1
皇帝寶璽皇后冊寶皇妃以下冊印皇太子冊寶皇太子妃冊寶親王以下冊寶冊印鐵券印信符節宮室制度臣庶室屋制度器用
Imperial seals; the empress's investiture register and seal; registers and seals for imperial consorts from Imperial Noble Consort downward; the crown prince's register and seal; the crown princess's register and seal; registers and seals for princes of the blood from full prince downward; iron tallies; official seals; tally plaques and tallies; regulations for palaces; regulations for commoners' houses and utensils
2
明初寶璽十七:其大者曰:「皇帝奉天之寶」,曰:「皇帝之寶」,曰:「皇帝行寶」,曰:「皇帝信寶」,曰:「天子之寶」,曰:「天子行寶」,曰:「天子信寶」,曰:「制誥之寶」,曰:「敕命之寶」,曰:「廣運之寶」,曰:「皇帝尊親之寶」,曰:「皇帝親親之寶」,曰:「敬天勤民之寶。」; 又有「御前之寶」、「表章經史之寶。」 及「欽文之璽」。 丹符出驗四方。 洪武元年欲制寶璽,有賈胡浮海獻美玉,曰:「此出于闐,祖父相傳,當為帝王寶璽。」 乃命制為寶,不知十七寶中,此玉製何寶也。 成祖又制「皇帝親親之寶」、「皇帝奉天之寶」、「誥命之寶」、「敕命之寶」。
In early Ming there were seventeen imperial seals. The principal ones were titled "Seal Received from Heaven by the Emperor," "Seal of the Emperor," "Traveling Seal of the Emperor," "Trust Seal of the Emperor," "Seal of the Son of Heaven," "Traveling Seal of the Son of Heaven," "Trust Seal of the Son of Heaven," "Seal for Proclamations and Edicts," "Seal for Commands," "Seal of Broad Fortune," "Seal of the Emperor Honoring Kin," "Seal of the Emperor Cherishing Kin," and "Seal of Revering Heaven and Diligently Serving the People." There were also the "Seal Before the Throne" and the "Seal for Memorials and Classics and Histories." It also included the "Seal of Imperial Writings." Cinnabar tallies were dispatched to verify credentials throughout the realm. In Hongwu 1 (1368), as the court prepared to cast imperial seals, a foreign merchant who had come by sea presented a piece of fine jade, saying, "This stone came from Khotan and has been handed down in my family; it is fit to become the emperor's imperial seal." The emperor ordered it fashioned into a seal, but which of the seventeen seals was made from this jade is not recorded. The Chengzu Emperor also had cast the "Seal of the Emperor Cherishing Kin," the "Seal Received from Heaven by the Emperor," the "Seal for Proclamations," and the "Seal for Commands."
3
弘治十三年,鄠縣民毛志學於泥河濱得玉璽,其文曰:「受命於天,既壽永昌」。 色白微青,螭紐。 陝西巡撫熊翀以為秦璽復出,遣人獻之。 禮部尚書傅瀚言:「自有秦璽以來,歷代得喪真偽之跡具載史籍。 今所進,篆文與《輟耕錄》等書摹載魚鳥篆文不同,其螭紐又與史傳所紀文盤五龍、螭缺一角、旁刻魏錄者不類。 蓋秦璽亡已久,今所進與宋、元所得,疑皆後世摹秦璽而刻之者。 竊惟璽之用,以識文書,防詐偽,非以為寶玩也。 自秦始皇得藍田玉以為璽,漢以後傳用之,自是巧爭力取,謂得此乃足以受命,而不知受命以德,不以璽也。 故求之不得,則偽造以欺人; 得之則君臣色喜,以誇示於天下。 是皆貽笑千載。 我高皇帝自製一代之璽,文各有義,隨事而施,真足以為一代受命之符,而垂法萬世,何藉此璽哉!。」 帝從其言,卻而不用。
In Hongzhi 13 (1500), a Hu County commoner named Mao Zhixue found a jade seal on the bank of the Ni River inscribed, "Having received the mandate from Heaven, long life and eternal prosperity." The stone was white with a faint bluish tint, and the knob was carved as a hornless dragon. The Shaanxi grand coordinator Xiong Chong believed the Qin imperial seal had reappeared and dispatched envoys to present it to the throne. Minister of Rites Fu Han said, "Since the time of the Qin seal, historical records have fully documented how each dynasty gained or lost it and how authenticity was judged. The seal now presented does not match the fish-and-bird seal script reproduced in works such as the Record of Retiring to the Fields, and its hornless-dragon knob does not accord with historical accounts of a patterned disk with five dragons, a hornless dragon missing one horn, and Wei-era inscriptions carved at the side. The Qin seal has been lost for ages; what is now presented, like the seals obtained in Song and Yuan times, is probably a later imitation carved in the manner of the Qin seal. In my humble view, seals exist to authenticate documents and prevent forgery, not to be treasured as curios. Ever since Qin Shihuang took Lantian jade for his seal and later dynasties passed it down, men have schemed and fought over it, believing possession of the stone alone conferred the mandate—forgetting that the mandate rests on virtue, not on a seal. When they could not obtain the genuine seal, they forged one to deceive the world; when they did obtain one, ruler and ministers rejoiced and paraded it before the realm. All of this has been a laughingstock across the ages. Our August Founder fashioned seals for his own dynasty, each inscription bearing its own meaning and applied as occasion required—truly sufficient as the token of a dynasty's mandate and as a model for ten thousand generations. Why should we rely on this seal!" The emperor accepted his advice and declined to use the seal.
4
嘉靖十八年,新制七寶:曰:「奉天承運大明天子寶」、「大明受命之寶」、「巡狩天下之寶」、「垂訓之寶」、「命德之寶」、討罪安民之寶」、敕正萬民之寶」。 與國初寶璽共為禦寶二十四,尚寶司官掌之。
In Jiajing 18 (1539), seven new seals were cast: the "Seal of the Great Ming Son of Heaven Who Receives the Mandate from Heaven and Carries Its Fortune," the "Seal of the Great Ming Receiving the Mandate," the "Seal for Touring the Realm," the "Seal of Handing Down Instruction," the "Seal of Mandating Virtue," the "Seal for Punishing Crime and Pacifying the People," and the "Seal for Correcting the Myriad People." Together with the early Ming seals, there were twenty-four imperial seals in all, entrusted to the officials of the Imperial Seals Office.
5
皇后之冊:用金冊二片,依周尺長一尺二寸,廣五寸,厚二分五釐。 字依數分行,鐫以真書。 上下有孔,聯以紅絛,開闔如書帙,藉以紅錦褥。 冊盝用木,飾以渾金瀝粉蟠龍,紅紵絲襯裏,內以紅羅銷金小袱裹冊,外以紅羅銷金夾袱包之,五色小絛縈於外。 寶用金,龜紐,篆文曰:「皇后之寶」,依周尺方五寸九分,厚一寸七分。 寶池用金,闊取容。 寶篋二副,一置寶,一置寶池。 每副三重:外篋用木,飾以渾金瀝粉蟠龍,紅紵絲襯裏; 中篋用金鈒蟠龍; 內小篋飾如外篋,內置寶座,四角雕蟠龍,飾以渾金。 座上用錦褥,以銷金紅羅小夾袱裹寶,其篋外各用紅羅銷金大夾袱覆之。 臨冊之日,冊寶俱置於紅髹輿案,案頂有紅羅瀝水,用擔牀舉之。
For the empress's investiture register, two gold leaves were used, measuring by the Zhou foot one foot two inches long, five inches wide, and two and a half fen thick. The text was divided into lines according to character count and engraved in regular script. Holes at top and bottom were joined with red cord so the leaves opened and closed like a book case, resting on a red brocade mat. The register case was wooden, ornamented with coiled dragons in full gold powder and lined with red pongee silk; inside, a small gold-brocaded red gauze wrapper held the register, and outside, a gold-brocaded red gauze double wrapper bound it, wound about with small cords of five colors. The seal was of gold with a tortoise knob, inscribed in seal script "Seal of the Empress," and by the Zhou foot measured five inches nine fen square and one inch seven fen thick. The seal tray was of gold, sized to receive the seal. There were two sets of seal caskets, one for the seal and one for the seal tray. Each set had three layers: the outer casket was wooden, ornamented with coiled dragons in full gold powder and lined with red pongee silk; the middle casket was of gold-inlaid coiled dragons; the inner small casket matched the outer in ornament; inside stood a seal pedestal with coiled dragons carved at the four corners and finished in full gold. A brocade mat lay on the stand; the seal was wrapped in a small gold-brocaded red gauze double wrapper, and each casket was covered outside with a large gold-brocaded red gauze double wrapper. On the day of investiture, register and seal were placed together on a red-lacquered carrying table with a red gauze valance at the top, borne on a carrying bed.
