The emperor has passed away, and the kings, marquises, newly appointed nobles, and princesses have all passed away. Alas, the emperor's health has deteriorated; the imperial physician has been summoned to rush into the palace with the other doctors to administer medicine urgently. Before the emperor takes the medicine, the supervising censor, close aides, eunuchs, and attendants must taste the medicine beforehand, which is quite strict; it is said that they must taste twelve portions each time! Civil and military officials take turns visiting, offering their condolences and inquiring after his health without pause. The Grand Marshal requests permission to go to the southern suburbs to perform sacrifices, while the Minister of Works and the Minister of Education request to go to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices. They also need to offer sacrifices to the Five Sacred Mountains, the Four Rivers, and various other deities, as everyone prays for the emperor's early recovery. During the emperor's severe illness, civil and military officials serve diligently in accordance with the rituals. Throughout this entire process, everyone adhered to the protocols, from the imperial physicians to the civil and military officials, all faithfully fulfilling their duties. The phrase "The great mourning: kings, marquises, newly appointed nobles, and princesses have passed away" alone conveys the profound sorrow of the situation.
The queen died, and the emperor ordered the three ministers (equivalent to the prime minister at the time) to preside over the funeral. All officials had to wear white robes, white headscarves, and no hats. The city gates and palace gates were all closed. Important officials in the palace, along with the imperial guards and soldiers from the Langzhong Office, were stationed in the palace, armed. Security was tightened in various parts of the palace, and the five colonels of the Northern Army had their troops stationed around the palace. The imperial guards, ministers, censors, and courtiers took turns standing watch day and night. The three ministers followed the etiquette requirements, displaying sorrowful expressions and adhering to the proper gestures. The queen, the crown prince, and the princes wept in accordance with etiquette, showing extreme grief. The bathing and dressing of the queen were also conducted strictly according to etiquette. Officials in charge of palace affairs, craftsmen in the Eastern Garden, and their female relatives managed the funeral arrangements as usual, employing the finest yellow cotton, silk, gold threads, and jade. Offerings were prepared in accordance with etiquette, using precious items such as pearls and jade. Ice blocks were also positioned according to tradition. All the officials wept in the hall to mourn their loss.
On that evening, bamboo envoys were sent out to inform the local officials and princes of the funeral. Upon the arrival of the bamboo envoys, they all knelt down and wept mournfully to express their mourning for the queen. Then, according to the ritual, preliminary rites were held. The artisans and officials in charge of the crafts in the Eastern Garden presented the burial objects from the Eastern Garden collection. These objects were painted red both inside and out, with carvings of sun, moon, birds, turtles, dragons, tigers, and other designs, as well as interlocking discs and crescent motifs. The coffin was crafted according to tradition. Subsequently, a major funeral was held between the two pillars in the main hall. The Five Ministers, the Left and Right Tiger Guards, the Imperial Guards, and the five generals all brought their troops and stood guard with their tiger-crested halberds at the front doors and steps of the hall, while the Yellow Gate Guards stood guard inside the hall. In the evening, the ministers gathered in the palace. The next morning, the Grand Herald arranged the seating for the nine dignitaries according to the ritual, and everyone stood in their designated positions in the hall. The ushers led the princes to stand in the hall facing west, looking north, with the royal family and a few lesser nobles standing behind them, also facing west and looking north. Then, according to the ritual, the Three Dukes took their seats in the north of the hall, the Grand Masters behind the middle-ranking officials, the marquises behind the middle-ranking officials, the lower-ranking officials and scholars following them, and the courtiers in their designated positions facing west. The official responsible for historical records, who had already started weeping, stood behind them. The Minister of Rites knelt and proclaimed, "Begin weeping!" The Grand Herald then conveyed the order to weep according to the ritual. The Minister of Works knelt down and said, "Please move to the lower position." The Eastern Garden warriors then carried the Minister of Works in a carriage to the lower position. The Minister of Works knelt down again and said, "Please move to the lower chamber." The Director and the Eastern Garden warriors then transported the Minister of Works to the lower chamber. The Minister of Works and the Chief Astrologer collaboratively composed the posthumous title and mourning edict for the queen.
The warriors of Dongyuan are responsible for arranging the sacrificial utensils. Look, there are eight shao (筲), each capable of holding three liters, containing millet, adlay, wheat, barley, rice, hemp seeds, soybeans, and adzuki beans, one of each. There are also three weng, each holding three liters, containing vinegar, brine, and crumbs, three kinds of condiments. In addition, there is millet candy. These are all carried on wooden racks, covered with rough cloth.
