On the day of Lixia, before the fifth watch of the night, the officials in the capital wear red robes until Liqiu, when they change into yellow before heading out of the city to offer sacrifices. The sacrificial rituals involve offerings to the Earth God and the Kitchen God. From the beginning of spring to Lixia, and then to Liqiu, every county must report on the status of rainfall. If there is too little rain, each county must clean its altar; if there is a drought, the court officials must consecutively hold rain-seeking rituals. During this ritual, all sun-facing windows and doors must be closed, officials must wear white clothes, and perform symbolic rain-seeking dances featuring earth dragons and earth figures, changing the dance moves every seven days according to tradition. After the ritual, the altars are to be bound with red ropes, red drums must be beaten, and a small offering is made in prayer.
The ceremony for honoring the Crown Prince is as follows: all officials gather and stand in their designated positions, the usher leads the Crown Prince to his designated position below the throne, facing north; the Minister of Works stands to the northwest of the Crown Prince, facing east. After reading the edict, the Grand Chamberlain presents the Crown Prince with his seal and ribbon while facing east. The Crown Prince is to kneel and bow twice, then kowtow three times. The usher announces, "So-and-so is the servant of the Crown Prince," and the Minister reads the Emperor's decree: "Granted." The three officials ascend the steps to congratulate the Crown Prince, and then issue a general amnesty. Once the offering and reward ceremonies are completed, the ritual concludes.
The ceremony of paying respects to the feudal lords and nobles is as follows: all officials gather and take their positions, and the usher first leads the Guanglu Xun to the front. Then the usher leads the newly ennobled individual to kneel and pay respects before the imperial throne. The Guanglu Xun steps forward, the newly ennobled individual bows once, raises their hand and states, "By imperial decree, appointing so-and-so as so-and-so." After reading the decree, the usher announces loudly, "I, so-and-so, bow once more." The Shangshu Lang hands the seal and ribbon to the attendant official. The attendant official faces east and hands over the seal and ribbon to the newly ennobled nobles. The nobles are required to kneel twice and kowtow three times. The announcer calls out loudly, "So-and-so newly ennobled as a prince, so-and-so newly appointed as a duke, we thank you for your grace." The middle usher responds, "We humbly thank you." The announcer stands and loudly proclaims, "The emperor celebrates for the nobles." The newly ennobled individuals sit back down, express their gratitude, and then return to their positions. Once the offerings and rewards ceremony is complete, the ceremony concludes.
In midsummer, everything flourishes. On summer solstice, yin energy begins to emerge, raising concerns about the growth of crops. Therefore, the ritual during this time involved stringing red ropes with various meat dishes, along with a plant known as "Mimou" and a "Poguzhong" (a type of object), carving a seal out of peach wood measuring six inches in length and three inches in width, inscribing it with talismans in five colors, and affixing it to the door to ward off evil spirits. Different dynasties used different decorations - the Xia dynasty adorned their doors with gold shaped like reeds, symbolizing the union of yin and yang; the Shang dynasty used shells to seal the doors carefully, as tightly sealed as a shell; the Zhou dynasty used peach wood to make a door bolt, symbolizing the balance of yin and yang. The Han dynasty combined these methods, so every May 5th, they decorated the doors with red ropes and five-colored seals to keep evil spirits at bay. Lighting fires was prohibited, and activities like burning charcoal, casting, and smelting were halted until the beginning of autumn. On summer solstice, wells were cleaned and the water was changed, just as fire is replaced on winter solstice.
Eighteen days after the summer solstice is the day of sacrificing to the Yellow Emperor. On this day, when the night watch has not yet completed five quarters, the officials in the capital all don yellow robes for the sacrifice. When the autumnal equinox arrives, they greet the autumn air at the Yellow Suburb, perform the music of the Huangzhong Palace, sing the song "Di Lin," wear crowns, hold weapons, and perform the dances "Clouds Curling" and "Nurturing Life" to align with the seasonal changes and educate the populace.
On the day of the autumnal equinox, when the night watch has not yet completed five quarters, the officials in the capital all wear white clothes with black fabric borders on the collars of their inner garments to welcome the autumn air at the White Suburb. After the ceremony, everyone changes into red garments until the onset of winter.
