇太子至後殿升座，以書案進。侍班侍讀講官入，分班東西立。內侍展書，侍讀講官以次進讀講，叩頭而退。

The Founding Emperor ordered Academician Song Lian to instruct the crown prince and the princes in the classics at the Hall of the Great Foundation; later instruction moved to the rear hall of the Hall of Literary Glory. The Jiajing Emperor converted it to a convenience hall, and instruction was moved to the hall's eastern side chamber. In the second year of Tianshun, the emergence-from-seclusion ceremony was established. That morning, guard and ceremony attendants were deployed as usual. Presiding officials performed four bows in the rear hall of the Hall of Literary Glory; a Court of State Ceremonial official invited the crown prince to ascend the hall; tutors, guardians, and their colleagues performed four bows on the vermillion steps. The officials withdrew; palace attendants escorted the crown prince to the rear hall to take his seat, and the book lectern was brought forward. Officials on the attendance roster together with the reading and lecturing instructors entered and stood in ranks to the east and west. Palace attendants unfolded the books; the reading and lecturing instructors successively advanced to read and lecture, then kowtowed and withdrew.

其每日講讀儀，早朝退後，皇太子出閣升座，不用侍衛等官，惟侍班侍讀講官入，行叩頭禮。內侍展書，先讀《四書》，則東班侍讀官向前，伴讀十數遍，退復班。次讀經或史，則西班伴讀，亦如之。讀畢，各官退。至巳時，各官入，內侍展書，侍講官講早所讀《四書》畢，退班。次講經史亦然。講畢，侍書官侍習寫字。寫畢，各官叩頭退。凡讀書，三日後一溫，背誦成熟。溫書之日，不授新書。凡寫字，春夏秋日百字，冬日五十字。凡朔望節假及大風雨雪、隆寒盛暑，則暫停。

For the daily reading and lecture ceremony: after the morning audience, the crown prince emerged from seclusion and took his seat; guard attendants were dispensed with; only attendance-roster, reading, and lecturing officials entered and performed the kowtow ceremony. Palace attendants unfolded the books; when the Four Books were read first, the eastern reading instructor stepped forward and accompanied the reading for more than ten repetitions, then withdrew to his place in the ranks. Next, when a classic or history was read, the western instructor accompanied the reading in the same manner. When reading was finished, the officials withdrew. At the si hour the officials entered; palace attendants unfolded the books; the lecturing instructor delivered the morning's lecture on the Four Books, then withdrew from the ranks. Lectures on the classics and histories followed the same procedure. When the lecture was finished, attending scribe officials supervised calligraphy practice. When calligraphy practice was complete, each official kowtowed and withdrew. In general, after three days of reading came one review session, with recitation from memory until the text was mastered. On review days, no new texts were assigned. For calligraphy practice, one hundred characters were assigned in spring, summer, and autumn, and fifty in winter. On new and full moon days, festival holidays, and days of severe wind, rain, or snow, extreme cold, or intense heat, instruction was temporarily suspended.

弘治十一年更定，三師三少並宮僚于丹陛四拜畢，從殿左右門入，東西立。候講讀畢，叩頭退。隆慶六年，改設皇太子座於文華殿之東廂，正中西向。每日講讀各官，先詣文華門外東西向，序立。候帝御日講經筵畢，皇太子出閣升座。凡東宮初講時，閣臣連侍五日，後每月三、八日一至，先拜出，然後各官入。崇禎十一年，署禮部事學士顧錫疇言：「東宮嘉禮告成，累朝錫賚有據。《實錄》載成化十五年，皇太子出閣講學，六卿皆加保、傅。弘治十年，皇太子出閣講學，內閣徐溥等四人、尚書馬文升等七人，俱加宮保。」帝命酌議行之。

