Ah, rules and etiquette are meant to regulate the relationship between the ruler and his subjects, as well as to handle matters among relatives. If the ruler loses his authority and the subjects lose their decorum, with those in power being irresponsible, those below will act lawlessly, causing chaos in the world! When chaos reigns, the common people will suffer; how can we afford to be careless?! Therefore, I have recorded all the matters related to the practice of etiquette and compiled them into the "Etiquette Records."
On the first day of each month, which is the new moon, the Chief Historian presents the calendar for the month, and officials from relevant departments, assistant ministers, and ministers must review it to understand the imperial decrees and implement policies properly. On the two days before and after the new moon, one must lead a sheep and bring wine to the altar to make offerings to Heaven and Earth. If the sun appears abnormally, a sheep must be sacrificed at the altar to pray for the elimination of disasters. The officiant must wear a long crown, a black robe with a red collar and cuffs, red trousers, and socks, and perform the ritual according to custom.
On the first day of spring, before dawn, all officials in the capital must wear green clothes, and even officials from various counties, including the smallest food supervisors, must wear green headscarves, raise green flags, and display models of oxen plowing outside the gates to set an example for the common people, until the beginning of summer. However, the military generals do not need to do this. On the first day of spring, a general amnesty decree must be issued, stating: "Decree to the Three Dukes: Spring is the time to start planting, so be cautious and all actions must be in accordance with the season. Those who have committed crimes not deserving of the death penalty should not be pursued for now; wait until after the wheat harvest. Take a stand against corrupt officials and promote honest, virtuous individuals, and handle other matters according to custom."
On the first day of the first month, sacrifices should be made at the Southern Suburb Altar. After the sacrifices at the Southern Suburb Altar, one should proceed to the Northern Suburb, Mingtang, Gaomiao, and Shizumiao, completing the "Five Sacrifices." After the "Five Sacrifices" are completed, one should then proceed to the Imperial Mausoleum for additional offerings.
Before the capital moved to the Eastern Capital, sacrificial activities had already taken place at the Western Capital. Once in the Eastern Capital, the ceremony became even more elaborate, with officials, relatives of the four prominent clans, princesses, ministers, foreign envoys and their entourages, county officials, and others attending. When the water level in the sundial reaches a specific point, the Grand Herald arranges the guests' seating according to the Nine Rites. Everyone stands in front of the sleeping hall. When the bell rings, the ushers guide the guests to their seats in accordance with etiquette, and the ministers sit in their designated positions. The Emperor's carriage emerges from the east wing, and the Minister of Ceremonies guides the Emperor to bow to the west before ascending the steps of the altar to pay respects to the gods before taking his seat. He then returns to the east wing, facing west. The Palace Attendants, Ministers, and Courtiers stand behind the seat of the gods. After the officials bow to the gods, the Ministry of Rites presents the offerings, the Minister of Ceremonies conducts the music, and the sacrificial ceremony begins, including performances of the "Beginning of Writing" and the "Five Elements" dances. After the music ends, the ministers receive food, and after eating, county officials report to the altar on the grain prices and the suffering of the people in their respective regions, to inform the gods of the people's situation. Devoted sons serve their parents with utmost dedication, expressing their filial piety, and the sacrificial process proceeds according to etiquette. Finally, the Emperor personally conducts the sacrifices at the mausoleum, then dismisses the officials and bestows upon them jade ornaments to wear. In the eighth month, during the drinking of wine, sacrifices are also made at the Western Capital, following the same procedures as before.
During any fasting or sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, they should last for seven days; for ancestral temples and mountains and rivers, they should last for five days; for small shrines, they should last for three days. If there is any pollution during the fasting period, the fast should be lifted, and the Vice Minister should perform the rites. If there is any impurity or disaster on the day before fasting, the sacrifices should still be performed according to the rituals. In the event of the death of a sovereign, only the suburban sacrifices to Heaven and Earth require fasting, while other sacrificial activities should wait until after a hundred days to fast, all in accordance with ancestral traditions.