After the ceremony at the White Suburb on the day of the autumnal equinox, they commence a display of military might, sacrificing the ritual animals outside the eastern gate and offering the sacrifices to the ancestral temple. The ceremony goes like this: the emperor rides in a war chariot, drives a white horse with a red mane, and personally shoots the sacrificial animals with a bow, specifically deer and roe deer. The Grand Minister and the Court Attendant each ride in a vehicle laden with sacrificial offerings, pulled by four horses, to the ancestral temple. Afterwards, the emperor returns to the palace, dispatching messengers to bestow silk fabrics upon the military officials. The military officials are required to undergo military training, practice formations, and the ritual of animal sacrifice, referred to as "Chu Liu." Both civil and military officials are required to study the sixty-four formations from the military strategies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi. On the day of the spring equinox, the emperor sends messengers to reward the civil officials with silk fabrics. The "Chu Liu" ceremony involves a sacrifice to the ancestor Yu Shun; the officiating officials must inform the ancestor before the ritual commences, and after the sacrificial offerings are prepared, the officials must report before the slaughter of the animals can begin. Once the offerings are transported, the officials must announce the conclusion of the ceremony.
In September, the weather is cool, and the county advises the residents to stay at home. For those over seventy years old, the government will give them a king's cane and offer them soft rice porridge. Those who are eighty, ninety, or even over a hundred receive even better care. The king's cane is nine feet long, with a dove pattern carved on the top. Doves are birds that do not choke, symbolizing the hope for the elderly to live long and healthy lives. A ceremony will also be held at the temple in the southern suburbs of the capital to honor the Elderly Star.
In October, the Star God will be honored at the Star Temple in the southern part of the city.
On the day of the start of winter, before dawn, all the officials in the capital wear blue clothes and go outside the city to welcome the arrival of winter. After the ceremony, they change into red clothes and do not resume their official duties until after the winter solstice.
Before and after the winter solstice, the nobles and officials remain quiet, and the officials stop all work, do not attend court, and choose a good day to handle government affairs. During this period, before dawn, all officials in the capital wear red clothing until the beginning of spring. Members of the imperial family also change their clothes according to the season, and those responsible for specific tasks work for only one day.
The winter solstice and the summer solstice mark the change of yin and yang, with the sun's shadow at its longest, signaling the onset of changes in the qi of heaven and earth. Therefore, eight skilled craftsmen are invited: some play the Huangzhong lute, some strike the Huangzhong bell, some measure the length of the sun's shadow, weigh the water (a liter of water weighs thirteen taels in winter), some strike the Huangzhong chimes, some play the Huangzhong zither (with nine-foot long strings, twenty-five strings, the key note in the middle, and the other notes on the sides), and some beat the Huangzhong drum. Three days before this, the imperial astronomer will pay them a visit. On the day of the winter solstice, it marks the fourth Meng (Mengchun, Mengxia, Mengqiu, Mengdong) in summer and the fourth Zhong (Zhongchun, Zhongxia, Zhongqiu, Zhongdong) in winter, when the qi of heaven and earth reaches its peak.
After an hour and fifteen minutes had passed, the Grand Historian's Office, with eight skilled individuals, sat in the study to the left of the main gate. They then arranged the musical instruments, using red instruments in the summer and black instruments in the winter, arranging them to the west of the hall, with the bell positioned at the front. The palace guards laid out mats south of the instruments and sat facing east in their proper positions; the drum was positioned to the southwest, and the timekeeper was in the northeast corner.
After forty-five minutes, the Chief Yellow Gate led soldiers to escort the Grand Historian and the eight skilled individuals through the main gate to take their seats. After thirty minutes, the Palace Attendant, the Minister, the Imperial Censor, and the Courtiers all arrived at the steps of the hall. As the moment of truth approached, the Emperor himself came to the hall and waited quietly. The Grand Historian walked to the front and knelt facing north. He raised his hand and announced, "Everything is ready for the eight skilled individuals; please commence the ceremony." The Emperor said, "You may proceed." The Grand Historian bowed deeply and replied, "As you wish." He then took a small step back, turned to the Chief Yellow Gate, and said, "The ceremony can begin now." The Chief Yellow Gate replied, "As you wish." Everyone took their places again.
