Master Mao says: Of the Five Rites The traditional Chinese classification of rituals: Auspicious, Funeral, Military, Hospitality, and Festive., the military is one. In the system of Ritual, sacrifice is considered the most significant; thus, the Ma sacrifice Ma original: 禡; a specific ancient ritual performed by a commander to the god of war before a campaign or at the site of a battle. is a practice of great antiquity. Our current dynasty The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). is cautious and thorough in its service to the spirits. I have respectfully recorded these practices here, while also appending the regulations from the Song Dynasty. The Ma sacrifice is not dedicated to a single deity alone, and therefore the written invocations Written prayers or calls to the spirits read during the ceremony. used during the ritual must be comprehensive. For this reason, I have gathered the writings of Li Quan An 8th-century military strategist known for his work on the "Manual of the White Tiger." and Xu Dong A Song Dynasty scholar and author of the "Tiger Seal Manual." and arranged them in sequence. As for the command talismans, formal proclamations, and public victory announcements Lubu original: 露布; literally "exposed cloth," these were open declarations of military victory meant to be read by the public and the Emperor., it is up to the commanding general to choose and present them as he sees fit.