6
皇貴妃而下,有冊無寶而有印。 妃冊,用鍍金銀冊二片,廣長與後冊同。 冊盝飾以渾金瀝粉蟠鳳。 其印用金,龜紐,尺寸與諸王寶同,文曰:「皇妃之印」。 篋飾以蟠鳳。 宣德元年,帝以貴妃孫氏有容德,特請於皇太后,制金寶賜之,未幾即誕皇嗣。 自是貴妃授寶,遂為故事。 嘉靖十年,立九嬪,冊用銀,殺皇妃五分之一,以金飾之。
From Imperial Noble Consort downward, investiture included a register but no seal, only an official stamp. A consort's register used two gilt-silver leaves of the same dimensions as the empress's register. The register case was ornamented with coiled phoenixes in full gold powder. The stamp was of gold with a tortoise knob, the same size as a prince's seal, inscribed "Stamp of the Imperial Consort." The casket was ornamented with coiled phoenixes. In Xuande 1 (1426), finding Imperial Consort Sun possessed both grace and virtue, the emperor specially petitioned the empress dowager to have a gold seal cast and bestowed on her; before long she bore the imperial heir. Thereafter the bestowal of a seal upon an imperial consort became established precedent. In Jiajing 10 (1531), when the nine secondary consort ranks were established, silver registers were used, one-fifth smaller than the imperial consort's and ornamented with gold.
7
皇太子冊寶:冊用金,二片,其制及盝篋之飾與皇后冊同。 寶用金,龜紐,篆書「皇太子寶」。 其制及池篋之飾與後寶同。
For the crown prince's register and seal, two gold leaves formed the register; its form and the ornament of case and casket matched the empress's register. The seal was of gold with a tortoise knob, inscribed in seal script "Seal of the Crown Prince." Its form and the ornament of tray and casket matched the empress's seal.
8
皇太子妃冊寶:其冊用金,兩葉,重百兩,每葉高一尺二寸,廣五寸。 藉冊以錦,聯冊以紅絲絛,墊冊以錦褥,裹冊以紅羅銷金袱。 其盝飾以渾金瀝粉雲鳳,內有花銀釘鉸,嵌金絲鐵筦龠; 外以紅羅銷金袱覆之。 其金寶之制未詳。 洪武二十八年更定,止授金冊,不用寶。
For the crown princess's register and seal, the register was of gold in two leaves weighing one hundred taels; each leaf measured one foot two inches high and five inches wide. The register rested on brocade, was bound with red silk cord, padded with a brocade mat, and wrapped in a gold-brocaded red gauze wrapper. Its case was ornamented with cloud-and-phoenix designs in full gold powder; inside were floral silver hinges and gold-wire-inlaid iron locks; outside, a gold-brocaded red gauze wrapper covered it. The specifications of its gold seal are not recorded in detail. In Hongwu 28 (1395) the regulations were revised so that only a gold register was conferred and no seal was used.
9
親王冊寶:冊制與皇太子同。 其寶用金,龜紐,依周尺方五寸二分,厚一寸五分,文曰:「某王之寶」。 池篋之飾,與皇太子寶同。 寶盝之飾,則雕蟠螭。
For princes of the blood, the register followed the crown prince's form. The seal was of gold with a tortoise knob, five inches two fen square and one inch five fen thick by the Zhou foot, inscribed "Seal of the Prince of [name]." The tray and casket matched those of the crown prince's seal. The seal case, however, was carved with coiled hornless dragons.
10
親王妃冊印:其金冊,高視太子妃冊減一寸,餘制悉同,冊文視親王。 其金印之制未詳。 洪武二十八年更定,止授金冊。
For a prince's consort, the gold register was one inch shorter than the crown princess's register; all other specifications were the same, and the text followed that used for a prince. The specifications of her gold stamp are not recorded in detail. In Hongwu 28 (1395) the regulations were revised so that only a gold register was conferred.
11
公主冊印:銀冊二片,鐫字鍍金,藉以紅錦褥。 冊盝飾以渾金瀝粉蟠螭。 其印同宋制,用金,龜紐,文曰:「某國公主之印」。 方五寸二分,厚一寸五分。 印池用金,廣取容。 印外篋用木,飾以渾金瀝粉盤鳳,中篋用金鈒蟠鳳,內小篋,飾如外篋。
For an imperial princess, two silver register leaves were used, the characters engraved and gilt, resting on a red brocade mat. The register case was ornamented with coiled hornless dragons in full gold powder. Her stamp followed Song practice: of gold with a tortoise knob, inscribed "Stamp of the Princess of [state name]." It measured five inches two fen square and one inch five fen thick. The stamp tray was of gold, sized to receive the stamp. The outer stamp casket was wooden, ornamented with coiled phoenixes in full gold powder; the middle casket was of gold-inlaid coiled phoenixes; the inner small casket matched the outer in ornament.
12
親王世子金冊金寶:承襲止授金冊,傳用金寶。
For the heir apparent of a prince of the blood, on succession only a gold register was conferred while the gold seal was transmitted for continued use.
13
世子妃亦用金冊。 洪武二十三年鑄世子妃印,制視王妃,金印,龜紐,篆文曰:「某世子妃印」。
The heir apparent's consort likewise received a gold register. In Hongwu 23 (1390) a stamp for the heir apparent's consort was cast to the same specifications as a prince's consort's: a gold stamp with tortoise knob, inscribed in seal script "Stamp of the Consort of the Heir Apparent of [name]."
14
郡王,鍍金銀冊、鍍金銀印,冊文視世子。 其妃止有鍍金銀冊。
Commandery princes received gilt-silver registers and gilt-silver stamps; the register text followed that used for an heir apparent. Their consorts received only gilt-silver registers.
15
功臣鐵券:洪武二年,太祖欲封功臣,議為鐵券,而未有定制。 或言台州民錢允一有家藏吳越王鏐唐賜鐵券,遂遣使取之,因其式而損益焉。 其制如瓦,第為七等。 公二等:一高尺,廣一尺六寸五分; 一高九寸五分,廣一尺六寸。 侯三等:一高九寸,廣一尺五寸五分; 一高八寸五分,廣一尺五寸; 一高八寸,廣一尺四寸五分。 伯二等:一高七寸五分,廣一尺三寸五分; 一高六寸五分,廣一尺二寸五分。 外刻履歷、恩數之詳,以記其功; 中鐫免罪、減祿之數,以防其過。 字嵌以金。 凡九十七副,各分左右,左頒功臣,右藏內府,有故則合之,以取信焉。 三年,大封功臣,公六人,侯二十八人,並賜鐵券。 公:李善長、徐達、李文忠、馮勝、鄧愈、常茂。 侯:湯和、唐勝宗、陸仲亨、周德興、華雲龍、顧時、耿炳文、陳德、郭子興、王志、鄭遇春、費聚、吳良、吳楨、趙庸、廖永忠、俞通源、華高、楊璟、康鐸、硃亮祖、傅友德、胡美、韓政、黃彬、曹良臣、梅思祖、陸聚。 二十五年,改制鐵券,賜公傅友德,侯王弼、耿炳文、郭英及故公徐達、李文忠,侯吳傑、沐英,凡八家。 永樂初,靖難功臣亦有賜者。
Iron tallies for meritorious officials: In Hongwu 2 (1369), as the Taizu Emperor prepared to enfeoff his meritorious followers, iron tallies were proposed, but no fixed regulations yet existed. It was reported that a Taizhou commoner named Qian Yunyi possessed in his family an iron tally the Tang had bestowed on King Qian Liu of Wuyue; envoys were dispatched to fetch it, and the court adapted its form with modifications. The tally was shaped like a roof tile and divided into seven grades. For dukes there were two grades: one was one foot high and one foot six inches five fen wide; one nine inches five fen high and one foot six inches wide. For marquises there were three grades: one nine inches high and one foot five inches five fen wide; one eight inches five fen high and one foot five inches wide; one eight inches high and one foot four inches five fen wide. For earls there were two grades: one seven inches five fen high and one foot three inches five fen wide; one six inches five fen high and one foot two inches five fen wide. The outer face recorded their careers and the details of favors granted, commemorating their merit; the inner face inscribed the number of pardons and stipend reductions allowed, to guard against future faults. The characters were inlaid with gold. Ninety-seven pairs were made in all, each divided into left and right halves: the left was bestowed on the meritorious official, the right stored in the inner palace; when needed the halves were joined to verify authenticity. In the third year (1370) a great enfeoffment of meritorious officials was carried out—six dukes and twenty-eight marquises—and iron tallies were bestowed on all. The dukes were Li Shanchang, Xu Da, Li Wenzhong, Feng Sheng, Deng Yu, and Chang Mao. The marquises were Tang He, Tang Shengzong, Lu Zhongheng, Zhou Dexing, Hua Yunlong, Gu Shi, Geng Bingwen, Chen De, Guo Zixing, Wang Zhi, Zheng Yuchun, Fei Ju, Wu Liang, Wu Zhen, Zhao Yong, Liao Yongzhong, Yu Tongyuan, Hua Gao, Yang Jing, Kang Duo, Zhu Liangzu, Fu Youde, Hu Mei, Han Zheng, Huang Bin, Cao Liangchen, Mei Sizu, and Lu Ju. In the twenty-fifth year (1392) the iron tally was redesigned and granted to Duke Fu Youde, Marquises Wang Bi, Geng Bingwen, and Guo Ying, and posthumously to the former dukes Xu Da and Li Wenzhong and Marquises Wu Jie and Mu Ying—eight households in all. Early in the Yongle reign, meritorious officials of the Pacification of Difficulties also received iron tallies.