Zhengde stood up and ordered the eight skilled musicians, saying, "Proceed in order and use the yu as accompaniment." The eight skilled musicians replied, "Yes, sir." Each note was played thirty times for one piece. Zhengde said, "Play the five notes in unison." He led the singing first, then the five notes played in unison, a total of twenty-five pieces, all accompanied by the yu. After the performance, Zhengde said, "Each of the eight skilled musicians should present your performance." Each of the eight skilled musicians wrote down their performance on a wooden board. The performance reports stated, "I, so-and-so, report that on this day of this month, the tone of the Yellow Bell signifies prosperity, promoting the ruler's virtue and filial piety." The musical notes of Shang, Jiao, Zhi, and Yu were inscribed on separate wooden boards. If there were any issues, the Grand Historian would be summoned to write the performance on a wooden board, seal it in a black cloth bag, and deliver it to the steps on the west side, kneeling to present it to the Imperial Secretary, placing it in front of the hall, bowing to the north, and presenting the performance report. The Imperial Secretary would hand the report to the Palace Attendants and attendants, who would report to the Emperor and receive the Emperor's response. The Chief Yellow Gate would direct the procession with flags. The Grand Historian would announce when the ceremony was completed. The Emperor said, "It is permissible." The Grand Historian bowed and said, "Yes, sir." The Emperor ordered the eight skilled musicians to receive rewards at the Ministry of Works. The people below the steps retreated in order. The summer solstice ceremony was the same as this.
In the winter months, as the stars revolve, the year comes to an end, and yin and yang alternate, the hardworking farmers celebrate a grand Laba Festival to mark the year's end. On the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth month, a significant day known as "Chasing Epidemics" is observed. The ceremony proceeds as follows: One hundred and twenty children from the families of the Yellow Gates (palace guards) aged between ten and twelve are selected to take on the role of "Zhenzi." These children all wear red headscarves, black clothes, and carry big drums.
Then, a person dressed as Fang Xiangshi wears a golden mask with four eyes, a bear fur cloak, a black top, a red skirt, and holds a spear and shield. There are also twelve people dressed in animal skins, portraying various animals. The Yellow Gates oversee this team, with the Chief Officer leading the procession, banishing evil spirits and demons from the palace.
When the sound of dripping water from the leaking pot of the night rang out, just before dawn, the court ministers gathered in the palace. The Shizhong, Shangshu, Yushi, Yezhe, Huben, and Yulin Lang officials all wore red headscarves, stood guard outside the palace, and the emperor's procession was stationed in front of the hall. The Huangmen Ling, the highest official of the Huangmen Office, reported, "The Zhongzi are ready; we can begin to drive out the epidemic!" So, the Huangmen Ling led the chant, and the Zhongzi followed along shouting, "Jia devours ghosts, He devours tigers, Xiongbo consumes demons, Tengjian consumes ominous things, Lan Zhu consumes sins, Boqi consumes nightmares, Qiangliang and Zuming eat the ghosts parasitic on human bodies after being crucified, Weisui consumes monsters, Cuoduan consumes giants, poor wonders, Tenggen consumes poison. In short, let these twelve spirits pursue malevolent and dangerous entities, rip out the body, hair, flesh, and entrails of the female ghost! If the female ghost doesn’t flee quickly, she’ll be devoured!" Then, Fangxiang and the twelve beasts started dancing, cheering as they circled the palace three times, holding torches, and banishing the epidemic from the gate.
Outside the gate, the cavalry received the torch and continued to pass it on until it was passed to the five camps of knights outside the Sima Que gate, and finally cast the torch into the Luo River. Once the burial ceremony location was confirmed, the Grand Herald, the official in charge of ceremonies, delivered his report, and the envoys, responsible for conveying orders, organized the nobles, princesses, and royal women by rank to stand behind the coffin; the Crown Prince and princes positioned themselves to the east, facing west; everyone knelt and wept in unison. The Grand Herald led the mourning, with all the ministers following his lead. The Three Dukes—Prime Minister, Grand Commandant, and Minister Over the Masses—descended from the steps, placed the jade scepter and other ritual offerings into the coffin, and the close attendants assisted in carrying out the necessary rites. The heir mourned loudly in accordance with the ritual. The artisans and warriors from the Eastern Garden secured the coffin, stripping away its decorations. The Minister of Ceremonies presented the major sacrificial offerings, and the Minister of Works, Chief of the Central Hall, and Grand Provisioner offered sacrifices in turn, with all participants adhering to the proper etiquette. The Minister of Ceremonies and the Grand Herald guided everyone in mourning, following the ritual.
First, the ministers read the "Shangshu: Gu Ming," and then immediately announced in front of the coffin that the crown prince was to inherit the throne and the empress was honored as the empress dowager. This proposal was accepted. The ministers all withdrew, changed into auspicious clothing, and re-entered according to the ritual. The Grand Commandant stepped down from the platform, sat north facing south in front of the coffin, performed a kowtow, read the edict, and then handed over the national seal and ribbon to the crown prince, who was kneeling on the east side, officially declaring him as the emperor. Then, the Central Chamberlain handed over the symbolic jade objects of imperial power, the pearl from the Marquis of Suizhou, and the sword of cutting snakes to the Grand Commandant, who announced this news to the courtiers, who all shouted, "Long live the emperor!" The court ordered a general amnesty and sent messengers to open the city gates and palace gates, and withdraw the stationed troops. After the court meeting, all officials changed into mourning clothes and followed the ritual. The soldiers, the three dukes, and the Grand Minister also observed the mourning rituals accordingly.
