1

The Arrangement of the Ritual Site

On the day prior to the ceremony, the attendants shall set up the spirit altar original: 神案 (shen'an); a table to hold the divine tablets of the spirits being invoked. in the northern section of the temple hall.

The military positions are to be established in the east, and the Six Great Banners Six Banners (Liu Dao): large, ornate flags representing the supreme authority of the commander and the protection of the gods of war. are to be positioned in the west.

Twelve bian Bian: bamboo baskets used for dry offerings like dates or chestnuts. are to be arranged to the east of the spirit position in three rows, starting from the west. Twelve dou Dou: lidded wooden bowls used for wet offerings like pickles or sauces. are to be arranged to the west of the spirit position in three rows, starting from the east.

Between the bian and the dou, place two fu and two gui Fu and Gui: bronze or wooden vessels used specifically for holding sacrificial grains like millet and rice; the fu is rectangular and the gui is round. with the fu to the east and the gui to the west.

Three xing original: 鉶; tripod vessels for meat stews. and three deng original: 登; ceramic or wooden vessels for meat broth. are to be placed in front of the baskets and bowls. Three zu original: 俎; sacrificial stands or "butcher blocks" upon which the meat of the primary animal sacrifices is laid. are to be placed in front of the deng and xing.

The incense altar is placed in front of the zu stands. The cup stand original: 爵坫 (juedian); a small platform for the ceremonial wine cups. is placed in front of the incense altar. A sand basin original: 沙池 (shachi); used to catch wine during libations. is placed in front of the cup stand.

The station for the wine vessels is established in the eastern part of the temple courtyard. The chest for the silk offerings original: 幣篚 (bifei); a basket for holding ritual fabrics given to the spirits. is located to the north of the wine vessels. The station for washing the ceremonial cups is to the south of the wine vessels, and the station for the Emperor’s personal washing original: 御洗 (yuxi); a basin for the ritual cleansing of the officiant's hands. is to the south of the cup-washing station.

A burial pit original: 瘞坎 (yikan); a pit used to bury the remains of the sacrifice, such as hair and blood, to return them to the earth. is prepared to the northwest of the spirit position. A mat is placed in front of the pit, upon which are set wine, five bowls, and five roosters to await the libation ceremony for the spirits.

The Emperor’s position is established in the south of the temple courtyard, at the exact center and facing north. The Great General and the assisting ritual officials follow behind him, organized in rows according to their respective ranks.