Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Ceremonial Protocols, Volume 3

Page 21


Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier
Ceremonial Halberd	Ceremonial Halberd	Ceremonial Halberd	Ceremonial Halberd	Ceremonial Halberd	Dagger-axe	Dagger-axe	Dagger-axe
Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner
Golden Staff	Golden Staff	Sounding Staff	Sounding Staff	Sounding Staff	Sounding Staff
Golden Staff	Golden Staff	Sounding Staff	Sounding Staff	Sounding Staff	Sounding Staff
Ceremonial Halberd	Ceremonial Halberd	Ceremonial Halberd	Ceremonial Halberd	Ceremonial Halberd	Dagger-axe	Dagger-axe	Dagger-axe
Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner	Yak-tail Banner
Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier	Soldier

The grid layout serves as a visual map for the "Lu-bu" or Imperial Insignia Guard. Each character represents a single person's position and the specific ritual object they carry during a state procession.

Ceremonial Halberd (Huang)
original: "鍠" (huang). A decorative polearm with a large, often gilded blade, used specifically for display in imperial ceremonies rather than combat.

Dagger-axe (Ge)
original: "戈" (ge). One of ancient China’s most iconic weapons, consisting of a blade mounted perpendicular to a shaft. By the Ming dynasty, it was purely ceremonial.

Yak-tail Banner (Chuang)
original: "氅" (chuang). These banners were adorned with feathers or yak tails, symbolizing the dignity and high rank of the official or deity being escorted.

Golden Staff (Jinjie) and Sounding Staff (Xiangjie)
original: "金節" and "響節". The "Jinjie" was a golden imperial tally representing the Emperor's command. The "Xiangjie" was a "sounding" or "clapper" staff, likely fitted with metal rings that jingled to signal the movement of the procession.