1
志六十六
Treatise 66
2
禮十（ 賓禮）
Rites Ten ( Guest Rites)
3
籓國通禮山海諸國朝貢禮敕封籓服禮外國公使覲見禮
General Protocol for Vassal States; Tribute Protocol for Maritime Countries; Investiture Protocol for Tributary Domains; Protocol for Audiences with Foreign Envoys
4
內外王公相見禮京官相見禮直省官相見禮士庶相見禮
Protocol for Meetings among Inner and Outer Princes and Dukes; Protocol for Meetings among Capital Officials; Protocol for Meetings among Provincial Officials; Protocol for Meetings among Scholars and Commoners
5
四曰賓禮。 清初籓服有二類，分隸理籓院、主客司。 隸院者，蒙古喀爾喀，西藏、青海、廓爾喀是也； 隸司者，曰朝鮮，曰越南，曰南掌，曰緬甸，曰蘇祿，曰荷蘭，曰暹羅，曰琉球。 親疏略判，於禮同為屬也。 西洋諸國，始亦屬於籓部，逮咸、同以降，歐風亞雨，咄咄逼人，覲聘往來，締結齊等，而於禮則又為敵。 夫詩歌「有客」，傳載「交鄰」，無論屬國、與國，要之，來者皆賓也。 我為主人，凡所以將事，皆賓禮也。 茲編分著其儀節，而王公百官相見禮與士庶相見禮，亦附識焉。
The fourth category of rites is Guest Rites. At the beginning of the Qing dynasty, tributary domains fell into two categories, respectively subordinate to the Court of Colonial Affairs and the Host and Guest Bureau. Those under the Court were the Khalkha Mongols, Tibet, Qinghai, and Gorkha; Those under the Bureau were Korea, Vietnam, Lan Xang, Burma, Sulu, Holland, Siam, and Ryukyu. Though degrees of closeness and distance were broadly distinguished, in ritual terms they were all alike tributary domains. The Western nations were at first also counted among the vassal departments; from the Xianfeng and Tongzhi reigns onward, as European influence pressed upon Asia, audiences and embassies were exchanged and treaties were concluded on equal terms, and in ritual they came to be treated as equals rather than as vassals. Whether in the Odes' "There Are Guests," or in the traditions concerning "Relations with Neighbors"—whether vassal states or coequal states, in the end all who come are guests. We are the hosts; all measures taken to receive them belong to Guest Rites. This compilation sets forth their ceremonies in detail; the protocols governing meetings among princes and officials, and among scholars and commoners, are also appended.
6
籓國通禮清初，蒙古北部喀爾喀三汗同時納貢。 朔漠蕩平，懷柔漸遠。 北逾瀚海，西絕羌荒。 青海厄魯特，西藏準噶爾，悉隸版圖。 荷蘭亦受朝敕稱王，名列籓服。 厥後至者彌眾，乃令各守疆圉、修職貢，設理籓院統之。
General Protocol for Vassal States: At the beginning of the Qing, the three Khalkha khans of northern Mongolia simultaneously submitted tribute. The northern deserts were pacified, and imperial conciliation extended ever farther. To the north the realm crossed the Gobi; to the west it reached beyond the Qiang frontier. The Oirats of Qinghai and the Dzungars of Tibet all came under the imperial domain. Holland also received an imperial patent of investiture as king and was listed among the tributary domains. Afterward those who came grew ever more numerous; they were ordered each to guard their borders and fulfill tribute duties, and the Court of Colonial Affairs was established to oversee them.
7
崇德間，定制，外籓諸部貝勒等有大勛績，封和碩親王，或多羅郡王，次多羅貝勒，遣使持信約往封。 既入境，貝勒出迎五里外，跽俟制冊過，騎以從。 抵府，設香案正中，使臣奉冊其上，退立左旁，貝勒一叩三跪。 畢，興，復跪，使臣授冊。 宣讀官宣畢，置原案，三叩，興。 受冊如初禮。 貝勒與使臣對行六叩禮。 使臣坐左，貝勒坐右。 事訖，躬送如前。 凡有詔敕、賞賚至亦如之。
During the Chongde reign regulations were fixed: banner princes of the outer vassal departments who had great merit were enfeoffed as prince of the first rank, prince of the second rank, or banner lord of the third rank, and envoys were dispatched bearing credentials to invest them. Once the envoy entered their territory, the banner prince went out to welcome him five li beyond the border, knelt and waited until the patent passed, then mounted and followed. Upon reaching the princely residence, an incense table was set in the center; the envoy placed the patent upon it and withdrew to stand at the left; the banner prince performed one kowtow and three kneelings. When this was finished, he rose, knelt again, and the envoy handed him the patent. After the court reader finished reading the investiture decree, the patent was replaced on the table; he kowtowed three times and rose. Receiving the patent followed the initial ceremony. The banner prince and the envoy exchanged six kowtows facing each other. The envoy sat on the left; the banner prince sat on the right. When the business was concluded, he escorted the envoy out in person as before. Whenever imperial edicts or gifts arrived, the same procedure was followed.
8
內外札薩克會盟，三年一舉。 使臣齎制往，迎送禮同。 自王以降，歲時朝貢者，分年番代，列班末行禮。 坐次視內親王、貝勒、貝子、公降一等，宴賚有差。
Inner and outer jasak princes convened in league every three years. Envoys bearing imperial patents went to them; the reception and send-off ceremonies were the same. From princes downward, those who came annually on tribute were rotated by year-class, and performed rites at the end of the court ranks. Seating was one grade below inner princes, banner lords, banner sons, and dukes; banquets and gifts varied by rank.
9
康熙五十九年，定朝覲年例。 蒙古二十四部為兩班，喀爾喀札薩克等為四班。 雍正四年，帝念四十九旗王公台吉遠至勤勞，詔改三班，二歲一朝。 咸豐八年，以蒙古汗王等遠道輸將，諭令停止年班。 御前行走者，番上如故。
In the fifty-ninth year of Kangxi, the annual schedule for court audiences was fixed. The twenty-four Mongol banners formed two rotations; the Khalkha jasaks and others formed four rotations. In the fourth year of Yongzheng, the emperor, mindful of the long journey and labor of the princes and taiji of the forty-nine banners, decreed a change to three rotations, with audiences every two years. In the eighth year of Xianfeng, because the Mongol khans and princes made the long journey to bring tribute, an edict ordered the annual rotation to cease. Those who served at the imperial presence continued to rotate on duty as before.
10
其貢獻儀文，按季各旗遣一人來將事，年時貢馬匹羊酒，交理籓院轉納禮部。 朝貢賞賚諸典，柔遠清吏司掌之。
As for the ceremonial form of tribute, each banner sent one person each season to handle the business; each year they presented horses, sheep, and wine, which were submitted through the Court of Colonial Affairs to the Ministry of Rites. The regulations governing tribute and rewards were administered by the Softening the Distant Bureau.