Revised in the eleventh year of Hongzhi: the Three Tutors, Three Supplements, and palace staff, having completed four bows on the vermillion steps, entered through the hall's side gates and stood to the east and west. They waited until reading and lecturing were finished, then kowtowed and withdrew. In the sixth year of Longqing, the crown prince's seat was relocated to the eastern side chamber of the Hall of Literary Glory, centered and facing west. Each day the reading and lecturing officials first assembled outside the Gate of Literary Glory, facing east and west, and stood in order. They waited until the emperor had finished his daily lectures and Classics Lectern session; then the crown prince emerged from seclusion and took his seat. When the Eastern Palace first began lectures, Grand Secretaries attended consecutively for five days; thereafter one attended on the third and eighth of each month, bowing and withdrawing first before the other officials entered. In the eleventh year of Chongzhen, Academician Gu Xichou, acting head of the Ministry of Rites, said: "The Eastern Palace auspicious rites have been completed, and successive reigns offer precedents for bestowed rewards. The Veritable Records record that in the fifteenth year of Chenghua, when the crown prince emerged from seclusion for study, all six chief ministers were granted guardian and tutor titles. In the tenth year of Hongzhi, when the crown prince emerged from seclusion for study, four Inner Cabinet members including Xu Pu and seven ministers including Ma Wensheng were all granted palace-guardian titles. The emperor ordered that the matter be deliberated and implemented accordingly.

諸王讀書儀

Princely Study Rites

書堂在皇極門右廂。講官選部曹或進士改授翰林官充之。天順二年定，初入書堂，其日早，王至右順門之北書堂，面東，中坐。提督講讀並講讀官行四拜禮。內官捧書展於案上，就案左坐。講讀官進立於案右。伴讀十遍，叩頭退。每日講讀，清晨，王至書堂，講讀官行叩頭禮，伴讀十遍，出。飯後，復詣堂伴看寫字。講書畢，仍叩頭退。萬曆六年定，書堂設中座，書案在左，寫字案在右。輔臣率講讀侍書官候於門外。王入書堂，傳令旨「先生進」。輔臣率各官入，四拜，分班侍立。講讀官以次授書各十遍訖，令旨「先生吃酒飯」，各官出，王暫入堂南間少憩。輔臣各率官入。令旨「先生進」，遂入分班侍立。侍書官看寫字，講讀以次進講畢，各官一拜出。

The study hall was located in the right side chamber of the Gate of Imperial Supremacy. Lecturers were drawn from department officials or jinshi degree holders reassigned as Hanlin academicians. Established in the second year of Tianshun: upon first entering the study hall, the prince that morning proceeded to the study hall north of the Right Gate of Compliance, faced east, and sat at the center. The superintendent of reading and lecturing together with the reading and lecturing instructors performed the four-bow ceremony. Palace eunuchs unfolded the book on the lectern, and the prince sat to the left of it. The reading and lecturing instructors stepped forward and stood to the right of the lectern. They accompanied the reading for ten repetitions, then kowtowed and withdrew. For daily reading and lecturing, each morning the prince came to the study hall; the reading and lecturing instructors performed the kowtow ceremony, accompanied the reading for ten repetitions, and departed. After the meal, they returned to the hall to supervise calligraphy practice. When the lecture was finished, they again kowtowed and withdrew. Established in the sixth year of Wanli: the study hall was arranged with a central seat, the book lectern to the left, and the calligraphy lectern to the right. Assisting ministers led the reading, lecturing, and scribe instructors to wait outside the gate. The prince entered the study hall and transmitted the command: "Let the teachers enter." The assisting ministers led the instructors in, they performed four bows, and stood in attendance by rank. The reading and lecturing instructors successively conducted instruction, ten repetitions for each text; the command was given: "Teachers, take your meal"; the officials withdrew, and the prince briefly retired to the southern chamber of the hall. Each assisting minister led his instructors back in. On the command "Let the teachers enter," they entered and stood in attendance by rank. Scribe instructors supervised calligraphy practice; the reading and lecturing instructors successively delivered their lectures; each official bowed once and departed.

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