Treatise on Armament Technology, Volume 107

[The attendant stands] at the left of the Officiating Official, then withdraws. The Herald original: 贊 (zan) calls for the "Receiving of the Sacrificial Meat." The attendants original: 執事者 (zhishizhe) take the sacrificial meat and, kneeling, present it to the right of the Officiating Official. The Officiating Official receives the meat and then hands it to an attendant. The attendant kneels and receives it at the left of the Officiating Official, then carries it out through the central path.

The Herald calls: "Draw out the tablet." Hu: The ceremonial slab held by officials during rituals to show respect and record instructions. The Officiating Official draws out the tablet. The Herald calls: "Prostrate. Rise. Stand upright." The Officiating Official prostrates, rises, and stands upright. The Herald calls: "Return to position." [The Officiating Official returns to his designated spot.]

The Master of Ceremonies original: 通贊 (tongzan) calls for two bows. The Officiating Official and the Assisting Ritual Officials original: 陪祭官 (peijiguan) all perform two bows.

The Master of Ceremonies calls: "Remove the food offerings." Chezhuan: The ritual clearing or slight shifting of sacrificial dishes to signal the end of the feast for the spirits. The attendants each go before the spirit tablets and slightly move the offering vessels Biandou: Ritual containers—"Bian" are bamboo baskets for dry foods like nuts, and "Dou" are wooden platters for wet foods like sauces or meats..

The Master of Ceremonies calls: "Escort the spirits." The Herald calls: "Bow, rise; bow, rise; bow, rise; bow, rise. Stand upright." The Officiating Official and the Assisting Ritual Officials all perform four bows, rise, and stand upright. The Lead Herald original: 贊引 (zanyin) and the Master of Ceremonies together call out: "The ritual is complete."

Prayer Text

"Behold, the Spirit is upright and selfless, commanding the soldiers and assisting in the display of martial power—all relying upon [your strength]..."