11
山海諸國朝貢禮凡諸國以時修貢，遣陪臣來朝，延納燕賜，典之禮部。 將入境，所在長吏給郵符，遴文武官數人伴送。 有司供館餼，遣兵護之。 按途更代，以達京畿。 既至，延入賓館，以時稽其人眾，均其飲食。 翼日，具表文、方物，暨從官各服其服，詣部俟階下。 儀制司官設表案堂中，質明，會同四譯館卿率貢使至禮部，侍郎一人出立案左，儀制司官二人分立左右楹。 館卿先升，立左楹西。 通事、序班各二人，引貢使等升階跪。 正使舉表，館卿祗受，以授侍郎，陳案上，復位。 使臣等行三跪九叩禮，興。 退，館卿率之出。 禮部官送表內閣俟命，貢物納所司。
Tribute Protocol for Maritime Countries: Whenever the various states paid tribute on schedule and dispatched attendant ministers to court, their reception and banquet gifts were regulated by the Ministry of Rites. When they were about to enter the border, the local chief official issued travel passes and selected several civil and military officials to escort them. The responsible officials supplied lodging and provisions and dispatched soldiers to guard them. Escorts were replaced along the route until they reached the capital. Once they arrived, they were received into the guest house; their numbers were checked in due course and their food and drink apportioned. The next day they prepared the memorial, local products, and each attendant dressed in his own nation's garb, and went to the ministry to wait below the steps. An official of the Ceremonial Regulations Bureau set out the memorial table in the hall; at dawn the director of the Four Translators Institutes led the tribute envoys to the Ministry of Rites; one vice minister came out and stood to the left of the table; two Ceremonial Regulations officials stood one at each hall pillar. The institute director ascended first and stood west of the left pillar. Two interpreters and two ushers each guided the tribute envoys up the steps to kneel. The chief envoy raised the memorial; the institute director received it reverently and handed it to the vice minister, who placed it on the table; then he returned to his place. The envoys performed three kneelings and nine kowtows, then rose. They withdrew, and the institute director led them out. Ministry officials sent the memorial to the Grand Secretariat to await orders; the tribute goods were delivered to the appropriate department.
12
如值大朝常朝，序班引貢使等列西班末，聽贊行禮如儀。 非朝期則禮部先奏，若召見，館卿豫戒習儀。 屆日帝御殿，禮部尚書引貢使入，通事隨行，至丹墀西行禮畢，升自西階，通事復從之。 及殿門外跪，帝慰問，尚書承傳，通事轉諭，貢使對辭，通事譯言，尚書代奏。 畢，乃退。 如示優異，則丹墀行禮畢，即引入殿右門，立右翼大臣末，通事立少後。 賜坐、賜茶，均隨大臣跪叩，飲畢，慰問傳答如初。 出朝所，賜尚方飲食，退。 翼日赴午門外謝恩。
If it fell on a grand audience or regular audience day, ushers led the tribute envoys to stand at the end of the west rank, and on the herald's cue they performed the rites according to protocol. On non-audience days the Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial first; if an audience was granted, the institute director instructed them beforehand in court etiquette. On the appointed day the emperor held court; the minister of rites led the tribute envoys in, with interpreters following; they performed rites in the western courtyard, then ascended by the west steps, and the interpreters followed again. They knelt outside the hall gates; the emperor inquired after them; the minister received and relayed his words; the interpreter translated them; the envoys replied; the interpreter rendered their words; and the minister reported on their behalf. When this was finished, they withdrew. If special favor was shown, after the courtyard rites were finished they were led in through the right hall door, standing after the right-wing ministers, with the interpreter standing slightly behind. When seated reception and tea were granted, they knelt and kowtowed along with the ministers; after drinking, inquiries and replies proceeded as before. Leaving the audience hall, they were granted food from the imperial kitchen, then withdrew. The next day they went outside the Meridian Gate to express thanks for the imperial grace.
13
禮部疏請頒賜國王並燕賚貢使，既得旨，所司陳賜物午門道左，館卿率貢使等東面立，侍郎西面立，有司咸序。 貢使詣西墀三跪九叩，主客司官頒賜物授貢使，貢使跪受。 以次頒賜貢使暨從官從人，咸跪受。 贊「興，叩」如儀。 退，賜宴禮部。
The Ministry of Rites submitted a memorial requesting permission to distribute gifts to the king and banquet the tribute envoys; once the order was received, the responsible officials arranged the gifts to the east of the Meridian Gate road; the institute director led the tribute envoys to stand facing east, the vice minister stood facing west, and all officials took their places in order. The tribute envoys approached the west platform and performed three kneelings and nine kowtows; an official of the Host Bureau bestowed the gifts and handed them to the envoys, who received them kneeling. Gifts were then distributed in order to the tribute envoys, their attendants, and their servants; all received them kneeling. On the herald's call of "Rise and kowtow," they did so according to protocol. They withdrew, and a banquet was granted at the Ministry of Rites.
14
貢使將歸國，光祿寺備牲酒果蔬，侍郎就賓館筵燕，伴送供偫如前。 所經省會皆饗之，司道一人主其事，館餼日給，概從周渥焉。
When the tribute envoys were about to return home, the Court of Imperial Entertainments prepared meat, wine, and fruit; the vice minister feasted them at the guest house; escort and provisions were supplied as before. Every provincial capital along the route entertained them; one circuit intendant supervised the matter; lodging and provisions were supplied daily—all generously provided.
15
順治初，定制，諸國朝貢，齎表及方物，限船三艘，艘百人，貢役二十人。 十三年，俄國察罕汗遣使入貢，以不諳朝儀，卻其貢，遣之歸。 明年復表貢，途經三載，表文仍不合體制。 世祖以外邦從化，宜予涵容，量加恩賞，諭令毋入覲。
At the beginning of Shunzhi regulations were fixed: for tribute missions from the various states, bearing memorials and local products, the limit was three ships, one hundred men per ship, and twenty tribute bearers. In the thirteenth year, the Tsar of Russia sent envoys to present tribute; because they were unfamiliar with court ritual, their tribute was refused and they were sent home. The next year they again presented a memorial tribute; the journey took three years, and the memorial still did not conform to required form. The Shunzhi Emperor, deeming the foreign state had submitted in good faith, granted generous rewards and ordered that they need not seek audience.
16
康熙三十二年，俄復遣使義茲柏阿朗迭義迭來朝，帝始召見，賜坐賜食。 五十九年，葡萄牙使臣斐拉理入覲，帝御九經三事殿。 使者入殿左門，升左陛，進表御座則膝行。 帝受表，使者興，出，凡出入皆三跪九叩。 賜坐賜茶，謝恩如儀。
In the thirty-second year of Kangxi, Russia again sent the envoy Nicolis Spafari to court; the emperor received him in audience for the first time and granted seated reception and food. In the fifty-ninth year, the Portuguese envoy Frairi was received in audience; the emperor held court in the Hall of the Nine Classics and Three Matters. The envoy entered through the left hall door, ascended the left steps, and advanced to the imperial throne on his knees. The emperor received the memorial; the envoy rose and withdrew; on every entry and exit he performed three kneelings and nine kowtows. Seated reception and tea were granted; thanks for the imperial grace followed protocol.
