Diagram of the Arrangement for the Vegetable Offering Ceremony

The Shicai (Vegetable Offering) was a simpler, ancient ritual performed to honor teachers and the "Former Master" (Confucius). Unlike the grander animal sacrifices held twice a year, this rite was often conducted at the beginning of a school term or upon a student’s entry into the academy, utilizing more modest agricultural offerings.

The same arrangement applies to each of the Four Assessors The "Four Assessors" (Sipei) are the primary sages who flank Confucius: Yan Hui, Zengzi, Zisi, and Mencius. Their altars mirror the Master’s setup, though usually on a slightly smaller scale.

Position of the Former Master

original: "Xianshi wei." This indicates the central place of the spirit tablet representing Confucius.

Wine Cup pour first　　　Wine Cup this cup awaits the rite　　　Wine Cup pour first

The "Wine Cup" (Jue) is a traditional three-legged bronze vessel. The annotations specify the sequence of the libation ceremony.

Chestnuts　　　Rabbit Mince now use pickled greens　Pickled Greens　　　Dates

Ritual food was highly symbolic. "Rabbit Mince" (Tu-hai) was a classical requirement, but the annotation "now use pickled greens" (Jingzu) reflects a historical shift toward more accessible, plant-based offerings in later dynasties.

Candle　　　　　Incense Burner　　　　　Candle

This layout emphasizes symmetry and hierarchy. The incense burner sits at the center to allow the "spirit" of the sage to descend through the smoke, while the food offerings (chestnuts, dates, and greens) are arranged in the middle ground, followed by the wine cups closest to the tablet.