Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Ceremonial Regulations

Gongs and drums were the "voice" of the commander. In traditional Chinese warfare, the beat of the drum (鼓) signaled the advance, while the strike of the gong (鉦) signaled a halt or retreat.

The Role of the Spirit Flag and Percussion

In this formation, the Spirit Flag (original: Lingqi 靈旗) serves as a focal point for the armored units. These banners were not merely decorative; they were believed to summon divine protection and ward off malevolent influences during the procession. The presence of Crossbowmen in Blue Armor (original: Qingjia Nu 青甲弩) surrounding these flags suggests a specialized guard unit. The "Blue" (or cyan) color of the armor often corresponded to specific elemental or directional assignments within the five-element system (Wuxing) used in Ming military theory.