17
初，琉球、安南、暹羅諸使來，議政大臣咸會集，賜坐及茶。 乾隆初元，諭停止。 時屬國陪臣增擴，敕所司給皇清職貢圖，以詔方來。 四十七年正月，紫光閣錫燕，朝鮮、琉球、南掌陪臣與焉。 燕罷，賜珍物。 五十年，舉千叟宴，特命朝鮮賀正陪臣齒逾六十者充正、副使，預宴賦詩。 越五年，安南國王阮光平來京祝壽，定行禮班序，列親王、郡王間，其陪臣仍附班末。 五十八年，英吉利入貢，使臣瑪戛爾等覲見，自陳不習拜跪，及至御前，而跽伏自若。
At first, when envoys from Ryukyu, Annam, and Siam came, the grand secretaries all assembled and were granted seated reception and tea. At the beginning of the Qianlong reign, an edict ordered this discontinued. At that time, as tributary attendants expanded in number, officials were ordered to distribute the Imperial Tribute Atlas to instruct those who would come. In the first month of the forty-seventh year, a feast was granted at the Ziguang Pavilion; attendant ministers from Korea, Ryukyu, and Lan Xang were among those present. When the banquet ended, precious gifts were granted. In the fiftieth year, at the banquet of a thousand elders, Korean New Year envoys over sixty were specially appointed chief and deputy envoys to attend the feast and compose poetry. Five years later, the king of Annam, Nguyen Quang Binh, came to the capital to congratulate the emperor on his birthday; his ceremonial rank was fixed between princes of the first and second rank, while his attendants still stood at the end of the ranks. In the fifty-eighth year, England presented tribute; the envoys Macartney and others were received in audience; they declared themselves unaccustomed to kneeling and kowtowing, yet when they came before the throne they prostrated themselves quite naturally.
18
嘉慶初元，再舉千叟宴，朝鮮、安南、暹羅、廓爾喀額爾德尼王吉爾巴納足塔畢噶爾瑪薩九叩，「跪奉大皇帝前：竊小臣聞湖南教匪滋事，致天威震怒，遣兵剿除。 今已平定，聞之忻慰。 小臣受恩深重，虔修土產微物，表文，叩賀天喜。 小臣屬蒙天恩，視如子民，唯有一心歸順，和睦鄰封。 小臣陽布離京遠，年尚幼，伏墾當作奴輩，曲施教導，霑恩不淺」云云。 其貢物計十二事，語質意恭如此。
At the beginning of the Jiaqing reign, the banquet of a thousand elders was held again; Korea, Annam, Siam, and the king of Gorkha, Girbanazutabigarmasa, performed nine kowtows, kneeling to address the Great Emperor: "Your humble subject heard that bandits in Hunan provoked the imperial wrath and troops were dispatched to suppress them. Now that order has been restored, I am heartened to hear it. Your humble subject, deeply indebted for imperial grace, reverently offers local products and a memorial to congratulate Heaven's joy. Your humble subject, granted Heaven's favor and regarded as your own people, has but one wish—to remain loyal and live in harmony with neighboring states. Your humble subject Yangbu, though far from the capital and still young, humbly entreats that when I serve among the attendants, you will kindly instruct me, for the grace would not be slight," and so forth. Their tribute comprised twelve items; the language was plain and the intent respectful in this manner.
19
二十一年，英復遣使來貢，執事者告以須行拜跪禮，司當冬等遂稱疾不入覲，帝怒，諭遣歸國，罷筵宴賜物。 嗣是英使不復來庭。
In the twenty-first year, England again sent envoys to present tribute; the officials told them they must perform the kneeling and kowtowing rites; Lord Amherst and others then claimed illness and refused audience; the emperor in anger ordered them sent home and canceled the banquet and gifts. Thereafter English envoys no longer came to court.
20
道光九年，回疆敉定，上太后徽號，緬甸國王遣使進金葉表，創舉也。
In the ninth year of Daoguang, after the Muslim frontier was pacified and honorific titles were conferred upon the empress dowager, the king of Burma sent envoys presenting a memorial on gold leaf—a first.
21
故事，琉球間歲一貢，至十九年，詔改四年為期。 時國王尚育咨達閩撫吳文鎔，謂琉球瀕海，地患多風，朝貢以時，風雨和順，歲則大熟。 貢舶出入閩疆，歲頒時憲書，獲以因時趨事。 地不產藥，賴舶載回應用。 至航海針法，非隨時練習不為功。 若改四年，則恐豐歉不齊，人時莫授，藥品既缺，針盤益疏，請復舊制便。 報可。 並令陪臣子弟得隨貢使入監讀書。
By precedent, Ryukyu paid tribute every other year; in the nineteenth year an edict changed the interval to four years. At that time King Shō Iku consulted the Fujian governor Wu Wenrong, saying that Ryukyu faced the sea and suffered frequent winds; when tribute came on schedule, wind and rain were harmonious and the year brought a great harvest. Tribute ships entering and leaving Fujian received the calendar each year, enabling them to time their affairs to the seasons. The land produced no medicines; they relied on returning ships to bring back what was needed. As for nautical compass work, it cannot be mastered without constant practice at sea. If the interval were changed to four years, harvests might be uneven, men and seasons would fall out of step, medicines would run short, and compass skills would grow rusty; he asked that the old biennial system be restored. The request was approved. Attendants' sons were also permitted to enter the Imperial Academy with tribute envoys to study.
22
光緒三十四年，廓爾喀入貢，賞正使噶箕二品服，副使四品服，其將事時，服色即各從其品，亦前此所未有者。
In the thirty-fourth year of Guangxu, Gorkha presented tribute; the chief envoy was granted robes of the second rank and the deputy envoy robes of the fourth rank; when performing their duties, the colors of their robes matched their respective ranks—something without precedent until then.
23
凡貢期，朝鮮歲至，琉球間歲一至，安南六歲再至，暹羅三歲，荷蘭、蘇祿五歲，南掌十歲，均各一至，餘道遠貢無常期。 凡貢物，各將其土實，非土產者勿進。 朝鮮、安南、琉球、緬甸、蘇祿、南掌皆有常物，餘唯其所獻。
As for tribute schedules: Korea came annually; Ryukyu once every other year; Annam once every six years; Siam every three years; Holland and Sulu every five years; Lan Xang every ten years—each once per interval; the more distant states had no fixed schedule. As for tribute goods, each state was to present its genuine local products; items not native to the land were not to be offered. Korea, Annam, Ryukyu, Burma, Sulu, and Lan Xang all had fixed tribute items; the rest presented whatever they chose.
24
敕封籓服禮清自太宗征服朝鮮，鑱石三田渡。 厥後安南、琉球諸國，先後請封，皆遣使往。 其他回首內鄉者，航海匪夐，梯山忘阻，則璽書褒獎，授來使齎還而已。
Investiture Protocol for Tributary Domains: From the Qing Taizong's conquest of Korea, a commemorative stone was carved at Sandian Ferry. Afterward Annam, Ryukyu, and other states successively requested investiture, and envoys were dispatched to each in turn. Other tribes who turned inward to submit, though distant by sea and arduous by mountain paths, received only imperial letters of praise to be carried back by their envoys.
25
崇德間，定制，凡外邦效順，俱頒冊錫爵。 進奏書牘，署大清紀年。 若朝貢諸國無子嗣位，則遣陪臣請朝命，禮部奏遣正、副使各一人持節往封，特賜一品麒麟服以重其行。 行日，工部給旗仗，兵部給乘傳。 封使詣禮部，儀制司官一人奉節，一人奉詔敕，授本部長官，以授正、副使，跪受。 興，出易征衣乘傳往。 將入境，其國邊吏備館傳夫馬。 緣途所經，有司跪接。
During the Chongde reign regulations were fixed: all foreign states that submitted in good faith received patents of investiture and ranks of nobility. Memorials and official documents submitted bore the era name of the Great Qing. If a tributary state had no heir to succeed to the throne, attendant ministers were sent to request imperial orders; the Ministry of Rites memorialized to dispatch one chief and one deputy envoy bearing credentials to invest the successor, specially granting first-rank qilin robes to honor their mission. On the day of departure, the Ministry of Works provided banners and insignia, and the Ministry of War provided post horses. The investiture envoys went to the Ministry of Rites; one Ceremonial Regulations official bore the credentials and another bore the edict; these were handed to the ministry chief, who passed them to the chief and deputy envoys, who received them kneeling. They rose, went out, changed into travel dress, and departed by post horse. When they were about to enter the border, that state's frontier officials prepared guest lodges, relay stations, porters, and horses. Along the route, local officials knelt to receive them.