Next, the arrangements for the funeral ceremony were made: as per custom, officials were required to pay their respects every five days; all officials of the rank of 2000 stones, provincial governors, and county officials in the capital must also come every five days. All officials and people from all over the country must come to pay respects within the first three days, and on the two days before the funeral, offerings had to be made in the morning and evening. After the burial, mourning clothes could be removed, and activities such as weddings, funerals, and sacrifices were no longer prohibited. Officials below the rank of Zuo Shi wore plain clothes and mourning ribbons no wider than three inches, and performed sacrifices in the courtyard. Military officials wore large hats. The Minister of Agriculture provided funds and provisions, allocated six zhang of mourning cloth, used red cloth for ten days, small red cloth for fourteen days, and fine linen for seven days before mourning clothes could be removed. Provincial governors, officials of 2000 stones, marquises, as well as marquises in the inner regions, officials from the royal family, and officials traveling on official business must report to the court; princes sent a delegate to report; those in need could request relay horses and urgent documents, which the court would approve.
Finally, regarding the specifications and construction of tombs: the tomb chamber is made of wood, measuring nine feet high and eight feet wide, wrapped in reed mats on the outside; the tomb gate and mourning tent are made of bamboo matting; the decorations on the carriage shafts and wheels are removed, and the wheels are wrapped in coarse cloth; the soldiers escorting the funeral wear cloth caps; the Grand Master rides in a four-wheeled ceremonial carriage, with the top covered in hemp cloth; the Central Yellow Gate and the Tiger Guard each dispatch twenty men to hold the funeral cords; the Minister of Works oversees the selection of the burial site and the digging of the tomb; the Court Historian is tasked with selecting an auspicious burial date; two envoys: the Middle Envoy and the Deputy Envoy, cover the tomb pit with oil-soaked silk curtains; the construction of the tomb's yellow intestines and convenience rooms is carried out according to ritual.
When the emperor passed away, the imperial carriages from the Grand Master's Temple were fully prepared. Behold, leading the way is Fang Xiangshi, wearing a golden mask with four bulging eyes, dressed in a bear fur coat over a black top and a red skirt, holding a spear and shield, riding four horses leading the charge. The flags measure three zhang in length, twelve flags fluttering and trailing on the ground, featuring images of the sun, moon, and flying dragons, with the words "The Emperor's Coffin" inscribed on the flagpole. Two envoys follow closely on six horses. The emperor's funeral procession is magnificent, with the Golden Root Carriage, Orchid Platform Carriage, and Law Carriage all lined up. The decorations on the funeral carriage match those of the Golden Root Carriage. The emperor's funeral follows the established rites. The Minister of Ceremonies requests the ceremony to commence.
In the middle of the night, after twenty minutes had passed, the Grand Commandant, wearing a tall crown and ceremonial robes, rode in a high carriage and stopped at the palace gate. When the messenger arrived, facing south, the Grand Commandant approached and knelt down to accept the imperial edict. The Grand Commandant then proceeded to the southern suburbs. In less than nine quarters of an hour, the Grand Herald arranged the nine guests, everyone stood in order, the courtiers took their seats, and the Grand Commandant performed the ritual bow. All the officials wore long caps and ceremonial robes. The Grand Priest knelt down to read the posthumous title, the Grand Commandant knelt twice, then kowtowed. The memorial ceremony and reports were successfully completed. The Grand Commandant took the posthumous title and returned to the palace gate. The Grand Minister conducted the memorial ceremony once more, and the Chamberlain of the Yellow Gate presented clothes and placed them on the golden car. The soldiers from the Eastern Garden carried the coffin, the Minister of Works cleared the path, stood in front of the car to preside over the ceremony, and guided the Grand Commandant to his position. The funeral car stopped slightly to the southwest, facing east; the Grand Commandant presented the posthumous title, and the Chief Historian stood behind the funeral car, holding the memorial tablet. The Grand Minister knelt and said, "Please come forward, Your Majesty." The Emperor approached. The Grand Commandant read the posthumous title and then placed it in the golden coffer. A copy of the Emperor's posthumous title was stored in the ancestral temple. The Chief Historian, holding the memorial tablet, sent it to the tomb in a box woven with reeds. The Grand Commandant returned to his original position, knelt down again, and stood up. The Grand Minister knelt and said, "Please weep." The Grand Herald directed everyone to weep fifteen times, and then the weeping ceased. The farewell ceremony conducted by the Grand Minister adhered to the ritual. The weeping and the stopping of weeping were both performed according to the ritual.
