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Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms, Volume 8: Ceremonial Systems

Diagram of the Arrangement of Spirit Tablets in the Ancestral Hall of the "Righteous Gate" Zheng Family The "Righteous Gate" (Yimen) was an honorary title bestowed upon the Zheng family of Pujiang for their extraordinary commitment to communal living, where hundreds of family members shared property and meals for over ten generations.

This diagram illustrates the spatial arrangement of ancestral spirit tablets within the family shrine. The central columns represent the founding or most significant ancestors who are never moved, while subsequent generations are arranged on either side.

                      Righteous   Righteous
                      Gate       Gate
        Grand-   Great-   High     Fourth     Fourth     High     Great-   Grand-
        father   Grand-   Ancestor Generation Generation Ancestress Grand-   mother
Father         father                 Ancestor Ancestress           mother
                      Kao     Bi
                      Kao and Bi are the formal ritual terms for a deceased father and mother, respectively.

In traditional ritual practice, as new generations pass away, older spirit tablets are eventually moved out of the main shrine to make room. However, certain "Founding Ancestors" (bu qian zhi zu) are granted a permanent place of honor and are never moved.