26
及國，嗣封王遣陪臣郊迎，三跪九叩，勞使者一跪三叩。 延入館，陳詔節龍亭內，行禮如儀。 謁使者三叩，不答。 諏日，王率陪臣詣館，禮畢，王先歸。 龍亭舁行，仗樂前導，封使後隨。 入門陳正中，使者及階下馬，正使奉節，副使奉詔敕，入殿陳案上，退立東旁。 王率眾官北面立，三跪九叩，興，詣封位前跪。 副使奉詔書付宣讀官，宣訖，王行禮如初，出俟門外。 使者出，跪送。 有間，適館勞之。 使者還朝，乃修表文，具方物，遣陪臣詣闕謝恩。
Upon reaching the state, the heir to be invested sent attendant ministers to welcome them in the suburbs; they performed three kneelings and nine kowtows, and to honor the envoys performed one kneeling and three kowtows. They were received into the guest house; the edict, credentials, and dragon pavilion were set up inside, and rites were performed according to protocol. The heir paid respects to the envoys with three kowtows; they did not respond in kind. A date was chosen; the king led attendant ministers to the guest house; when the rites were finished, the king returned first. The dragon pavilion was carried in procession, with ceremonial guards and music leading the way and the investiture envoys following behind. Upon entering the gate it was placed in the center; the envoys dismounted at the steps; the chief envoy bore the credentials and the deputy envoy bore the edict and patent; they entered the hall, placed them on the table, and withdrew to stand to the east. The king led all officials to stand facing north; they performed three kneelings and nine kowtows, rose, and proceeded to kneel before the investiture seat. The deputy envoy handed the investiture edict to the reading officer; when the reading was finished, the king performed the rites as before, then withdrew to wait outside the gate. When the envoys came out, the king knelt to send them off. After an interval, he went to the guest house to entertain them. When the envoys returned to court, the king drafted a memorial, prepared local products, and dispatched attendant ministers to the palace to express thanks for the imperial grace.
27
如諭祭兼冊封，先於其祖廟將事，諭祭文陳案上，使者左右立。 世子跪叩如前，退立神位左，乃宣讀，眾俯伏。 宣畢，興。 送燎行禮，使者退。 次行冊封禮，儀與前同。
If an edict ordered sacrificial rites together with investiture, the ceremony was first performed at the ancestral temple; the sacrificial edict was placed on a table, with the envoys standing to either side. The heir apparent kneeled and kowtowed as before, withdrew to stand at the left of the spirit tablet, then the edict was read aloud and all prostrated themselves. When the reading was finished, they rose. The sacrificial offerings were sent to be burned and the rites performed; the envoys withdrew. Next the investiture ceremony was performed, following the same protocol as before.
28
至以詔敕授使齎還，則禮部設案午門，位正中，尚書立案左。 儀制司官從館卿率來使入，授詔敕，序班引詣案前跪，授受如制。 退詣丹墀西，三跪九叩，禮成，歸授國王。 謝恩同。
When an edict and patent were to be entrusted to envoys to carry back, the Ministry of Rites set a table at the Meridian Gate in the center, with the minister standing to the left of the table. A Ceremonial Regulations official, together with the institute director, led the incoming envoys in; the edict and patent were handed over; ushers guided them to kneel before the table, and presentation and reception followed the prescribed form. They withdrew to the west of the red courtyard, performed three kneelings and nine kowtows, and when the rites were complete, returned to present them to their king. Thanks for the imperial grace followed the same procedure.
29
外國公使覲見禮康熙初，外洋始入貢，中朝款接，稍異籓服。 南懷仁官欽天監，贈工部侍郎，凡內廷召見，並許侍立，不行拜跪禮。 雍正間，羅馬教皇遣使來京，世宗許行西禮，且與握手。 乾隆季葉，英使馬格里入覲，禮臣與議儀式，彼以覲見英王為言，特旨允用西禮。 筵宴日，且親賜卮酒。 商約既締，將命頻繁。 咸、同間，外國使臣嘗求入覲，時以禮制乖異，力拒之。 同治時，英、法使臣固請再四，我猶繩以華制，莫之應。 彼且曰，宜亟修好，阻其入覲，是靳以客禮也。
Protocol for Audiences with Foreign Envoys: At the beginning of Kangxi, Western countries first began sending tribute; the central court received them in a manner slightly different from that for tributary domains. Ferdinand Verbiest held office in the Directorate of Astronomy and was posthumously granted the rank of vice minister of works; whenever summoned to the inner court, he was permitted to stand in attendance and was not required to kneel or kowtow. During Yongzheng, the Pope of Rome sent envoys to the capital; the Yongzheng Emperor permitted them to use Western etiquette and even shook hands with them. In the late Qianlong period, the English envoy Markham was received in audience; ritual officials discussed the ceremony with him; citing the manner of audience before the King of England, a special edict permitted the use of Western etiquette. On the banquet day, the emperor personally bestowed a cup of wine. Once commercial treaties were concluded, diplomatic missions became frequent. During the Xianfeng and Tongzhi reigns, foreign envoys repeatedly sought audiences, but because ritual forms differed, they were firmly refused. During Tongzhi, British and French envoys repeatedly pressed their requests, yet the court still held them to Chinese protocol and did not accede. They said in reply that good relations ought to be promptly restored, and that barring them from audience was to stint them of the courtesy due to guests.
30
十二年，穆宗親政，泰西使臣環請瞻覲，呈國書，先自言用西禮，折腰者三，廷臣力言其不便。 直隸總督李鴻章建議，略言：「先朝召見西使時，各國未立和約，各使未駐京師，國勢雖強，不逮今日，猶得律以升殿受表常儀。 然嘉慶中，英使來朝，已不行三跪九叩禮。 厥後成約，儼然均敵，未便以屬禮相繩。 拒而不見，似於情未洽。 糾以跪拜，又似所見不廣。 第取其敬有餘，當恕其禮不足。 惟宜議立規條，俾相遵守。 各使之來，許一見，毋再見，許一時同見，毋單班求見，當可杜其覬覦。 且禮與時變通，我朝待屬國有定制，待與國無定禮。 近今商約，實數千年變局，國家無此禮例，往聖亦未豫定禮經，是在酌時勢權宜以樹之准。」 時總理各國事務恭親王以拜跪儀節往復申辨，而各使堅執如初。 勢難終拂其意，乃為奏請，明諭允行。
In the twelfth year, the Muzong Emperor personally assumed rule; Western envoys all petitioned for audiences and presented their credentials, stating beforehand that they would use Western etiquette—bowing at the waist three times; court ministers strongly argued that this would be unsuitable. The Governor-General of Zhili, Li Hongzhang, submitted a memorial suggesting, in summary: "When the previous reign summoned Western envoys to audience, the various states had not yet concluded treaties, their envoys were not yet resident in the capital, and though their national strength was great, it did not match today; yet they could still be governed by the regular court ritual of ascending the hall to present memorials. Yet in the Jiaqing reign, when English envoys came to court, they already did not perform the three kneelings and nine kowtows. Thereafter treaties were concluded and they stood as equals; it was no longer fitting to bind them with vassal rites. To refuse audience seemed insufficiently warm in sentiment. To insist on kneeling and kowtowing seemed unduly narrow in outlook. Only take that their respect exceeded requirements, and forgive where their etiquette fell short. It was only fitting to establish regulations for mutual observance. When envoys came, permit one audience but not a second; permit them to be received together at one time but not to seek individual audiences—thus their covetous hopes could be cut off. Moreover, ritual adapts with the times; our dynasty had fixed forms for tributary states but no fixed ritual for coequal states. The recent commercial treaties represented a transformation unseen in thousands of years; the state had no precedent for such ritual, and the sages of old did not prescribe it in the ritual classics—the task was to weigh the times and circumstances and establish a provisional standard." At the time Prince Gong, who supervised affairs with foreign countries, repeatedly debated the kneeling and kowtowing protocol back and forth, but the various envoys held firm to their original position. Finding it difficult to ultimately go against their wishes, he submitted a memorial requesting explicit imperial approval, which was granted.