Next are two ceramic vessels, each capable of holding three sheng, containing sweet wine and wine, also transported on wooden beams, with a clay lamp beside them. Four red arrows, placed in the carriage, are also part of the guard's equipment. Additionally, there are four red arrows with bone shafts, also part of the guard's equipment. There is also a red bow. Eight wine cups, eight meat plates, eight bean-shaped utensils, eight sacrificial bowls, and eight square wine pots. A complete set of plates and basins. A cane, a small table, and a lid. Sixteen bells, without bell stands. Four bronze bells, also without bell stands. Sixteen chimes, likewise without bell stands. Additionally, there are a zither, four flutes, a sheng, a chi flute, a ritual vessel, a yu, six zithers, a qin, a kou hou, a gan, a ge, a bamboo slip, a suit of armor, and a helmet. Nine carts, thirty-six sacrificial horses. Two ceramic stoves, two ceramic cauldrons, one ceramic steamer. Twelve clay tripods, each with a capacity of five sheng. A ladle made of calabash, with a capacity of one sheng. Nine ceramic tables. Sixteen large ceramic cups, each with a capacity of three sheng. Twenty small ceramic cups, each with a capacity of two sheng. Ten ceramic meal trays. Two ceramic wine vessels, each with a capacity of five dou. Additionally, there are two calabash ladles, each with a capacity of one sheng.
All the clothes have been sent out. The craftsman in charge of constructing the tomb said, "You may begin to mourn now." Everyone in the room began to weep. The officials responsible for ceremonies and those overseeing foreign guests hurried out, instructing everyone to mourn according to custom, but not excessively. The Situ (equivalent to the prime minister at the time) said, "All the affairs of the officials have been completed; I request permission to leave court." The people in the room all bowed again, then left and returned to their positions. The ceremonial official led the emperor to the sacrificial site. The Situ knelt and announced, "Please begin the sacrifice." The attendant held a box containing a jade tablet. The jade tablet measured fourteen inches in length, resting on a purple cloth three inches wide; inside was red silk, embroidered with red silk thread around the edges. The sacrificial silk consisted of three pieces of black and two pieces of red, each twelve inches long and as wide as a piece of cloth. The emperor knelt down, walked to the door of the sacrificial room, stood facing west, took the jade tablet, and placed it in the box containing the jade tablet three times. The tomb's craftsman sealed the box and placed it in the room where the sacrificial offerings were stored. The ceremonial official knelt and announced, "The emperor bows again; please start the mourning sacrifice." The official overseeing foreign guests conveyed the instructions for the mourning sacrifice, following the ceremony. The ceremonial official knelt and said, "The sacrifice is complete." Only then did the emperor return to his seat. The chariot bearing the mourning garments slowly moved away. Upon the Situ's arrival at the side hall, all accompanying chariots and horses were stationed beneath the jade canopy. The Situ knelt and said, "Please let the emperor in." He led the emperor inside. The official responsible for the emperor's attire presented garments and items individually and placed them in the side hall. The Grand Priest, responsible for sacrifices, offered the wine. The entire ceremony lasted ten hours. After the ceremony, the Sikong, responsible for civil engineering, and his subordinates filled the grave.
The Emperor, Empress, and those below them changed into coarse cloth garments, changed into bright red garments, returned to the palace, and set up the spirit tablet in accordance with the rituals. The spirit tablet, crafted from mulberry wood, is twelve inches high and does not have a posthumous title. After the funeral ceremony, the Empress's tablet was moved to the ancestral temple in accordance with the rituals.
Before embarking on the imperial tour, the Emperor tried on mourning clothes in various palaces, and the court officials were present in auspicious attire, following all the rituals. The Emperor's close attendants wore mourning clothes and followed the rituals. Officials in bright red garments wore lighter red garments and a cap adorned with eleven silk tassels; those in light red garments wore fine linen, and those in fine linen wore yellow garments and a court cap. Close attendants and officials ranked below Two Thousand Stones wore yellow garments and a court cap. All officials donned plain garments. Each time they changed clothes, they had to cry and offer sacrifices at the tomb following the rituals. Special offerings were used for sacrifices, excluding hair, blood, or heads. The Minister of Works and the Grand Herald (official in charge of royal meals) prepared three cups of wine and followed the rituals.