16
百官印信:洪武初,鑄印局鑄中外諸司印信。 正一品,銀印,三臺,方三寸四分,厚一寸。 六部、都察院並在外各都司,俱正二品,銀印二臺,方三寸二分,厚八分。 其餘正二品、從二品官,銀印二臺,方三寸一分,厚七分。 惟衍聖公以正二品,三臺銀印,則景泰三年賜也。 順天、應天二府俱正三品,銀印,方二寸九分,厚六分五釐。 其餘正三品、從三品官,俱銅印,方二寸七分,厚六分。 惟太僕、光祿寺並在外鹽運司,俱從三品,銅印,方減一分,厚減五釐。 正四品、從四品,俱銅印,方二寸五分,厚五分。 正五品、從五品,俱銅印,方二寸四分,厚四分五釐。 惟在外各州從五品,銅印,方減一分,厚減五釐。 正六品、從六品,俱銅印,方二寸二分,厚三分五釐。 正七品、從七品,銅印,方二寸一分,厚三分。 正從八品,俱銅印,方二寸,厚二分五釐。 正從九品,俱銅印,方一寸九分,厚二分二釐。 未入流者,銅條記,闊一寸三分,長二寸五分,厚二分一釐。 以上俱直紐,九疊篆文。 初,雜職亦方印,至洪武十三年始改條記。 凡百官之印,惟文淵閣銀印,直紐,方一寸七分,厚六分,玉箸篆文,誠重之也。 武臣受重寄者,徵西、鎮朔、平蠻諸將軍,銀印,虎紐,方三寸三分,厚九分,柳葉篆文。 洪武中,嘗用上公佩將軍印,後以公、侯、伯及都督充總兵官,名曰:「掛印將軍」。 有事征伐,則命總兵佩印以往,旋師則上所佩印於朝。 此外,惟漕運總兵印同將軍。 其在外鎮守總兵、參將掛印,則洪熙元年始也。 有文臣掛將軍印者,王驥以兵部尚書徵湖、貴苗,掛平蠻將軍印; 王越以左都御史守大同,掛徵西將軍印。 其他文武大臣,有領敕而權重者,或給以銅關防,直紐,廣一寸九分五釐,長二寸九分,厚三分,九疊篆文,雖宰相行邊,與部曹無異。 惟正德時,張永徵安化王,用金鑄,嘉靖中,顧鼎臣居守,用牙鏤關防,皆特賜也。 初,太祖重御史之職,分河南等十三道,每道鑄二印,文曰:「繩愆糾繆」,守院御史掌其一,其一藏內府,有事則受以出,復命則納之。 洪武二十三年,都御史袁泰言各道印篆相類。 乃命改制某道監察御史,其奉差者,則曰:「巡按某處監察御史」,銅印直紐,有眼,方一寸五分,厚三分,八疊篆文。 成祖初幸北京,有一官署二三印者,夏原吉至兼掌九卿印,諸曹並於朝房取裁,其任重矣。
Official seals for the hundred offices: Early in Hongwu, the Seal-Casting Bureau cast seals for all offices inside and outside the capital. Rank 1a officials received a silver seal of three tiers, three inches four fen square and one inch thick. The Six Ministries, the Censorate, and all regional command commissions in the provinces were rank 2a, with silver seals of two tiers, three inches two fen square and eight fen thick. All other rank 2a and 2b officials received silver seals of two tiers, three inches one fen square and seven fen thick. Only the Duke of Yansheng, though holding rank 2a, received a silver seal of three tiers—granted in Jingtai 3 (1452). The Shuntian and Yingtian prefectures were both rank 3a, with silver seals two inches nine fen square and six fen five li thick. All other rank 3a and 3b officials received bronze seals two inches seven fen square and six fen thick. Only the Court of the Imperial Stud, the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and the provincial salt transport commissions, all rank 3b, received bronze seals one fen smaller in width and five li thinner. Rank 4a and 4b officials all received bronze seals two inches five fen square and five fen thick. Rank 5a and 5b officials all received bronze seals two inches four fen square and four fen five li thick. Only rank 5b officials in provincial prefectures received bronze seals one fen smaller in width and five li thinner. Rank 6a and 6b officials all received bronze seals two inches two fen square and three fen five li thick. Rank 7a and 7b officials received bronze seals two inches one fen square and three fen thick. Rank 8a and 8b officials all received bronze seals two inches square and two fen five li thick. Rank 9a and 9b officials all received bronze seals one inch nine fen square and two fen two li thick. Officials outside the regular ranks received bronze strip seals one inch three fen wide, two inches five fen long, and two fen one li thick. All of the above had straight knobs and nine-fold seal script. Initially miscellaneous offices also used square seals; strip seals were adopted only in Hongwu 13 (1380). Among all official seals, only the Hall of Literary Profundity received a silver seal with a straight knob, one inch seven fen square and six fen thick, in jade-brush seal script—a mark of special esteem. Military officials entrusted with weighty commissions—the Pacify-the-West, Pacify-the-North, and Pacify-the-Barbarians generals—received silver seals with tiger knobs, three inches three fen square and nine fen thick, in willow-leaf seal script. During Hongwu, senior nobles once wore generals' seals; later dukes, marquises, earls, and regional commanders served as supreme commanders, styled "generals bearing the seal." When campaigns arose, the supreme commander wore the seal on departure; on return he presented it at court. Beyond this, only the grain-transport supreme commander's seal matched that of a general. Regional garrison supreme commanders and deputy commanders bearing seals began only in Hongxi 1 (1425). Civil officials sometimes bore generals' seals: Wang Ji, as Minister of War campaigning against the Miao of Hunan and Guizhou, bore the Pacify-the-Barbarians general's seal; Wang Yue, as Left Censor-in-Chief defending Datong, bore the Pacify-the-West general's seal. Other civil and military grandees holding weighty imperial commissions were sometimes given bronze pass seals with straight knobs, one inch nine fen five li wide, two inches nine fen long, three fen thick, and nine-fold seal script—even a chief minister on frontier duty received the same as a ministry bureau. Only in the Zhengde reign, when Zhang Yong campaigned against the Prince of Anhua, was a gold pass seal granted; in Jiajing, when Gu Dingchen held the capital during the emperor's absence, an ivory-carved pass seal was granted—both were special bestowals. Initially the Taizu Emperor valued the censorate, dividing it into thirteen circuits including Henan; each circuit cast two seals inscribed "Correct Faults and Rectify Errors"—the resident censor held one, the other was stored in the inner palace; when business arose it was issued, and on reporting back it was returned. In Hongwu 23 (1390), Censor-in-Chief Yuan Tai reported that the seal scripts of the various circuits were too similar. The court then ordered them recast as "Censor of [circuit name]"; those on commission read "Touring Censor of [place]," bronze seals with straight knobs and perforations, one inch five fen square, three fen thick, in eight-fold seal script. When the Chengzu Emperor first visited Beijing, one official might hold two or three seals; Xia Yuanji even concurrently held the seals of all nine chief ministers, and all bureaus took decisions in the morning chambers—the burden of office was heavy indeed.