31
其年夏，日本使臣副島種臣、俄使臣倭良嘎哩、美使臣鏤斐迪、英使臣威妥瑪、法使臣熱福理、和蘭使臣費果蓀瞻覲紫光閣，呈國書，依商訂例行事。 接見時，帝坐立唯意，賜茗酒，恩自上出。 使臣訊安否，謹致賀辭。 未垂問，毋先言事。 西例臣見君鞠躬三，今改五鞠躬。 使臣初至始覲見，餘則否。 嗣後親奉國書者仿此。 其禮式先期繪圖試習，覲見某處所，某月日時，並候旨行。 其大略也。
That summer, the Japanese envoy Soejima Taneomi, the Russian envoy Yariga, the American envoy Frederick Low, the English envoy Thomas Wade, the French envoy Revell, and the Dutch envoy Vigoonsen were received in audience at the Ziguang Pavilion, presented their credentials, and followed the agreed commercial protocol. During the reception, the emperor might sit or stand as he pleased; tea and wine were granted as imperial favor. The envoys inquired after his health and respectfully offered congratulations. Without imperial inquiry, they were not to broach official business first. By Western custom a subject bowed three times before his sovereign; this was changed to five bows. Envoys received audience only upon first arrival; thereafter they did not. Henceforth those who personally bore credentials were to follow this precedent. The ritual forms were diagrammed and rehearsed in advance; the place, date, and hour of audience were all determined by imperial order. Such were the general outlines.
32
光緒十六年，駐英使臣薛福成奏陳：「各使覲見，須定明例。 凡使臣初至一國，其君莫不延見慰勞，使臣謁畢，鞠躬退，語不及公。 此通例也。 頃聞駐京公使，以未蒙晝接，不無私議。 昔年英使威妥瑪藉詞不令入覲，致煙台條款多要挾，靳虛文而受實損，非計之得。 今宜循同治十二年成案，援據以行。 若論禮節，可於召見先敕下所司，中禮西禮，假以便宜。 如是，彼雖行西禮，仍於體制無損。」 云云。 自是遂為定例。
In the sixteenth year of Guangxu, the envoy stationed in England, Xue Fucheng, submitted a memorial stating: "Audiences for the various envoys must be established by clear precedent. Whenever an envoy first arrives in a country, its sovereign invariably extends an audience and words of comfort; after the envoy pays his respects, bows, and withdraws, private conversation does not touch public affairs. This is the universal practice. It had lately been heard that the envoys resident in the capital, because they had not been granted a daytime audience, harbored private dissatisfaction. In years past the English envoy Thomas Wade used the pretext of being denied audience to drive hard bargains in the Chefoo Convention, grasping at empty formalities while suffering real losses—this was not a wise policy. Now it was fitting to follow the precedent established in the twelfth year of Tongzhi and apply it accordingly. As for etiquette, an edict could be issued in advance of the summons to the responsible officials, blending Chinese and Western forms and granting discretionary latitude. Thus, though they performed Western rites, the institutional framework would remain undiminished." — and so forth. From this it became fixed precedent.
33
二十七年，聯軍平拳匪，各國挾求更改禮節。 謂各使臣會同覲見，必在太和殿。 一國使臣單行覲見者，必在乾清宮。 呈遞國書，必遣乘輿往迓，至宮殿前降輿，禮成送歸。 齎奏國書，必自中門入，帝必躬親接受。 設宴乾清宮，帝必躬親入座。 嗣復允會同覲見改在乾清宮，而轎用黃色。 於是慶親王奕劻等以天澤堂廉之辨，不能每事曲從。 遂與各使磋商，歷時數月，始將乘坐黃轎、太和殿覲見暨宮殿階前降輿三事酌議改易，而爭議始息。
In the twenty-seventh year, the allied armies suppressed the Boxer rebels, and the various powers demanded changes to ceremonial protocol. They insisted that joint audiences of all envoys must take place in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Audiences for a single envoy from one country must take place in the Palace of Heavenly Purity. When presenting credentials, an imperial sedan must be dispatched to meet them; they were to dismount before the palace hall, and after the rites were complete they were to be escorted back. When bearing memorials and credentials, they must enter through the central gate, and the emperor must personally receive them. Banquets were to be held in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, and the emperor must personally take his seat. Later it was also agreed that joint audiences would be moved to the Palace of Heavenly Purity and that yellow sedans would be used. Thereupon Prince Qing and others, mindful of the distinction between imperial majesty and the dignity of the hall, could not accede to every demand. They then negotiated with the various envoys; after several months, agreement was finally reached to modify the three points concerning yellow sedans, audiences in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and dismounting before the palace steps—and only then did the disputes cease.
34
各國親王覲見儀，始光緒二十四年。 德國親王亨利入覲，帝幸頤和園，御仁壽殿，亨利公服入，遞國書，帝慰勞之。 既，亨利慾覲皇太后，帝奉懿旨代見。 是日巳刻，御玉瀾堂，亨利偕德使海靖等入，外部司官引殿東便門外入布幄少憩。 駕至，扈從如儀，鳴鞭三，升座。 慶親王等侍左右，外部長官率亨利等自中門入，北鄉一鞠躬，行數武又一鞠躬，至龍柱前又一鞠躬。 然後奉國書進，慶親王降左階接受，陳玉案，亨利等又一鞠躬，帝頷首答之，操國語慰勞。 慶親王跪案左聆玉音，降階，操漢語傳宣。 德繙譯官譯畢，亨利等又一鞠躬，帝仍頷首答之。 亨利等退數武又一鞠躬，退至堂左，又一鞠躬。 禮成。
The protocol for audiences with foreign princes began in the twenty-fourth year of Guangxu. The German Prince Henry was received in audience; the emperor went to the Summer Palace and held court in the Hall of Benevolent Longevity; Prince Henry entered in formal dress, presented his credentials, and the emperor comforted him. Afterward Prince Henry wished to pay respects to the empress dowager; the emperor received him on her behalf by her express command. That day at the si hour, the emperor held court at the Hall of Jade Ripples; Prince Henry entered together with the German envoy Heinrich von Heiden and others; officials of the foreign ministry led them in through the east side gate of the hall to rest briefly in the canvas tent. When the imperial procession arrived, the escort formed as prescribed; the whip was cracked three times, and the emperor ascended the throne. Prince Qing and others attended at his sides; the chief of the foreign ministry led Prince Henry and the others in through the central gate; facing north, they bowed once, after several paces bowed again, and upon reaching the dragon pillars bowed once more. They then advanced to present their credentials; Prince Qing descended the left steps to receive them and placed them on the jade table; Prince Henry and the others bowed again, and the emperor nodded in reply and offered words of comfort in the national language. Prince Qing knelt at the left of the table to listen to the imperial words, then descended the steps and relayed the message in Chinese. When the German interpreter had finished translating, Prince Henry and the others bowed again, and the emperor again nodded in reply. Prince Henry and the others withdrew several paces and bowed again, then withdrew to the left of the hall and bowed once more. The rites were complete.