After the Empress Dowager and the Empress passed away, the Minister of Works presented the posthumous title at the ancestral temple alongside special offerings, following all the rituals. The Chief Steward of the Changle Palace (official in charge of horses), the Privy Treasurer (official in charge of royal finances), and the Grand Chancellor (official in charge of palace affairs) oversaw the funeral arrangements, while the Three Dukes—Prime Minister, Grand Commandant, and Grand Marshal—followed the system, and all other matters were carried out in accordance with the rituals.
The emperor went to the toilet before offering sacrifices to his ancestors. Officials from the Ministry of Rites led the way to the passageway (possibly the passage to the tomb). The emperor handed his cane to the chief eunuch. Upon reaching the coffin, he paid his respects and mourned; everything was very formal. After the ceremony, officials from the Ministry of Rites escorted the emperor out, the chief eunuch returned the cane to the emperor, and the emperor returned to the palace. Afterwards, the reverse sacrificial ceremony was conducted according to ritual. All the clothes used for sacrifices in the suburban temples were placed in the restroom. One of each of the five morning dresses was left in the mausoleum, while the other clothes and banquet attire were packed in boxes and stored in the rear pavilion of the palace.
When princes, marquises, newly ennobled nobles, and princesses passed away, they were to be given seals, jade boxes, and silver threads; higher-ranking nobles and grand princesses were given bronze towers. Princes, nobles, princesses, officials, generals, and nobles with special titles were all given twenty-four items as gifts. Envoys were responsible for handling funeral arrangements, making coffins and catafalques. The coffins for princes, princesses, and nobles were made of camphor wood, painted vermilion, and decorated with cloud patterns; those for officials and special appointees were made of camphor wood and painted black; officials below the rank of 2,000 dan were given coffins made of kanhou wood (a type of wood) and painted black. Officials above the rank of 2,000 dan and generals in the court were required to offer condolences; officials from the counties and provinces up to the rank of Yellow Sash officials were given carts and oxen for the relay stations as a gesture of mourning. Officials from the rank of assistant historian and above had to wear morning dress during the grand funeral. When the emperor personally came to offer condolences or sent envoys, the host had to remove their mourning attire, set down the cane, and stand at a respectful distance in front of the horse's head, adhering to proper etiquette. Removing mourning attire and setting down the cane indicated respect and humility towards noble individuals. From princes, nobles, and dignitaries to assistant historians, the arrangement of funeral vehicles, officials, and soldiers was done according to their respective ranks.
The decorations on the carriage are very ornate, with a dragon at the front and a fish at the back. The carriage walls are made of luxurious fabric with red satin on top, decorated with cloud motifs. Officials above the rank of 2,000-shi have carriages with dragons painted on the left, tigers on the right, as well as depictions of phoenixes and tortoises; those of the rank of Marquis and above also have depictions of deer and bears. Officials below the rank of 1,000-shi have carriage walls made of black fabric, featuring only the head and tail motifs of fish and dragons. Officials below the rank of 200-shi use bamboo mats for the carriage walls and roof. The funerals of princes and kings are handled by the Fu, Xiang, Zhongwei, and Neishi, with the Grand Minister of Ceremonies announcing the posthumous title. The emperor dispatches envoys to offer jade and silk, recording the date and posthumous title according to the ritual. After the burial, officials dress in coarse clothes and conduct ceremonies according to the ritual, with the host also performing their duties. While the ceremony is simple, it is grand and dignified. The emperor's authority and the respect shown to the deceased are fully displayed, highlighting the monarch's solemnity and the subjects' respect. The entire process is both simple and elegant, sad and respectful, with the balance between simplicity and elegance, as well as sorrow and respect, perfectly struck. With such a good start, the country can prosper and families can live in harmony. It is praised that although the rituals are simple, the grand ceremonies are accommodating. After that, the formal rites of sacrifice commence. The entire process is solemn, and everyone follows the prescribed procedures step by step. From the sacrificial items to the sacrificial process, it reflects the ancient people's awe of the heavens, earth, and spirits, as well as their importance placed on the country and family. Everyone is serious and devout, fostering a solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Think about it, this is serious business; it’s a matter of national significance, and there is no room for any carelessness. Therefore, from the preparation of the ritual to the end of the ritual, everyone is meticulous and dedicated, without a hint of negligence. They realize this is more than just a ceremony; it’s a profound responsibility to the country and future generations.
This entire process also reflects the rigid social hierarchy and people's adherence to the hierarchical system in ancient society. The rituals of respect between rulers and subjects also reflect the distinct cultural significance of ancient society. In short, the entire sacrificial process is solemn and orderly, leaving a deep impression. This probably embodies the ancient saying, "the grand ceremony may be simple, but the grand etiquette is elaborate."
