Treatise on Preparations, Volume 37

Records of Military Resources: Levies — The Banner Sacrifice, Part 1

The ritual continues as the official raises the ritual wine cup original: 斝 (jia); a specific type of ancient tripod vessel used for bronze age wine rituals and pours the sweet fermented wine original: 醴齊 (liqiao); a thick, sweet sacrificial wine used in formal state rites. Once finished, the cup is handed to the Cup-Holding Official. The official advances the wine again in the same manner, then exits and stands in his designated place.

The Minister requests the Emperor to proceed before the spirit tablet of the Military Teeth Deity Military Teeth Deity (Junya Shen): The protective spirit of the commander’s headquarters and the ivory-adorned "tooth" banners that marked the center of the camp.. The wine cups and ritual silks are carried at the front of the procession.

As the Emperor ascends the temple altar, the music begins. Upon arriving before the spirit tablet, the Minister prompts the following actions:

• Kneel
• Tuck the Jade Tablet original: 搢圭 (jingui); the Emperor tucks his ritual jade tablet into his waistband to free his hands for the offering.
• Offer incense three times
• Present the ritual silk
• Pour the wine offerings three times
• Place the cup down
• Retrieve the Jade Tablet

The music ceases. The Invocation Reader kneels to the right of the deity and reads the prayer. Once finished, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices prompts the Emperor to prostrate and then rise.

The music resumes. The Emperor is prompted to bow, rise, bow, rise, and straighten the body. The music then stops.

The Minister then requests the Emperor to proceed before the spirit tablets of the Six Great Standards The "Liu Dao" mentioned on the previous page.. The ritual performed here is identical to the one described above. Afterward, the Emperor returns to his original position.

The Second Offering and Final Offering are then performed. During these rounds, the ritual silk is not presented and the prayer is not read; all other steps follow the previous pattern.

When these are complete, the Master of Ceremonies calls out: "Drink the Blessings and Receive the Sacrificial Meat." Drinking the Blessings (Yinfu): A ritual act where the celebrant drinks wine and eats meat that has been offered to the gods, symbolizing the sharing of divine favor and grace.

The Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices prompts the Emperor to move to the designated position for "Drinking the Blessings" and prompts him to bow. The music plays. The Emperor performs the sequence: bow, rise, bow, rise, and straighten the body. The music stops.

The Minister prompts the Emperor to kneel and tuck the jade tablet. The Emperor then drinks the wine of blessing and receives the sacrificial meat. Once finished, he retrieves his jade tablet.

The Minister prompts the Emperor to prostrate and rise. The music plays as the Emperor performs the final sequence: bow, rise, bow, rise, and straighten the body. The music stops. The Emperor returns to his position. The Master of Ceremonies then...