35
內外王公相見禮崇德初元，定宗室外籓親王、郡王、貝勒、貝子相見儀。 賓及門，王府屬官入告，主人降階迎，賓辭，主人升。 賓從自中門入，賓趨左，主人趨右。 行相見禮，二跪六叩，即席序立。 從官升東階，行禮亦如之。 興，入右門，坐賓後。 執事獻茶，賓受茶，叩，主人答叩。 飲茶敘語畢，從官趨前楹，跪，叩，興，趨出。 賓離席跪叩，主人答叩，並興。 賓出，主人降階送，屬官送門外。
Protocol for Meetings among Inner and Outer Princes and Dukes. In the first year of the Chongde reign, regulations were set for how imperial-clan and outer-vassal princes of the first rank, princes of the second rank, banner lords, and banner sons were to meet one another. When the guest arrived at the gate, a household official went in to announce him. The host came down the steps to welcome him; the guest demurred, and the host returned to his place. The guest's attendants entered through the central gate. The guest moved quickly to the left and the host to the right. They exchanged the meeting salutation—two kneelings and six kowtows—then took their assigned places at the seats and stood. The attending officials mounted the eastern steps and performed the same rite. They rose, passed through the right gate, and seated themselves behind the guest. Attendants brought tea. The guest accepted it, kowtowed, and the host returned the kowtow. When tea and conversation were finished, the attending officials hurried to the front eaves, knelt and kowtowed, rose, and withdrew. The guest rose from his seat, knelt, and kowtowed; the host returned the kowtow, and both stood up. The guest left. The host came down the steps to see him off, and household officials escorted him beyond the gate.
36
若外籓郡王見，則主人迎送殿外，不降階。 相見，賓二跪六叩，主人答半。 賓辭退，跪叩，主人答跪不叩。 餘如親王儀。
When an outer-vassal prince of the second rank paid a visit, the host welcomed and saw him off outside the hall but did not come down the steps. At the meeting the guest performed two kneelings and six kowtows, and the host returned half of them. On taking leave the guest knelt and kowtowed; the host responded by kneeling but did not kowtow in return. Everything else followed the protocol for princes of the first rank.
37
外籓貝勒見，主人離坐迎，不出殿，賓北面跪叩如初，主人立受。 即席正坐，賓侍坐。 辭退跪叩，主人立受不送。 餘如郡王儀。
When an outer-vassal banner lord came to call, the host rose from his seat to welcome him but did not leave the hall. The guest faced north, knelt, and kowtowed as before, and the host received the salutation standing. They took their proper seats, with the guest sitting in attendance. On taking leave the guest knelt and kowtowed; the host received the salutation standing and did not escort him out. Everything else followed the protocol for princes of the second rank.
38
外籓貝子、公見，府屬官引賓入殿，跪叩同。 辭退仍跪叩，主人皆坐受。 餘如貝勒儀。
When an outer-vassal banner son or duke came to call, a household official led the guest into the hall, and the kneeling and kowtowing were the same. On taking leave they still knelt and kowtowed, and the host received the salutation seated throughout. Everything else followed the banner-lord protocol.
39
外籓親王見郡王，主人迎送大門內，餘與親王相見同。 郡王見郡王亦如之。
When an outer-vassal prince of the first rank called on a prince of the second rank, the host welcomed and saw him off inside the great gate; the rest followed the protocol for meetings between princes of the first rank. When one prince of the second rank called on another, the same rules applied.
40
其外籓貝勒見郡王，如郡王見親王禮。 以下賓主相見，降殺遞差。
When an outer-vassal banner lord called on a prince of the second rank, the protocol was the same as when a prince of the second rank called on a prince of the first rank. For meetings below this level, the honors due guest and host were reduced in graduated steps according to rank.
41
外籓親王見貝勒，主人迎送門外。 賓入，主人從，相見各一跪三叩。 外籓郡王暨貝勒見貝勒同。
When an outer-vassal prince of the first rank called on a banner lord, the host welcomed and saw him off outside the gate. The guest entered and the host followed. At the meeting each performed one kneeling and three kowtows. When an outer-vassal prince of the second rank or another banner lord called on a banner lord, the protocol was the same.
42
外籓貝子、公見貝勒，賓一跪三叩，主人跪拱手受。
When an outer-vassal banner son or duke called on a banner lord, the guest performed one kneeling and three kowtows, and the host knelt, clasped his hands, and received the salutation.
43
外籓王、貝勒見貝子，賓主一跪一叩坐，此其異者也。
When an outer-vassal prince or banner lord called on a banner son, guest and host performed one kneeling and one kowtow and then sat down—this was the distinctive feature.
44
京官相見禮順治元年，定制，京朝官敵體相見，賓及門，主人迎大門內，揖賓入，及階，讓升，賓西主東。 及廳事，讓入，皆北面再拜。 興，主人為賓正坐西面，賓辭，主人固請，卒正坐。 賓還正主人坐東面亦如之。 賓就坐，受茶，揖，主人答揖。 飲茶敘語畢，告辭相揖。 賓降階，主人送及門，復相揖。 賓辭，主人固請，送賓大門外，視賓升輿馬，乃退。
Protocol for Meetings among Capital Officials. In the first year of Shunzhi, regulations were fixed for capital officials of equal standing to meet one another. When the guest arrived at the gate, the host welcomed him inside the great gate and bowed with joined hands to admit him. At the steps each yielded precedence to the other to ascend—the guest on the west, the host on the east. When they reached the reception hall, each yielded for the other to enter, then both faced north and bowed twice. They rose. The host urged the guest to take the seat of honor facing west; the guest declined, but the host pressed him until he finally took it. The guest in turn urged the host to take the seat of honor facing east, and the same exchange followed. The guest took his seat, received tea, bowed with joined hands, and the host returned the bow. When tea and conversation were finished, they took leave and bowed to each other. The guest descended the steps. The host saw him off to the gate, and they bowed to each other once more. The guest demurred, but the host insisted and escorted him outside the great gate, waiting until the guest had mounted his carriage or horse before withdrawing.
45
尚書、左都御史見大學士同。 賓降一品者，主人趨正賓坐，辭亦如之。 餘儀同。
When a minister or the Left Censor-in-Chief called on a Grand Secretary, the protocol was the same. If the guest was one grade lower, the host hastened to the guest's seat of honor, and the same exchange of polite refusal followed. The remaining protocol was the same.
46
二品以下京堂官翰詹科道見大學士，主人迎儀門內，送大門外，不視升輿馬。
When Hanlin Academy, Secretariat, and Censorate officials of the second rank and below called on a Grand Secretary, the host welcomed them inside the ceremonial gate and saw them off outside the great gate, but did not wait to watch them mount their carriage or horse.
