Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 57

Military Logistics: Combat — Ritual Sacrifices to the Banner, Part 1

...dried meat. For this, one Bamboo Basket Bian: A ceremonial bamboo basket used to hold dry offerings like fruits or dried meats. and one Wooden Stemmed Bowl Dou: A high-stemmed vessel, usually made of wood, used to hold liquid or semi-liquid offerings like sauces and pastes. are still provided. The basket is filled with dried deer meat, and the stemmed bowl is filled with deer meat paste. The ceremony is conducted according to the rites, but the Ritual Silks original: 奠帛 (dianbo) from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices are not used. The Libation Offering original: 酌獻 (zhuoxian); the act of pouring wine as an offering is performed, but the Second and Final offerings are omitted. Once the sacrifice is complete, the Observation of the Burial original: 望瘞 (wangyi); unlike burning offerings for heaven, offerings for the earth or military spirits were often buried to return them to the ground is performed. Neither chicken nor wine is used in this specific stage.

Protocol for Officials Sacrificing to the Flags and Banners

Everywhere that Defense Officials original: 守禦官 (shouyuguan); local military commanders responsible for garrisoned fortifications are stationed, they must construct a platform behind their public offices original: 公廨 (gongxie) and establish a Temple to the Flags and Banners original: 旗纛廟 (qidaomiao). Inside, they shall set up the Spirit Tablets for the six Commandant’s Standards Ya: Literally "Ivory" or "Tooth," referring to the main standard of a commanding officer, originally decorated with ivory at the top of the pole..

The Spring Sacrifice is held on the day of "The Awakening of Insects" Jingzhe: A solar term beginning around March 5th, marking the time when spring thunder wakes hibernating insects..
The Autumn Sacrifice is held on the day of "Frost Descent" Shuangjiang: A solar term beginning around October 23rd, marking the start of the colder season..

The offerings shall consist of:

• One sheep
• One pig
• One roll of silk white color
• One written invocation
• Incense, candles, wine, and fruit.

Ahead of the appointed time, all participating officials must observe a fast original: 齋戒 (zhaijie); ritual purification involving the avoidance of meat, wine, and other distractions for one day. When the day arrives, the Chief Defense Official, wearing military attire, performs the Triple Offering Rite Initial, Second, and Final offerings of wine.

If the army is setting out for a campaign, the flags and banners are removed from the temple for the sacrifice. When the army returns from the field, the flags are returned to their place within the temple.