17
明初,賜高麗金印,龜紐,方三寸,文曰:「高麗國王之印」,賜安南鍍金銀印,駝紐,方三寸,文曰:「安南國王之印」。 賜占城鍍金銀印,駝紐,方三寸,文曰:「占城國王之印」。 賜吐蕃金印,駝紐,方五寸,文曰:「白蘭王印」。
In early Ming, Koryo received a gold seal with tortoise knob, three inches square, inscribed "Seal of the King of Koryo"; Annam received a gilt-silver seal with camel knob, three inches square, inscribed "Seal of the King of Annam." Champa received a gilt-silver seal with camel knob, three inches square, inscribed "Seal of the King of Champa." Tibet received a gold seal with camel knob, five inches square, inscribed "Seal of the King of Bailan."
18
符牌:凡宣召親王,必遣官齎金符以往。 親王之籓及鎮守、巡撫諸官奏請符驗,俱從兵部奏,行尚寶司領之。 洪武二十六年定制:凡公差,以軍情重務及奉旨差遣給驛者,兵部既給勘合,即赴內府,關領符驗,給驛而去,事竣則繳。 嘉靖三十七年定制:南京、鳳陽守備內外官,並各處鎮守總兵、巡撫,及各守一方不受鎮守節制內外守備,並領符驗奏事。 凡監槍、整飭兵備,並一城一堡守備官,不許關領符驗。 其制,上織船馬之狀,起馬者用馬字型大小,起船者水字型大小,起雙馬者達字型大小,起單馬者通字型大小,起站船者信字型大小。 洪武四年,始制用寶金牌。 凡軍機文書,自都督府、中書省長官而外,不許擅奏。 有詔調軍,中書省同都督府覆奏,乃各出所藏金牌,入請用寶。 又造軍中調發符牌,用鐵,長五寸,闊半之,上鈒二飛龍,下鈒二麒麟,首為圜竅,貫以紅絲絛。 嘗遣官齎金牌、信符詣西番,以茶易馬。 其牌四十一,上號藏內府,下號降各番,篆文曰:「皇帝聖旨」,左曰:「合當差發」,右曰:「不信者斬」。 二十二年又頒西番金牌、信符。 其後番官款塞,皆齎原降牌符而至。 永樂二年制信符、金字紅牌給雲南諸蠻。 凡歷代改元,則所頒外國信符、金牌,必更鑄新年號給之。 此符信之達於四裔者也。
Tally plaques: Whenever a prince of the blood was summoned, an official was dispatched bearing a gold tally. When princes departed for their fiefs and garrison commanders, grand coordinators, and other officials requested tally verification, all proceeded through the Ministry of War and were issued by the Imperial Seals Office. Regulations fixed in Hongwu 26 (1393): for official missions involving weighty military affairs or imperial commission with relay service, once the Ministry of War issued the travel warrant, the envoy obtained tally verification at the inner palace, received relay service and departed, and returned the tally when the mission ended. Regulations fixed in Jiajing 37 (1558): garrison officials at Nanjing and Fengyang, all regional supreme commanders and grand coordinators, and garrison commanders holding independent jurisdictions all received tally verification for memorializing. Officials supervising firearms, rectifying military preparedness, and garrison commanders of a single city or fort were not permitted to obtain tally verification. In form, the upper part depicted boat or horse service: horse relays used the horse character size, boat relays the water character size, paired-horse relays the da character size, single-horse relays the tong character size, and station-boat relays the xin character size. In Hongwu 4 (1371), imperial gold tally plaques were first instituted. All military documents, apart from the chiefs of the Regional Military Commission and the Secretariat, could not be memorialized without authorization. When an edict ordered troop movements, the Secretariat and Regional Military Commission jointly reported back; only then did each produce its stored gold tally and request use of the imperial seal. Army dispatch tally plaques were also made of iron, five inches long and half that wide; the upper part bore two flying dragons, the lower two qilin; the head had a round perforation threaded with red silk cord. Officials were once dispatched bearing gold tallies and credential plaques to the Western Regions to trade tea for horses. There were forty-one such plaques: upper numbers were stored in the inner palace, lower numbers issued to the various tribes; the seal script read "Imperial Edict of the Emperor," at left "Due for Dispatch," at right "He Who Does Not Believe—Beheaded." In the twenty-second year (1389) Western Regions gold tallies and credential plaques were issued again. Thereafter when tribal officials came in submission to the frontier, they all brought the originally issued plaques and tallies. In Yongle 2 (1404) credential plaques and red plaques with gold characters were made and granted to the various tribes of Yunnan. Whenever the dynasty changed its reign title, credential plaques and gold tallies issued to foreign states were recast with the new reign title and granted anew. These were the tally credentials extended to the four peripheries.
19
其武臣懸帶金牌,則洪武四年所造。 闊二寸,長一尺,上鈒雙龍,下鈒二伏虎,牌首尾為圓竅,貫以紅絲絛。 指揮佩金牌,雙雲龍,雙虎符。 千戶佩鍍金銀牌,獨雲龍,獨虎符。 百戶素雲銀牌符。 太祖親為文鈒之曰:「上天祐民,朕乃率撫。 威加華夏,實憑虎臣。 賜爾金符,永傳後嗣。」 天子祀郊廟,若視學、耤田,勳衛扈從及公侯、駙馬、五府都督日直、錦衣衛當直,及都督率諸衛千百戶夜巡內皇城,金吾諸衛各輪官隨朝巡綽,俱給金牌,有龍者、虎者、麒麟者、獅者、雲者,以官為差。
The gold tally plaques worn suspended by military officials were those made in Hongwu 4. They were two inches wide and one foot long; the upper part bore twin dragons, the lower two crouching tigers; head and tail had round perforations threaded with red silk cord. Commanders wore gold plaques with paired cloud-dragons and paired tiger tallies. Battalion commanders wore gilt-silver plaques with a single cloud-dragon and single tiger tally. Company commanders wore plain-cloud silver plaque tallies. The Taizu Emperor personally composed the inscription: "Heaven protects the people; I lead and comfort them. Majesty extends over Huaxia, truly relying on tiger-like warriors. I bestow on you this gold tally, to be transmitted forever to your descendants." When the Son of Heaven sacrificed at suburban altars and ancestral temples, inspected schools, or plowed the sacred field, meritorious guards in attendance, nobles, imperial sons-in-law, regional commanders on daily duty, the Embroidered-Uniform Guard on duty, regional commanders leading night patrols of the inner imperial city, and the Brocade-Clad Guard and other guards rotating court patrol officers—all received gold plaques with dragon, tiger, qilin, lion, or cloud designs according to rank.