47
科道見左都御史、副都御史、尚書儀同。
When censorate officials called on the Left Censor-in-Chief, a Vice Censor-in-Chief, or a minister, the protocol was the same.
48
五品至八品官見大學士，主人迎堂階下，賓就東階，主人導入。 賓北面拜，辭，乃三揖，主人東面答揖。 賓趨正主人坐，辭，固請，卒正坐相揖。 賓西面，主人東北面坐。 賓啟事畢，辭退，三揖如初。 主人送二門外。
When officials of the fifth through eighth ranks called on a Grand Secretary, the host welcomed them at the foot of the hall steps. The guest took the eastern steps and the host guided him in. The guest faced north and bowed, demurred, then performed three bows with joined hands; the host, facing east, returned them. The guest hastened to the host's seat of honor, declined, was pressed to accept, and finally took the seat; then they bowed to each other. The guest faced west; the host sat facing northeast. When the guest had finished his business and took leave, the three bows were performed as before. The host saw him off outside the second gate.
49
翰詹科道見二三品官，如賓降一等禮。 見四五品官，如同官禮。
When Hanlin, Secretariat, and Censorate officials called on officials of the second or third rank, the protocol was that for a guest one grade lower. When calling on officials of the fourth or fifth rank, it followed the protocol for officials of equal rank.
50
閣部寺監屬官見其長官，初見，公服詣署，升自東階，具履行陳坐案，依次向坐三揖，長官避席答揖。 退。 若燕見，如五品官見大學士儀。
When subordinate officials of the Grand Secretariat, ministries, directorates, and superintendent offices called on their superiors for a first meeting, they went to the office in official dress, ascended by the eastern steps, presented their calling cards and arranged their seat mats, and bowed with joined hands three times facing one another in order; the superior left his seat to return the bows. They withdrew. For informal meetings, the protocol was the same as for a fifth-rank official calling on a Grand Secretary.
51
國學生見國子師儀，初見，具名柬，公服詣學，自東階升堂，北面三揖，師立受。 侍立左旁，西面受教，畢，三揖退。 若燕見，通名，俟召乃入。 師迎階上，弟子升，揖。 師入門，從之，北面再拜，師西面答揖。 趨正師坐，師命坐，北面揖。 師位東北面，弟子西面。 茶至，揖，請問，揖。 辭退，北面三揖，師皆答。 出送，師前行，弟子後隨，及二門外，弟子三揖，俟師入始退。
Protocol for Imperial Academy students calling on their National University teachers: on a first meeting they presented a calling card bearing their name, went to the academy in official dress, ascended the hall by the eastern steps, faced north and bowed three times with joined hands, and the teacher received the salutation standing. They stood in attendance at the left, faced west to receive instruction, and when finished bowed three times and withdrew. For informal meetings they announced their names and entered only after being summoned. The teacher welcomed them at the top of the steps; the student ascended and bowed with joined hands. The teacher entered the gate and the student followed. Facing north, the student bowed twice; the teacher, facing west, returned the bow with joined hands. The student hastened to the teacher's seat of honor. The teacher ordered him to sit, and facing north he bowed with joined hands. The teacher's seat faced northeast; the student faced west. When tea arrived they bowed with joined hands; when asking questions they bowed with joined hands. On taking leave they bowed three times with joined hands facing north, and the teacher returned each bow. On seeing the student out, the teacher went ahead and the student followed. Outside the second gate the student bowed three times with joined hands and withdrew only after the teacher had gone in.
52
翰林院庶吉士見大學士，與見教習庶吉士同。
When Hanlin Academy chujishi called on a Grand Secretary, the protocol was the same as when calling on their chujishi instructor.
53
凡京朝官途遇迴避，爵秩均等，分道行，次讓道行，次勒馬俟其過，又次下馬，唯欽使即遇應迴避者，分道行可也。 又武職民公、侯、伯以下，男以上，文職大學士以下，九卿以上，得用引馬一騎，途遇並下馬迴避雲。
Whenever capital officials met on the road, rules of avoidance applied. Those equal in noble title and rank traveled by separate routes; the next lower in rank yielded the road; the next reined in and waited for the other to pass; and the lowest dismounted—all except that an envoy bearing imperial credentials, if he met someone who ought to avoid him, need only take a separate route. Moreover, military nobles from civilian duke, marquis, and earl downward through baron upward, and civil officials from Grand Secretary downward through the Nine Ministers upward, were permitted one outrider; when they met on the road, all were to dismount and give way to one another—thus it was decreed.
54
直省文武官相見禮順治間，定督、撫、學政、河漕總督，鹽政，巡視御史相見，坐次平行，餘各按品秩行禮。
Protocol for Meetings among Provincial Civil and Military Officials. During the Shunzhi reign it was fixed that when governors-general, governors, education intendants, the Grand Canal commissioner-general, the salt administration commissioner, and touring censors met, their seats were on equal footing; all others performed rites according to rank and grade.
55
雍正八年，定直省官相見，位均等者，賓至署，吏入白，啟門，自中門入，至外堂檐下降輿馬。 主人迎檐前，揖賓入。 及廳事，各再拜。 其正坐、就位、進茶、辭退，如京朝官儀。
In the eighth year of Yongzheng, regulations were set for meetings among provincial officials. When both parties were of equal standing, the guest upon reaching the office was announced by a clerk, the gate was opened, he entered through the central gate, and dismounted from his carriage or horse under the eaves of the outer hall. The host welcomed him before the eaves and bowed with joined hands to admit him. When they reached the reception hall, each bowed twice. Taking the seats of honor, taking their places, serving tea, and taking leave all followed the capital-official protocol.
56
屬官見長官，轅門外降輿馬，自左門入。 初見具名柬，呈履行，文官司道見督撫，迎堂後屏內。 及廳事，庭參則扶免，三揖，皆答揖。 督撫正坐，司道旁坐。 命坐，揖。 茶至，揖。 均答如儀。 辭出，三揖如初。 送至屏門外，司道三揖。 俟督撫入，復三揖，趨出。 督撫次日用名柬答拜。 若公事謁見，常服通銜名，三揖就坐。 餘同前。
When subordinate officials called on their superiors, they dismounted from carriage or horse outside the yamen gate and entered through the left gate. On a first meeting they presented a calling card bearing their name and took their place on the mat. When civil intendants called on governors-general or governors, the host welcomed them inside the screen behind the hall. When they reached the reception hall, if a courtyard audience was required they were assisted and exempted from it. They bowed three times with joined hands, and each bow was returned. The governor-general or governor took the seat of honor; the intendant sat to one side. The host ordered them to sit, and they bowed with joined hands. When tea arrived they bowed with joined hands. Each response followed the prescribed protocol. On taking leave and departing, the three bows were performed as before. They were escorted outside the screen gate, and the intendant bowed three times with joined hands. After the governor-general or governor had gone in, they bowed three times again and hurried out. The governor-general or governor returned the call the next day with a visiting card bearing their name. For calls on official business in everyday dress, they announced their titles and names, bowed three times with joined hands, and then took their seats. Everything else was as before.
57
府、廳、州、縣見，庭參拜則免，府、廳揖，答揖。 州、縣揖，立受。 俱不送，不答拜。
When prefectural, sub-prefectural, department, and county officials called, courtyard audience and full bowing were waived. Prefectural and sub-prefectural officials bowed with joined hands and the bow was returned. Department and county officials bowed with joined hands, and the host received the salutation standing. In all cases there was no escort and no return bow.
