Treatise on Military Preparations, Volume 45

[To] the Spirit of the Earth original: 祗 (qi), the Five Prosperous Spirits original: 五昌 (wuchang); five deities associated with military success and the protection of the ranks., and all the various gods: You spirits, who respect Heaven’s mandate with impartiality and assist in manifesting our military prowess, have performed great service for the state. Now, as we reach Mid-Autumn original: 仲秋 (zhongqiu); the second month of autumn., we follow the established ritual protocols and specially dispatch an official to offer meat and wine original: 牲醴 (shengli); specifically sacrificial animals and ritual ale. in sacrifice. May the spirits look upon this with favor. May you partake of this offering.

Year-End Sacrificial Ritual

• Arrangement of Offerings: One sheep, one pig, five types of fruit, three wine chalices, and three bolts of ritual silk.

• Ritual Prayer

On this [Year, Month, and Day], the Emperor dispatches [Official Title and Name] original: 具官某 (ju guan mou); a placeholder in the text meant to be replaced by the specific official's details during the ceremony. to perform a sacrifice to the God of the Banner and Standard original: 旗纛 (qidao); the central military colors, which were treated as a physical vessel for a protective deity.. Your spirit’s power truly bolsters our military might. As the year draws to a close original: 歲暮 (suimu), it is right to perform the seasonal sacrifices. We respectfully present meat and wine. May the spirit look upon this with favor. May you partake of this offering.

Ritual for Sacrificing to the Divine Banner on the New Moon and Full Moon

This section begins the protocols for the regular monthly "New Moon and Full Moon" (Shuowang) rituals, which were less elaborate than the seasonal offerings but essential for maintaining the spiritual readiness of the troops.