20
其扈駕金字銀牌,則洪武六年所造。 尋改為守衛金牌,以銅為之,塗以金,高一尺,闊三寸,分字型大小凡五。 仁字型大小,上鈒獨龍蟠雲花,公、侯、伯、都督佩之。 義字型大小,鈒伏虎盤雲花,指揮佩之。 禮字型大小,獬貂豸蟠雲花,千戶、衛鎮撫佩之。 智字型大小,鈒獅子蟠雲花,百戶、所鎮撫佩之。 信字型大小,鈒蟠雲花,將軍佩之。 牌下鑄「守衛。」 二篆字,背鑄「凡守衛官軍懸帶此牌。」 等二十四字,牌首竅貫青絲。 鎮撫及將軍隨駕直宿衛者佩之,下直則納之。 凡夜巡官,於尚寶司領權杖,禁城各門、金吾等衛指揮、千戶,分領申字型大小牌,午門自一至四,長安左右門、東華門自五至八,西華門自九至十二,玄武門自十三至十六。 五城兵馬指揮亦日領權杖,東西南北中城,分領木、金、火、水、土五字型大小。 留守五衛、巡城官並金吾等衛守衛官,俱領銅符。 留守衛指揮所領承字及東西北字型大小牌,俱左半字陽文,左比。 金吾等衛,端門、承天門、東西北安門指揮千戶所領承字及東西北字型大小,俱右半字陰文,右比。 銅符字型大小比對相同,方許巡行。 內官、內使之出,亦須守門官比對銅符而後行。 皇城九門守衛軍與圍子手,各領勇字型大小銅牌。 錦衣校尉上直及光祿寺吏典廚役,遇大祀,俱佩雙魚銅牌。 永樂六年駕幸北京,扈從官俱帶牙牌; 五府、六部、都察院、大理寺、錦衣衛各鑄印信,通政司、鴻臚寺各鑄關防,謂之行在衛門印信關防。 其後命內府印綬監收貯。 嘉靖十八年南巡,禮部領出,以給扈從者焉。 凡郊廟諸祭陪祀供事官及執事者,入壇俱領牙牌,洪武八年始也。 圓花牌,陪祀官領之。 長花牌,供事官領之。 長素牌,執事人領之。 又謂之祀牌。 凡駕詣陵寢,扈從官俱於尚寶司領小牙牌。 嘉靖九年,皇后行親蠶禮,文官四品以上、武官三品以上命婦及使人,俱於尚寶司領牙牌,有雲花圜牌、鳥形長牌之異。 凡文武朝參官、錦衣衛當駕官,亦領牙牌,以防奸偽,洪武十一年始也。 其制,以象牙為之,刻官職於上。 不佩則門者卻之,私相借者論如律。 牙牌字型大小,公、侯、伯以勳字,駙馬都尉以親字,文官以文字,武官以武字,教坊官以樂字,入內官以官字。 正德十六年,禮科邢寰言:「牙牌惟常朝職官得懸。 比來權奸侵柄,傳旨升官者輒佩牙牌,宜清核以重名器。」 乃命文職不朝參者,毋得濫給牙牌; 武官進禦侍班、佩刀、執金爐者給與。 嘉靖二十八年,內府供事匠作、武職官皆帶朝參牙牌,嘗奉旨革奪,旋復給之。 給事中陳邦修以為言,禮部覆奏:「《會典》所載,文武官出入禁門帶牙牌,有執事、供事、朝參之別。 執事、供事者,皆屆期而領,如期而繳。 惟朝參牙牌,得朝夕懸之,非徒為關防之具,亦以示等威之辨也。 虛銜帶俸、供事、執事者,不宜概領。 第出入禁闥,若一切革奪,何由譏察? 尚寶司所貯舊牌數百,上有『入內府』字型大小,請以給之。 至於衛所武官,掌印、僉書侍衛之外,非屬朝參供役者,盡革奪之。 其納粟、填注冒賜牙牌及罷退閑住官舊所關領不繳者,俱逮問。」 報可。
The gold-character silver plaques for escorting the imperial carriage were made in Hongwu 6 (1373). They were soon changed to guard gold plaques of copper gilded with gold, one foot high and three inches wide, divided into five character sizes. The ren character size bore a solitary dragon amid cloud flowers; dukes, marquises, earls, and regional commanders wore it. The yi character size bore a crouching tiger amid cloud flowers; commanders wore it. The li character size bore a xiezhi beast amid cloud flowers; battalion commanders and guard commissioners wore it. The zhi character size bore a lion amid cloud flowers; company commanders and company commissioners wore it. The xin character size bore coiled cloud flowers; generals wore it. Below the plaque were cast the two seal characters "Guard." On the reverse were cast twenty-four characters: "All guard officers and soldiers who suspend this plaque." The head of the plaque had a perforation threaded with blue silk. Guard commissioners and generals on direct imperial escort duty wore them; when off duty they returned them. Night-patrol officers obtained authority staffs from the Imperial Seals Office; commanders and battalion commanders at the Forbidden City's gates each took charge of shen character size plaques—Meridian Gate numbers one through four, the Chang'an gates and East Flowery Gate five through eight, West Flowery Gate nine through twelve, North Mystical Gate thirteen through sixteen. The Five-City Cavalry Command also received daily authority staffs; the east, south, west, north, and central districts each took charge of wood, metal, fire, water, and earth character sizes. The five capital-garrison guards, city-patrol officers, and guard officers of the Brocade-Clad Guard and other guards all received bronze tallies. Capital-garrison commanders who received cheng character and east-west-north character size plaques all had the left half in raised characters, matched on the left. The Brocade-Clad Guard and commanders and battalion commanders at the Upright Gate, Gate of Receiving Heaven, and the east, west, north, and Peace gates who received cheng character and east-west-north character sizes all had the right half in intaglio, matched on the right. Patrol was permitted only when the bronze tally character sizes matched. When palace eunuchs and inner attendants went out, gate officers had to compare bronze tallies before allowing passage. Guard soldiers and encircling archers at the imperial city's nine gates each received yong character size bronze plaques. Embroidered-Uniform Guard corporals on duty and clerks and kitchen servants of the Court of Imperial Entertainments all wore paired-fish bronze plaques during great sacrifices. In Yongle 6 (1408), when the emperor visited Beijing, all escorting officials wore ivory plaques; the five offices, Six Ministries, Censorate, Court of Judicial Review, and Embroidered-Uniform Guard each cast seals, the Office of Transmission and Court of State Ceremonial each cast pass seals—called the traveling-capital guard-gate seals and pass seals. Later they were ordered stored by the inner palace's Seal and Ribbon Directorate. On the southern tour of Jiajing 18 (1539), the Ministry of Rites issued them to the imperial entourage. All accompanying-sacrifice officials, service officials, and ritual attendants at suburban altar sacrifices received ivory plaques on entering the altar precinct—beginning in Hongwu 8 (1375). Accompanying-sacrifice officials received round floral plaques. Service officials received long floral plaques. Ritual attendants received long plain plaques. They were also called sacrifice plaques. Whenever the imperial carriage went to the mausoleums, all officials in the entourage received small ivory plaques from the Imperial Seals Office. In Jiajing 9 (1530), when the empress performed the personal silkworm-raising rite, civil officials of rank 4a and above, military officials' wives of rank 3a and above, and envoys all received ivory plaques from the Imperial Seals Office—round cloud-flower plaques and long bird-shaped plaques among them. All civil and military officials attending court audience and Embroidered-Uniform Guard officers on imperial escort duty also received ivory plaques to guard against imposture—beginning in Hongwu 11 (1378). They were made of ivory, with the bearer's office inscribed upon them. Without wearing one, gatekeepers turned the bearer away; private lending was prosecuted according to law. Ivory plaque character sizes: dukes, marquises, and earls used the merit character; imperial sons-in-law the kin character; civil officials the civil character; military officials the military character; music-bureau officials the music character; inner-palace officials the office character. In Zhengde 16 (1521), Xing Huan of the Ministry of Rites Section said, "Ivory plaques may be worn only by officials in regular court attendance. Recently powerful traitors have encroached on authority; those promoted by transmitted edict have promptly worn ivory plaques. A clearing audit is needed to restore weight to titles and insignia." The court then ordered that civil officials not attending court audience must not be given ivory plaques indiscriminately; military officials who entered the imperial presence to attend, wore swords, or carried the golden censer were to receive them. In Jiajing 28 (1549), inner-palace service craftsmen and military officials all wore court-audience ivory plaques; an imperial order once stripped them, but they were soon issued again. Supervising Secretary Chen Bangxiu spoke on the matter; the Ministry of Rites reported back: "The Collected Statutes record that civil and military officials entering and leaving the forbidden gates wear ivory plaques, with distinctions for ritual attendance, service, and court audience. Those on ritual or service duty received them when the term arrived and returned them when due. Only court-audience ivory plaques might be worn morning and evening; they were not merely passes for control, but also marked distinctions of rank and dignity. Those with empty titles drawing stipends, and those on service or ritual duty, should not all receive them indiscriminately. Yet for entering and leaving the forbidden inner gates, if all plaques were stripped away entirely, how could misconduct be detected? The Imperial Seals Office stores several hundred old plaques bearing the "Enter Inner Palace" character size; please issue these. As for guard-unit military officials, apart from seal-holders, registrars, and attendants on guard duty, all not belonging to court audience or service should have them entirely stripped. Those who bought office with grain, obtained plaques by fraud, and dismissed or idle officials who had not returned old plaques—all were to be arrested and questioned." The memorial was approved.
21
洪武十五年,制使節,黃色三簷寶蓋,長二尺,黃紗袋籠之。 又制丹漆架一,以節置其上。 使者受命,則載以行; 使歸,則持之以復命。 二十三年,詔考定使節之制,禮部奏:「漢光武時,以竹為節,柄長八尺,其毛三重。 而黃公紹《韻會》註:漢節柄長三尺,毛三重,以旄牛為之。」 詔從三尺之制。
In the fifteenth year of Hongwu, credentials of office were instituted: a yellow triple-eaved precious canopy two feet long, kept in a yellow gauze bag. A vermilion-lacquered stand was also made to hold the staff. When an envoy received his commission, he carried the staff on his journey; when he returned, he bore it back to report on his mission. In the twenty-third year, an edict ordered the regulations for credentials of office to be examined and fixed; the Ministry of Rites reported: "In the reign of Emperor Guangwu of Han, bamboo was used for the staff, with a handle eight feet long and three tiers of tufts. But Huang Gongshao's annotation in the Collected Rhymes states that Han staffs had handles three feet long, with three tiers of tufts made from yak tail." The edict adopted the three-foot standard.