58
佐貳等官見，一跪三叩，不揖、不坐。 府、廳、州、縣見司道，與司道見督撫同。 佐貳等官見司道，與見督撫同。
When deputy officials and the like called, they performed one kneeling and three kowtows; there was no bow with joined hands and no sitting. When prefectural, sub-prefectural, department, and county officials called on intendants, the protocol was the same as when intendants called on governors-general or governors. When deputy officials called on intendants, the protocol was the same as when calling on governors-general or governors.
59
同知、通判見知府，柬題晚生，入自中門，用賓主禮。
When an assistant prefect or sub-prefect called on a prefect, the calling card was inscribed "Your younger junior." He entered through the central gate and guest-host protocol was observed.
60
州、縣教職見督撫，儀如佐貳見司道，不迎送。 見知府，迎送屏門外。 見府倅，迎送堂檐下。 餘同。 見州、縣，如同、通見知府儀。
When department and county education officials called on governors-general or governors, the protocol was like that for deputies calling on intendants, with no welcome or escort. When calling on a prefect, welcome and escort took place outside the screen gate. When calling on a prefectural deputy, welcome and escort took place under the hall eaves. Everything else was the same. When calling on department or county officials, the protocol was the same as for assistant prefects and sub-prefects calling on a prefect.
61
司、道、府、廳見學政，入中門，禮如賓主，迎送並出堂檐。 學政品秩崇者，如見督撫儀。 州、縣見，庭參旁坐，主人答揖不答拜。
When intendants, prefectural officials, and sub-prefectural officials called on the education intendant, they entered through the central gate. The rite followed guest-host protocol, and welcome and escort both took place outside the hall eaves. If the education intendant's rank and grade were high, the protocol was the same as for calling on a governor-general or governor. When department and county officials called, there was courtyard audience and side seating. The host returned the joined-hand bow but not the full bow.
62
運使見督撫、鹽院，與司道同。 運、判以次遞降。
Transport commissioners used the same meeting protocol as circuit intendants when calling on governors-general, governors, or salt commissioners. Transport officials and assistant prefects ranked below them in turn.
63
武官副將以下見提督，初見具銜名、履行，披執則傳免，易公服佩刀。 都司、守備不免，跪宣名，席地坐，不進茶。 餘儀按品遞降，與文職同。
Military officers from deputy commander down, on first calling on a provincial commander, presented name cards with titles and service records; if they arrived in armor they were excused and changed into official dress with sword. Brigade and garrison commanders received no exemption: they knelt to announce their names, sat on the floor, and were not offered tea. All further ceremony followed rank in descending order, matching civil protocol.
64
順治十三年，定直省文武官相見禮，提督見總督，入中門，至儀門下馬，升堂三揖。 總督正坐，提督僉坐，迎送不出堂檐。 若提督兼世職者，總督西面，提督東面。 辭出，送至堂檐下，視乘馬。
In Shunzhi 13, provincial civil and military meeting protocol was fixed: a provincial commander entering to see a governor-general passed through the middle gate, dismounted at the ceremonial gate, ascended the hall, and bowed three times with joined hands. The governor-general took the seat of honor and the provincial commander sat beside him; welcome and farewell stopped at the hall eaves. If the provincial commander also held a hereditary title, the governor-general faced west and the provincial commander faced east. On departure he was escorted to the hall eaves and watched until he mounted.
65
總兵見，儀門外下馬，坐則侍坐，迎、送止階上。 與巡撫見，視賓主禮唯均，以下按品差降。
A regional commander dismounted outside the ceremonial gate; he sat in attendance when seated; welcome and farewell stopped at the steps. When calling on a governor, host and guest met as equals; lower ranks followed descending ceremony by grade.
66
至滿、漢官相見，將軍、副都統與督、撫、提、鎮以敵體見。 司道以下見將軍如總督，見副都統如總兵，協領、參領見督撫同司道，佐領、防禦同知府，驍騎校同州、縣。 不相統屬者，一以賓主禮行之。
In Manchu-Han meetings, generals and deputy lieutenant-generals met governors-general, governors, provincial commanders, and regional commanders on equal footing. Circuit intendants and below used governor-general protocol when calling on a general and regional-commander protocol for a deputy lieutenant-general; assistant and company commandants followed circuit-intendant protocol with governors; platoon commandants and garrison captains followed prefect protocol; cavalry captains followed prefectural or county magistrate protocol. Where no administrative tie existed, host-and-guest protocol applied throughout.
67
其儒學弟子員見學師，與國子生見國學師同。
Confucian academy students calling on their instructors followed the same protocol as Imperial Academy students calling on their teachers.
68
士庶相見禮賓及門，從者通名，主人出迎大門外，揖入。 及門、及階揖如初。 登堂，各北面再拜。 興，主賓互正坐。 即席，賓東主西。 飲茶，語畢，賓退，揖。 及階、及門，揖，辭，主人皆答揖。 送大門外，揖如初。 卑幼見尊長禮，及門通名，俟外次，尊長召入見，升階，北面再拜，尊長西面答揖。 命坐，視尊長坐次侍坐。 荼至，揖，語畢，稟辭，三揖。 凡揖皆答，出不送。 若尊長來見，卑幼迎送大門外。 餘如前儀。 見父執友，與見尊長儀同。
Protocol for Meetings among Scholars and Commoners: at the gate attendants announced the guest's name; the host came out to the main gate, bowed with joined hands, and ushered him in. They bowed again at the gate and at the steps. In the hall each faced north and bowed twice. They rose, and host and guest yielded the seat of honor to each other in turn. Once seated, the guest took the east side and the host the west. After tea and conversation, the guest bowed and withdrew. At the steps and gate they bowed again; on farewell the host returned every bow. He saw the guest out to the main gate and bowed once more. When juniors called on elders: at the gate the name was announced and the junior waited outside until summoned; ascending the steps he faced north and bowed twice, and the elder facing west returned the bow. When told to sit, he took a seat beside the elder according to rank. When tea came he bowed; when talk was done he asked leave and bowed three times. Every bow was returned, but the elder did not see him out. If the elder came to call, the junior welcomed and saw him off at the main gate. Everything else followed the protocol above. Calling on a father's friend used the same protocol as calling on an elder.
69
受業弟子見師長禮，初見，師未出，先入，設席正位，俟堂下。 師出召見，乃奉贄入，奠贄於席，北面再拜，師立答揖。 興，謹問起居。 命坐乃侍坐。 有問，起而對。 辭出，三揖，不送。 常見侍坐，請業則起，請益則起。 師有教，立聽。 命坐乃坐。 師問更對，仍起而對。 朝入暮出均一揖。 與同學弟子，以齒序之。
Protocol for enrolled disciples calling on their teacher: on first visit, before the teacher appeared, the disciple entered first, arranged the seat of honor, and waited below the hall. When the teacher came out and summoned him, he brought his initiation gift, set it on the seat, faced north and bowed twice, and the teacher stood and returned the bow. He rose and respectfully asked after the teacher's health. Only when told to sit did he take a seat in attendance. When asked a question, he rose to answer. On leaving he bowed three times; the teacher did not see him out. On regular visits he sat in attendance; he rose both to request instruction and to ask for further clarification. When the teacher spoke, he stood and listened. He sat only when told to do so. If the teacher questioned him again, he still rose to answer. Whether entering in the morning or leaving in the evening, he bowed once each time. Among fellow disciples, precedence went by age.