Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Volume 2: Rites 5, Part 2

Diagram of the Capping Ceremony for Government Officials

These items, located at the north end of the ritual space, are used for purification. The "Ritual Stand" (dian) holds vessels, the "Wine Jar" (lei) contains ceremonial wine, the "Washbasin" (xi) is for the ritual washing of hands, and the "Ritual Basket" (fei) holds towels or silk offerings.

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original: "Jiang guan zhe." This marks the position of the young official-to-be who is undergoing the ceremony.

original: "Jiao li" and "Ji." The "Topknot Station" is where the initiate’s hair is gathered and bound before the first cap is applied. "Offering of Sweet Wine" refers to the station for the libation ritual.

The "Display of Robes" (Chen fu) refers to the three sets of clothing the initiate will wear, corresponding to the three "additions" or stages of capping.

original: "Zan." This is the ritual assistant who helps the Guest of Honor during the crowning process.

The Host (Zhu) is typically the father or the head of the initiate’s family.

The Guest (Bin) is an elder or person of high standing invited to place the caps on the initiate's head.

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original: "Zhi guan xiang ren." This attendant holds the boxes containing the three formal caps: the black cloth cap, the leather cap, and the sacrificial cap.

This diagram serves as a visual guide for the "Capping Ceremony" (Guanli), the Confucian rite of passage for males. For an official (Pinguan), this ritual confirmed his transition to adulthood and his readiness to serve in the state bureaucracy. The spatial arrangement ensures that every movement—from the washing of hands to the changing of robes—follows a choreographed path of respect and order.