22
宮室之制:吳元年作新內。 正殿曰奉天殿,後曰華蓋殿,又後曰謹身殿,皆翼以廊廡。 奉天殿之前曰奉天門,殿左曰文樓,右曰武樓。 謹身殿之後為宮,前曰乾清,後曰坤甯,六宮以次列。 宮殿之外,周以皇城,城之門,南曰午門,東曰東華,西曰西華,北曰玄武。 時有言瑞州文石可甃地者。 太祖曰:「敦崇儉樸,猶恐習於奢華,爾乃導予奢麗乎?」 言者慚而退。 洪武八年,改建大內宮殿,十年告成。 闕門曰午門,翼以兩觀。 中三門,東西為左、右掖門。 午門內曰奉天門,門內奉天殿,嘗禦以受朝賀者也。 門左右為東、西角門,奉天殿左、右門,左曰中左,右曰中右,兩廡之間,左曰文樓,右曰武樓。 奉天殿之後曰華蓋殿,華蓋殿之後曰謹身殿,殿後則乾清宮之正門也。 奉天門外兩廡間有門,左曰左順,右曰右順。 左順門外有殿曰文華,為東宮視事之所。 右順門外有殿曰武英,為皇帝齋戒時所居。 制度如舊,規模益巨集。 二十五年改建大內金水橋,又建端門、承天門樓各五間,及長安東、西二門。 永樂十五年,作西宮於北京。 中為奉天殿,側為左右二殿,南為奉天門,左右為東、西角門。 其南為午門,又南為承天門。 殿北有後殿、涼殿、暖殿及仁壽、景福、仁和、萬春、永壽、長春等宮,凡為屋千六百三十餘楹。 十八年,建北京,凡宮殿、門闕規制,悉如南京,壯麗過之。 中朝曰奉天殿,通為屋八千三百五十楹。 殿左曰中左門,右曰中右門。 丹墀東曰文樓,西曰武樓,南曰奉天門,常朝所禦也。 左曰東角門,右曰西角門,東廡曰左順門,西廡曰右順門,正南曰午門。 中三門,翼以兩觀,觀各有樓,左曰左掖門,右曰右掖門。 午門左稍南,曰闕左門,曰神廚門,內為太廟。 右稍南,曰闕右門,曰社左門,內為太社稷。 又正南曰端門,東曰廟街門,即太廟右門也。 西曰社街門,即太社稷壇南左門也。 又正南曰承天門,又折而東曰長安左門,折而西曰長安右門。 東後曰東安門,西後曰西安門,北後曰北安門。 正南曰大明門,中為馳道,東西長廊各千步。 奉天殿之後曰華蓋殿,又後曰謹身殿。 謹身殿左曰後左門,右曰後右門。 正北曰乾清門,內為乾清宮,是曰正寢。 後曰交泰殿。 又後曰坤甯宮,為中宮所居。 東曰仁壽宮,西曰清甯宮,以奉太后。 左順門之東曰文華殿。 右順門之西曰武英殿。 文華殿東南曰東華門,武英殿西南曰西華門。 坤甯宮後曰坤寧門,門之後曰玄武門。 其他宮殿,名號繁多,不能盡列,所謂千門萬戶也。 皇城內宮城外,凡十有二門:曰東上門、東上北門、東上南門、東中門、西上門、西上北門、西上南門、西中門、北上門、北上東門、北上西門、北中門。 復於皇城東南建皇太孫宮,東安門外東南建十王街。 宣宗留意文雅,建廣寒、清暑二殿,及東、西瓊島,遊觀所至,悉置經籍。 正統六年重建三殿。 嘉靖中,於清甯宮後地建慈慶宮,於仁壽宮故基建慈甯宮。 三十六年,三殿門樓災,帝以殿名奉天,非題扁所宜用,敕禮部議之。 部臣會議言:「皇祖肇造之初,名曰奉天者,昭揭以示虔爾。 既以名,則是昊天監臨,儼然在上,臨御之際,坐以視朝,似未安也。 今乃修復之始,宜更定,以答天庥。」 明年重建奉天門,更名曰大朝門。 四十一年更名奉天殿曰皇極,華蓋殿曰中極,謹身殿曰建極,文樓曰文昭閣,武樓曰武成閣,左順門曰會極,右順門曰歸極,大朝門曰皇極,東角門曰弘政,西角門曰宣治。 又改乾清宮右小閣名曰道心,旁左門曰仁蕩,右門曰義平。 世宗初,墾西苑隙地為田,建殿曰無逸,亭曰豳風,又建亭曰省耕,曰省斂,每歲耕獲,帝輒臨觀。 十三年,西苑河東亭榭成,親定名曰天鵝房,北曰飛靄亭,迎翠殿前曰浮香亭,寶月亭前曰秋輝亭,昭和殿前曰澄淵亭,後曰AZ臺坡,臨漪亭前曰水雲榭,西苑門外二亭曰左臨海亭、右臨海亭,北閘口曰湧玉亭,河之東曰聚景亭,改呂樑洪之亭曰呂樑,前曰檥金亭,翠玉館前曰擷秀亭。
Regulations for palace buildings: In the first year of Wu, a new inner palace was constructed. The main hall was called the Hall of Complying with Heaven; behind it stood the Hall of the Imperial Canopy, and behind that the Hall of Cultivating the Person—all flanked by covered corridors. Before the Hall of Complying with Heaven stood the Gate of Complying with Heaven; to the left of the hall was the Literary Tower, to the right the Martial Tower. Behind the Hall of Cultivating the Person lay the residential palaces: in front, the Palace of Celestial Purity; behind, the Palace of Earthly Tranquility; the six palaces were arrayed in sequence. Outside the palace buildings, the Imperial City enclosed them. The city gates were: to the south, the Meridian Gate; to the east, the East Flowery Gate; to the west, the West Flowery Gate; to the north, the North Mystical Gate. At the time someone proposed that ornamental stone from Ruizhou could pave the palace ground. The Founder said: "I promote plain thrift and still fear growing accustomed to luxury—are you leading me toward extravagance?" The speaker withdrew in shame. In the eighth year of Hongwu, the great inner-palace buildings were rebuilt; they were completed in the tenth year. The gate-tower was called the Meridian Gate, flanked by two watch-towers. Three gates stood at the center; to the east and west were the Left and Right Side Gates. Within the Meridian Gate was the Gate of Complying with Heaven; within that gate stood the Hall of Complying with Heaven, where the emperor had held court to receive congratulations. To the left and right of the gate were the East and West Corner Gates; to the left and right of the hall were gates—the left called Inner Left, the right Inner Right; between the two side galleries, on the left the Literary Tower and on the right the Martial Tower. Behind the Hall of Complying with Heaven was the Hall of the Imperial Canopy; behind that, the Hall of Cultivating the Person; behind the hall stood the main gate of the Palace of Celestial Purity. Between the two side galleries outside the Gate of Complying with Heaven were gates: on the left, the Left Following Gate; on the right, the Right Following Gate. Outside the Left Following Gate was a hall called Literary Splendor, where the heir apparent conducted affairs. Outside the Right Following Gate was a hall called Martial Excellence, where the emperor resided when observing fasts. The system followed the old pattern, but the scale grew even more imposing. In the twenty-fifth year the Golden Water Bridge of the great inner palace was rebuilt, and the Gate of the Origin and Gate of Receiving Heaven towers were each built with five bays, along with the eastern and western Chang'an gates. In the fifteenth year of Yongle, a western palace was built in Beijing. At the center stood the Hall of Complying with Heaven, flanked by left and right halls; to the south was the Gate of Complying with Heaven, with the East and West Corner Gates to left and right. South of that was the Meridian Gate, and farther south the Gate of Receiving Heaven. North of the hall were a rear hall, cool hall, warm hall, and palaces including Benevolent Longevity, Auspicious Fortune, Benevolence and Harmony, Myriad Springtimes, Eternal Longevity, and Eternal Spring—altogether more than 1,630 bay-rooms. In the eighteenth year, Beijing was built; the regulations for palace buildings and gate-towers all followed Nanjing, but surpassed it in magnificence. The central court was called the Hall of Complying with Heaven, comprising altogether 8,350 bay-rooms. To the left of the hall was the Inner Left Gate; to the right, the Inner Right Gate. East of the red steps was the Literary Tower; west, the Martial Tower; south, the Gate of Complying with Heaven—where the emperor held regular court. To the left, the East Corner Gate; to the right, the West Corner Gate; the east gallery, the Left Following Gate; the west gallery, the Right Following Gate; due south, the Meridian Gate. Three gates stood at the center, flanked by two watch-towers; each tower had a gate pavilion—the left called the Left Side Gate, the right the Right Side Gate. Slightly south of the Meridian Gate on the left were the Gate Left of the Tower and the Spirit Kitchen Gate; within lay the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Slightly south on the right were the Gate Right of the Tower and the Spirit Altar Left Gate; within lay the Imperial Altars of Soil and Grain. Farther south stood the Gate of the Origin; to the east, the Temple Street Gate—the right gate of the Imperial Ancestral Temple. To the west, the Altar Street Gate—the southern left gate of the Imperial Altars of Soil and Grain. Still farther south stood the Gate of Receiving Heaven; then bending east, the Chang'an Left Gate; bending west, the Chang'an Right Gate. To the rear on the east, the East Peace Gate; to the rear on the west, the West Peace Gate; to the rear on the north, the North Peace Gate. Due south stood the Great Ming Gate; at the center ran the imperial roadway; the east and west long corridors each extended a thousand paces. Behind the Hall of Complying with Heaven was the Hall of the Imperial Canopy, and behind that the Hall of Cultivating the Person. To the left of the Hall of Cultivating the Person was the Rear Left Gate; to the right, the Rear Right Gate. Due north stood the Gate of Celestial Purity; within was the Palace of Celestial Purity—the principal sleeping quarters. Behind it stood the Hall of Union of Heaven and Earth. Farther behind was the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, where the empress resided. To