On the first day of the first month, if it falls on a Jiazi day (the first day of the Chinese sexagenary cycle) or a Bingzi day, it is an auspicious day and the Jiaguan ceremony can be held, following the rules of the ceremony. The emperor's first coronation involves wearing the Jinxian crown made of black silk, followed by the Juebian crown, then the Wubian crown, and finally the Tongtian crown. After the coronation, the ritual requires a visit to the ancestral temple for offerings. Officials below the rank of duke need only wear the Jinxian crown.
In the first month, sacrifices are offered to the Heavenly Emperor. In the evening, offerings must be prepared. Before the sundial's water level reaches the eighteenth mark, the offerings must be brought in, and before the night watch reaches the eighth mark, cooked food must also be brought in. After the Grand Priest finishes presenting the offerings, everyone goes to the place of burnt offerings, where the Chief Priest lights the fire to burn the wood. Once the fire is lit, the emperor must bow again, then stand up, and the attending official reports the completion of the sacrifice. Sacrifices to the Mingtang, Wujiao, Ancestral Temple, Taishen, and Six Ancestors must also be prepared in the evening. Before the sundial's water level reaches the fourteenth mark, the offerings must be brought in, and before the night watch reaches the seventh mark, cooked food must also be brought in. After presenting the offerings, the official reports the completion of the sacrifice. The fire for the Six Ancestors must be kept burning brightly before the official reports the completion of the sacrifice.
In the first month, plowing begins. Shortly after the sun rises, the officiant reports that the sacrifice to the God of Agriculture has been completed. When plowing begins, the chief official invites the emperor to commence the ceremony. The emperor, the Three Dukes, the Nine Ministers, the feudal lords, and the officials then take turns plowing the land. Once everyone has finished plowing and planting the seeds, the chief official reports that the ceremony is complete. This month, the court orders: "The governors and local officials of each county must encourage the common people to start plowing according to the prescribed ceremony. All travelers must ring bells and perform music. If there are disasters or other special circumstances, such as praying for rain or stopping rain, bells should not be rung and music should not be played."
In mid-spring, a high platform is set up in the south of the city for sacrifices, utilizing special sacrificial livestock.
In the second year of Yongping, in the third month, the emperor personally led the officials to perform sacrifices and offerings to the Three Elders and the Five Elders at Biyong, followed by a grand archery rite. In schools in various counties and townships, a ritual of drinking wine was held to honor the sage Confucius and Zhou Gong, with dogs offered as sacrifices. This fulfilled the rituals of the Seven Suburbs, Rites and Music, and the Three Yong.
For the ceremony of offering to the Three Elders and Five Elders, an auspicious day was first chosen, and the Minister of Personnel reported to the Grand Tutor. Individuals with high moral character and advanced age, who had previously held the position of Three Dukes, were selected to be "elders" and "elders." They wore fine silk robes with black collars and sleeves, and wore the cap of virtuous officials while carrying a king's staff. The "Five Elders" were the same, except they did not carry a staff. They all fasted in the lecture hall of the Imperial Academy. On that day, the emperor's procession first arrived at the Biyong ritual hall, with the emperor sitting in the east wing. Envoys in carriages were sent to welcome the Three Elders and Five Elders. The emperor greeted them at the door screen, and the Three Elders ascended the steps from the guest platform, while the emperor ascended from the main platform. When they reached the steps, the emperor bowed. After the Three Elders ascended the steps, facing east, the Three Dukes arranged the offerings, the Nine Ministers prepared the shoes, and the emperor personally cut the sacrificial animal, presented the sauce, and served the wine, with the officiant standing in front and the sacrificer behind. The Five Elders faced south, and the Three Dukes presented the offerings in the same manner. The next day, they all had to go to the palace gate to express their gratitude, to demonstrate the court's deep respect for them.
In this month, the empress led the wives of officials and nobles to participate in sericulture activities. They first sacrificed to the silkworm deity, using young livestock as offerings.
During the festival of Shangsi in this month, officials and commoners bathed in the river, referred to as the washing and purification ritual, to remove impurities from their bodies and achieve a thorough cleansing. It was called "cleaning" because the yang energy was becoming increasingly abundant and all things were beginning to grow; therefore, cleansing was essential.
