Treatise on Military Preparations, Volume 45

The Usher original: 引 (yin) leads the Officiating Official Xianguan: The primary officer conducting the sacrifice. to his designated position. The Master of Ceremonies Tongzan: The herald who calls out the ritual steps for all to hear. chants: "Welcome the Spirit!"

All present perform a deep bow, then kneel, rise, kneel, rise, kneel, rise, and finally stand upright.
This sequence of four prostrations is the standard "four kowtows" (sibai) used in formal Ming and Qing dynasty state rituals.
The Officiating Official and all Accompanying Officials original: 陪祭官 (peijiguan) perform these four prostrations, then rise and stand upright.

The Master of Ceremonies chants: "Present the ritual silks and perform the Rite of the First Offering."

The Silk-bearer original: 捧帛者 (pengbozhe) holds the ritual silks, and the Cup-bearer original: 執爵者 (zhijuezhe) holds the libation cup Jue: A three-legged bronze vessel used for pouring wine offerings., waiting for the next command.

The Ritual Herald original: 贊禮 (zanli) chants: "Proceed to the Washbasin." original: 盥洗所 (guanxisuo)

The Assistant Usher original: 引贊 (yinzan) leads the Officiating Official to the washbasin. The Herald instructs: "Tuck the tablet into the sash." Jinhu: To tuck the hu (ceremonial ivory or wooden tablet held with both hands) into the waistband to free the hands for washing.

The attendants pour the water and present a ritual towel. The Officiating Official washes his hands and dries them. The acts of washing and drying hands are not announced aloud by the herald.

The Herald instructs: "Withdraw the tablet." The Officiating Official takes the tablet back into his hands.

The Herald instructs: "Proceed to the wine vessel station." The Herald instructs the Wine-keeper original: 司尊者 (sizunzhe) to lift the cover from the wine jar and pour the wine. The attendants each receive the wine into the libation cups.

The Herald instructs: "Proceed to the front of the Spirit Tablet." Shenwei: The wooden plaque inscribed with the deity's name, serving as the focal point for the spirit's presence.

The Assistant Usher leads the Officiating Official to the Spirit Tablet. The Herald instructs: "Kneel and tuck the tablet into the sash." The Officiating Official kneels and tucks his tablet.

The Silk-bearer kneels and presents the silks from the right side of the Officiating Official. The Officiating Official receives the silks, offers them up, and then hands them to an attendant to be placed formally on the altar table.

The Cup-bearer then kneels and presents the cup...