the east, the Palace of Benevolent Longevity; to the west, the Palace of Pure Tranquility—for lodging the empress dowager. East of the Left Following Gate was the Literary Splendor Hall. West of the Right Following Gate was the Martial Excellence Hall. Southeast of the Literary Splendor Hall was the East Flowery Gate; southwest of the Martial Excellence Hall was the West Flowery Gate. Behind the Palace of Earthly Tranquility was the Gate of Earthly Tranquility; behind the gate stood the North Mystical Gate. The other palaces were too numerous in name to list in full—what people call "a thousand gates and ten thousand doors." Outside the inner-palace city wall but within the Imperial City there were twelve gates in all: the East Upper Gate, East Upper North Gate, East Upper South Gate, East Central Gate, West Upper Gate, West Upper North Gate, West Upper South Gate, West Central Gate, North Upper Gate, North Upper East Gate, North Upper West Gate, and North Central Gate. Again at the southeast of the Imperial City a palace for the imperial great-grandson was built, and southeast outside the East Peace Gate the Ten Princes Street was laid out. The Xuande Emperor valued literary refinement, building the Broad Cold and Clear Summer halls and the eastern and western Jade Isles; wherever he traveled for pleasure, he placed classics and records. In the sixth year of Zhengtong, the three main halls were rebuilt. During the Jiajing reign, on land behind the Palace of Pure Tranquility the Ciji Palace was built, and on the former site of the Palace of Benevolent Longevity the Cining Palace was built. In the thirty-sixth year, fire destroyed the three halls and their gate-towers; the emperor held that because the hall was named Complying with Heaven, it was unsuitable as an inscribed plaque title and ordered the Ministry of Rites to deliberate. Ministry officials met and reported: "When our imperial ancestor first founded the realm, naming it Complying with Heaven proclaimed reverence. Once so named, the August Heaven above watches and presides; when the emperor sits there to hold court, it seems not altogether fitting. Now at the beginning of restoration, the names should be changed anew to answer Heaven's favor." The following year the Gate of Complying with Heaven was rebuilt and renamed the Great Audience Gate. In the forty-first year the Hall of Complying with Heaven was renamed Supreme Ultimate; the Hall of the Imperial Canopy, Central Ultimate; the Hall of Cultivating the Person, Establishing Ultimate; the Literary Tower, Literary Brilliance Pavilion; the Martial Tower, Martial Accomplishment Pavilion; the Left Following Gate, Gathering Ultimate; the Right Following Gate, Returning Ultimate; the Great Audience Gate, Supreme Ultimate; the East Corner Gate, Extending Governance; and the West Corner Gate, Proclaiming Order. The small pavilion to the right of the Palace of Celestial Purity was also renamed Path of the Heart; the gate to its left, Benevolence Expansive; to the right, Righteousness Level. At the beginning of the Shizong reign, spare land in the Western Park was reclaimed as fields; a hall called No Idleness was built, a pavilion called Odes of Bin, and pavilions called Inspecting the Plough and Inspecting the Harvest; each year at ploughing and harvest the emperor would personally go to observe. In the thirteenth year, the pavilions and terraces east of the river in the Western Park were completed; the emperor personally fixed their names: the Swans Lodge; to the north, the Flying Mist Pavilion; before the Welcoming Green Hall, the Floating Fragrance Pavilion; before the Precious Moon Pavilion, the Autumn Radiance Pavilion; before the Zhaohua Hall, the Clear Abyss Pavilion; behind it, the Yutai Terrace Slope; before the Rippling Waters Pavilion, the Water and Clouds Veranda; outside the Western Park gate, the Left Overlooking-the-Sea and Right Overlooking-the-Sea pavilions; at the north sluice, the Jade-Emerging Pavilion; east of the river, the Gathering Scenery Pavilion; Lüliang Hong's pavilion was renamed Lüliang; before it, the Mooring Gold Pavilion; and before the Emerald Jade Lodge, the Gathering Excellence Pavilion.
23
親王府制:洪武四年定,城高二丈九尺,正殿基高六尺九寸,正門、前後殿、四門城樓,飾以青綠點金,廊房飾以青黛。 四城正門,以丹漆,金塗銅釘。 宮殿窠栱攢頂,中畫蟠螭,飾以金,邊畫八吉祥花。 前後殿座,用紅漆金蟠螭,帳用紅銷金蟠螭。 座後壁則畫蟠螭、彩雲,後改為龍。 立山川、社稷、宗廟於王城內。 七年定親王所居殿,前曰承運,中曰圜殿,後曰存心; 四城門,南曰端禮,北曰廣智,東曰體仁,西曰遵義。 太祖曰:「使諸王睹名思義,以籓屏帝室。」 九年定親王宮殿、門廡及城門樓,皆覆以青色琉璃瓦。 又命中書省臣,惟親王宮得飾硃紅、大青綠,其他居室止飾丹碧。 十二年,諸王府告成。 其制,中曰承運殿,十一間,後為圜殿,次曰存心殿,各九間。 承運殿兩廡為左右二殿,自存心、承運,週迴兩廡,至承運門,為屋百三十八間。 殿後為前、中、後三宮,各九間。 宮門兩廂等室九十九間。 王城之外,周垣、西門、堂庫等室在其間,凡為宮殿室屋八百間有奇。 弘治八年更定王府之制,頗有所增損。
Regulations for princely residences were fixed in the fourth year of Hongwu: the city wall was twenty-nine feet high, the main hall platform six feet nine inches high; the main gate, front and rear halls, and four gate-towers were decorated in green with gold points, and corridor rooms in blue-black. The four main gates of the city were finished in cinnabar lacquer with gold-coated bronze nails. Palace halls had bracket sets and clustered ridge-ends; the center was painted with coiled dragons ornamented in gold, and the border with the eight auspicious emblems. The front and rear hall seats used red lacquer with gold coiled dragons; curtains used red brocade with gold coiled dragons. The wall behind the seat was painted with coiled dragons and colored clouds—later changed to dragons. Altars to the mountains and rivers, soil and grain, and the ancestral temple were established within the princely city. In the seventh year the halls where princes resided were fixed: the front hall called Receiving the Mandate; the center, the Round Hall; the rear, Preserving the Heart; the four city gates were: to the south, Correct Ritual; to the north, Broad Wisdom; to the east, Embodying Humanity; to the west, Following Righteousness. The Founder said: "Let the various princes see the names and reflect on their meanings, to serve as a protective screen for the imperial house. In the ninth year, princely palace buildings, side galleries, and gate-towers were all roofed with blue glazed tiles. He also ordered officials of the Secretariat: only princely palaces might use vermilion red and great green; other residences were limited to cinnabar and jade-green. In the twelfth year, all princely residences were completed. The layout was: at the center, the Hall of Receiving the Mandate of eleven bays; behind it, the Round Hall; next, the Hall of Preserving the Heart—each of nine bays. The two side halls flanking the Hall of Receiving the Mandate were the left and right halls; from the Preserving the Heart and Receiving the Mandate halls, galleries ran all around to the Gate of Receiving the Mandate—138 bay-rooms in all. Behind the halls were front, central, and rear palaces of three sections, each nine bays. Side chambers flanking the palace gates and similar rooms totaled ninety-nine bays. Outside the princely city, encircling walls, the west gate, halls, storehouses, and the like lay between—altogether more than eight hundred palace chambers and rooms. In the eighth year of Hongzhi the regulations for princely residences were revised again, with considerable additions and reductions.