Ah, the day has come. The water pot has overflowed; it's time to set off. Situ and the Prefect of Henan led the way to turn the convoy's direction. The Grand Minister knelt down and said, "Please allow us to perform the farewell ceremony." The funeral procession, with white ropes on the carts, woven from fine hemp, was thirty zhang long and seven cun wide, with six rows in total, each row being pulled by fifty people. The sons of lower-ranking officials, totaling three hundred people, all wore white headscarves and plain white clothes. Three hundred military officers wore red headscarves, without hats and wearing red tunics, holding banners. Hou Sima Cheng took the lead, and everyone remained silent. There were also sixty Yulin orphans and skilled singers of the song "Bayu," divided into six rows. Eight bell Sima led the way with bells in hand. The Grand Herald arranged the seating of the guests according to the etiquette of the Nine Guests: the princes, nobles, and special guests were on the west side of the road, facing north, slightly higher on the east side; the middle two thousand shi, two thousand shi, and marquises were on the east side of the Nine Guests, facing north, slightly higher on the west side. The emperor's carriage was draped with white silk curtains, parked on the east side of the ceremonial road, facing west, in accordance with the etiquette. The emperor's throne carriage was stationed on the west side of the ceremonial road, facing south, directly facing the seat, with the Central Yellow Gate official attending beside the throne. As the convoy moved forward slightly, the Grand Priest offered ritual wine according to the etiquette. Situ knelt down and said, "Please move the carriage." The Grand Historian stood on the south side of the carriage, facing north, recited the sacrificial text, and then cast the sacrificial fire into the Luo River. Various government offices were carved with wooden sculptures of various mythical beasts. After the ceremony, offerings such as peach branches, willow dolls, reeds, and others were arranged, and the participants in the sacrifice gradually left. Finally, reed staffs and peach branches were presented as rewards to officials, generals, marquises, and princes. This month, in the outskirts of the capital and county towns, six clay oxen were erected to drive away the harsh winter.
A banquet was held to honor the old guards: all the officials gathered, seated according to their ranks, as attendants holding insignia guided the old guards through the main gate. The guard general, carrying banners and bells, led the procession. After the procession was in place, the imperial secretary presented a token of appreciation to them, read the imperial edict, inquired about their ailments, and accepted their memorials and appeals. After the banquet, they were rewarded with a performance of wrestling. After the performance, they were encouraged to engage in agriculture and sericulture.
Every year on the first day of the first month, a grand court audience is held to accept congratulations from the officials. The ceremony unfolds as follows: before the water clock had finished seven periods (around three in the morning), the bell rang, signaling the start of receiving congratulations. As for the gifts offered, dukes and marquises presented jade bi discs, officials ranked at 2,000 stones and above presented lambs, officials ranging from 1,000 to 600 stones offered geese, and officials below 400 stones offered pheasants. All officials were required to come to congratulate the new year. Officials ranked at 2,000 stones and above were required to shout "long live" in the hall, then raise their cups to drink in front of the emperor. The Minister of Works presented soup, the Minister of Agriculture served rice, while congratulatory music was played. The officials received rewards, attended banquets, and hosted grand banquets and entertainment events. As for the first day of each month, only on the first day of the tenth month was a court audience held in accordance with tradition, because this was the month when the founding Emperor Liu Bang defeated the Qin dynasty and the first year of his reign.
The whole process is quite grand and complicated when you think about it. It started at around three in the morning. Just imagine those officials having to get up early in the freezing cold. You can see the strict hierarchy in the specifications of the offerings, with different gifts for dukes, nobles, and officials of varying ranks like two thousand shi, one thousand shi, six hundred shi, and four hundred shi. It's quite a spectacle! Then the emperor sits above, receiving the congratulations from his courtiers while enjoying the soup and dishes served by the Minister of Works and the Minister of Agriculture, all while listening to music; it feels like watching a historical drama about an emperor's daily life. But the most interesting part is the first day of October—what makes it so special? It turns out that this is the month Liu Bang founded the country after defeating the Qin Dynasty, so this tradition has been preserved to commemorate that event.