24
郡王府制:天順四年定。 門樓、廳廂、廚庫、米倉等,共數十間而已。
Regulations for commandery-prince residences were fixed in the fourth year of Tianshun. Gate-towers, halls, side chambers, kitchens, granaries, and the like amounted to only several dozen rooms.
25
公主府第:洪武五年,禮部言:「唐、宋公主視正一品,府第並用正一品制度。 今擬公主第,廳堂九間,十一架,施花樣獸脊,樑、棟、鬥栱、簷桷彩色繪飾,惟不用金。 正門五間,七架。 大門,綠油,銅環。 石礎、牆磚,鐫鑿玲瓏花樣。」 從之。
Princess residences: In the fifth year of Hongwu, the Ministry of Rites reported: "Under the Tang and Song, princesses were treated as Grade 1 Positive, and their residences followed Grade 1 Positive regulations. It is now proposed for princess residences: the reception hall shall have nine bays and eleven bracket tiers, with a patterned-animal ridge; beams, pillars, bracket arms, and eaves shall be painted in colors, but without gold. The main gate shall have five bays and seven tiers. The great gate shall be finished in green oil with bronze rings. Stone foundations and wall bricks shall be carved with delicate openwork patterns." The proposal was adopted.
26
百官第宅:明初,禁官民房屋不許雕刻古帝后、聖賢人物及日月、龍鳳、狻猊、麒麟、犀象之形。 凡官員任滿致仕,與見任同。 其父祖有官,身歿,子孫許居父祖房舍。 洪武二十六年定制,官員營造房屋,不許歇山轉角,重簷重栱,及繪藻井,惟樓居重簷不禁。 公侯,前廳七間、兩廈,九架。 中堂七間,九架。 後堂七間,七架。 門三間,五架,用金漆及獸面錫環。 家廟三間,五架。 覆以黑板瓦,脊用花樣瓦獸,樑、棟、鬥栱、簷桷彩繪飾。 門窗、枋柱金漆飾。 廊、廡、庖、庫從屋,不得過五間,七架。 一品、二品,廳堂五間,九架,屋脊用瓦獸,樑、棟、鬥栱、簷桷青碧繪飾。 門三間,五架,綠油,獸面錫環。 三品至五品,廳堂五間,七架,屋脊用瓦獸,樑、棟、簷桷青碧繪飾。 門三間,三架,黑油,錫環。 六品至九品,廳堂三間,七架,樑、棟飾以土黃。 門一間,三架,黑門,鐵環。 品官房舍,門窗、戶牖不得用丹漆。 功臣宅舍之後,留空地十丈,左右皆五丈。 不許那移軍民居止,更不許於宅前後左右多佔地,構亭館,開池塘,以資遊眺。 三十五年,申明禁制,一品、三品廳堂各七間,六品至九品廳堂樑棟祗用粉青飾之。
Dwellings of officials and commoners: At the beginning of the Ming, it was forbidden to carve on houses images of ancient emperors and empresses, sages and worthies, or of the sun, moon, dragon, phoenix, suanni, qilin, rhinoceros, and elephant. Officials who had completed their term and retired were subject to the same regulations as those still in office. If their father or grandfather had held office and died, descendants were permitted to reside in the father's or grandfather's dwelling. Regulations fixed in the twenty-sixth year of Hongwu: when officials built houses, they might not use hip-and-gable roofs with corner turns, double eaves, double bracket sets, or painted well-canopies—only upper-story buildings with double eaves were not forbidden. Dukes and marquises: the front hall had seven bays with two wings and nine bracket tiers. The central hall had seven bays and nine bracket tiers. The rear hall had seven bays and seven bracket tiers. The gate had three bays and five bracket tiers, finished in gold lacquer with beast-face tin rings. The family temple had three bays and five bracket tiers. The roof used black-board tiles, the ridge bore patterned tile beasts, and the beams, pillars, bracket arms, and eaves were painted in colors. Doors, windows, and frame pillars were ornamented with gold lacquer. Corridors, side halls, kitchens, storehouses, and dependent buildings might not exceed five bays or seven bracket tiers. Rank 1a and 1b officials: reception hall of five bays and nine bracket tiers, ridge with tile beasts, beams, pillars, bracket arms, and eaves painted in green-blue. The gate had three bays and five bracket tiers, a green oil finish, and beast-face tin rings. Rank 3a through 5b officials: reception hall of five bays and seven bracket tiers, ridge with tile beasts, beams, pillars, and eaves painted in green-blue. The gate had three bays and three bracket tiers, a black oil finish, and tin rings. Rank 6a through 9b officials: reception hall of three bays and seven bracket tiers, with beams and pillars ornamented in ochre yellow. The gate had one bay and three bracket tiers, a black door, and iron rings. In the houses of ranked officials, doors, windows, and lattices might not use cinnabar lacquer. Behind the dwellings of meritorious officials, ten zhang of open ground was reserved, with five zhang on each side. It was forbidden to displace military households for residence, and still more forbidden to seize extra land around the dwelling to build pavilions, open ponds, and create scenic retreats. In the thirty-fifth year, prohibitions were restated: rank 1a and 3a reception halls were limited to seven bays each, and rank 6a through 9b reception-hall beams and pillars might use only powder-blue ornament.
27
庶民廬舍:洪武二十六年定制,不過三間,五架,不許用鬥栱,飾彩色。 三十五年復申禁飭,不許造九五間數,房屋雖至一二十所,隨基物力,但不許過三間。 正統十二年令稍變通之,庶民房屋架多而間少者,不在禁限。
Commoners' cottages: regulations fixed in Hongwu 26 limited them to no more than three bays and five bracket tiers, and forbade bracket arms and colored ornament. In the thirty-fifth year prohibitions were enforced again: the nine-five bay pattern was forbidden; though a household might build a dozen or twenty structures according to its means, none might exceed three bays. In Zhengtong 12 (1447) a slight relaxation was ordered: commoners' houses with many bracket tiers but few bays were not subject to the prohibition.
28
器用之禁:洪武二十六年定,公侯、一品、二品,酒注、酒盞金,餘用銀。 三品至五品,酒注銀,酒盞金,六品至九品,酒注、酒盞銀,餘皆磁、漆。 木器不許用硃紅及抹金、描金、雕琢龍鳳文。 庶民,酒注錫,酒盞銀,餘用磁、漆。 百官,牀面、屏風、槅子,雜色漆飾,不許雕刻龍文,並金飾硃漆。 軍官、軍士,弓矢黑漆,弓袋、箭囊,不許用硃漆描金裝飾。 建文四年申飭官民,不許僭用金酒爵,其椅棹木器亦不許硃紅金飾。 正德十六年定,一品、二品,器皿不用玉,止許用金。 商賈、技藝家器皿不許用銀。 餘與庶民同。
Prohibitions on utensils: fixed in Hongwu 26—dukes, marquises, and rank 1a and 1b officials used gold for wine ewers and cups, silver for other vessels. Rank 3a through 5b officials used silver ewers and gold cups; rank 6a through 9b used silver ewers and cups; all other vessels were porcelain or lacquer. Wooden utensils might not use cinnabar red, applied gold, traced gold, or carved dragon-and-phoenix designs. Commoners used tin ewers and silver cups; other vessels were porcelain or lacquer. For all officials, bed surfaces, screens, and lattice panels might use varicolored lacquer ornament, but carving dragon designs and applying gold on cinnabar lacquer were forbidden. Military officers and soldiers lacquered bows and arrows in black; bow cases and quivers might not use cinnabar lacquer or traced-gold ornament. In Jianwen 4 (1402) officials and commoners were admonished: usurpation of gold wine vessels was forbidden, and chairs, tables, and wooden utensils likewise might not use cinnabar red or gold ornament. Fixed in Zhengde 16 (1521): rank 1a and 1b officials might not use jade utensils and were permitted only gold. Merchants and artisans might not use silver utensils. All other regulations were the same as for commoners.