The Law of Sacrifices

The law of sacrifices: The ruler of the Youyu clan performed the Di sacrifice to the Yellow Emperor, the Jiao sacrifice to Emperor Ku, regarded Zhuanxu as the founding ancestor, and Yao as the object of sectarian sacrifice. The Xia Hou clan also performed the Di sacrifice to the Yellow Emperor, the Jiao sacrifice to Gun, regarded Zhuanxu as the founding ancestor, and Yu as the object of sectarian sacrifice. The Yin people performed the Di sacrifice to Emperor Ku, the Jiao sacrifice to Ming, regarded Xie as the founding ancestor, and Tang as the object of sectarian sacrifice. The Zhou people performed the Di sacrifice to Emperor Ku, the Jiao sacrifice to Hou Ji, regarded King Wen as the founding ancestor, and King Wu as the object of sectarian sacrifice.

Burning firewood on the Tai altar is the sacrifice to Heaven; digging a pit and burying offerings at Tai Zhe is the sacrifice to Earth; red calves are used in these sacrifices. Burying a young animal at Tai Zhao is the sacrifice to the gods of the four seasons; performing the Xiang Jin ritual at pits and altars is the sacrifice to the gods of cold and heat. The Wang Gong is the sacrifice to the sun god; Ye Ming is the sacrifice to the moon god; You Zong is the sacrifice to the star gods; Yu Zong is the sacrifice to the gods of water and drought; the four pits and altars are the sacrifices to the gods of the four directions. Mountains, forests, rivers, valleys, and hills that can produce clouds and rain, generate wind and rain, or manifest strange phenomena are all called spirits. Those who possess the world sacrifice to all spirits. The feudal lords, within their own domains, sacrifice to these spirits; if they lose their domain, they do not sacrifice.

All things that live between Heaven and Earth are called "ming" (destiny/life). When all things die, it is called "zhe" (premature death); when a person dies, it is called "gui" (ghost); this is a rule that has not changed since the Five Dynasties. The reason why the seven dynasties changed the objects of sacrifice is that the Di, Jiao, Zong, and Zu sacrifices underwent changes; the rest remained unchanged.

The world has the Son of Heaven, who divides the land and establishes feudal states, sets up capitals and fiefs, and establishes temples, tiao (far ancestral temples), altars, and shan (cleared grounds) to sacrifice to ancestors, determining the frequency and scale of sacrifices based on degrees of kinship distance. Therefore, the Son of Heaven establishes seven temples, plus one altar and one shan. These include: the temple of the father, the temple of the grandfather, the temple of the great-grandfather, the temple of the great-great-grandfather, and the temple of the founding ancestor; these are sacrificed to monthly. The temples of more distant ancestors are called tiao; there are two tiao temples, and they are only honored during the seasonal sacrifices. The spirit tablets moved out from the tiao temples are sacrificed to on altars; those moved out from altars are sacrificed to on shan. The altar and shan are only used when there is a specific prayer; if there is no prayer, they cease. Spirit tablets moved out from the shan are called gui. The feudal lords establish five temples, plus one altar and one shan. These include: the temple of the father, the temple of the grandfather, and the temple of the great-grandfather; these are sacrificed to monthly. The temple of the great-great-grandfather and the temple of the founding ancestor are only honored during the seasonal sacrifices. Spirit tablets moved out from the founding ancestor's temple are sacrificed to on altars; those moved out from altars are sacrificed to on shan. The altar and shan are only used when there is a specific prayer; if there is no prayer, they cease. Spirit tablets moved out from the shan are called gui. A great officer establishes three temples and two altars. These include: the temple of the father, the temple of the grandfather, and the temple of the great-grandfather; these are only honored during the seasonal sacrifices. The great-great-grandfather and the founding ancestor have no temples; when there is a prayer, an altar is set up for sacrifice. Spirit tablets moved out from the altar are called gui. An upper officer establishes two temples and one altar. These include: the temple of the father and the temple of the grandfather; these are only honored during the seasonal sacrifices. The great-great-grandfather has no temple; when there is a prayer, an altar is set up for sacrifice. Spirit tablets moved out from the altar are called gui. A middle officer and a lower officer establish one temple, which is the temple of the father. The grandfather has no temple; he is sacrificed to only in the father's temple, and ancestors above the grandfather are called gui. Common officers and common people have no temples; after death, they are directly called gui.

The Son of Heaven establishes the god of the soil for the people of the world; this is called the Great Altar of Soil. The Son of Heaven establishes the god of the soil for himself; this is called the King's Altar of Soil. The feudal lords establish the god of the soil for the people within their states; this is called the State Altar of Soil. The feudal lords establish the god of the soil for themselves; this is called the Feudal Lord's Altar of Soil. Those below the great officers unite the people to establish the god of the soil; this is called the Established Altar of Soil.

The Son of Heaven establishes seven sacrifices for the people of the world; these are: Siming (Director of Fates), Zhongliu (Central Room), Guomen (State Gate), Guoxing (State Road), Taili (Great Li Spirit), Hu (Door), and Zao (Stove). The Son of Heaven also establishes seven sacrifices for himself. The feudal lords establish five sacrifices for their states; these are: Siming, Zhongliu, Guomen, Guoxing, and Gongli (Public Li Spirit). The feudal lords also establish five sacrifices for themselves. A great officer establishes three sacrifices; these are: Zuli (Clan Li Spirit), Men (Door), and Xing (Road). An upper officer establishes two sacrifices; these are: Men and Xing. Common officers and common people establish one sacrifice; they either set up the Door spirit or the Stove spirit.

The Son of Heaven sacrifices downward to five categories of those who died young: the direct heir, the direct grandson, the direct great-grandson, the direct great-great-grandson, and the direct great-great-great-grandson. The feudal lords sacrifice downward to three categories, the great officers sacrifice downward to two categories, and the upper officers and common people only sacrifice downward to their own sons.

The principle by which the sage kings established sacrifices is: those who have contributed laws and standards for the people are sacrificed to; those who died from diligent service to the state are sacrificed to; those who used labor to bring peace to the state are sacrificed to; those who could withstand great calamities are sacrificed to; those who could defend against great disasters are sacrificed to. Therefore, when the Lishan clan ruled the world, his son was called Nong, who was able to plant all kinds of grains; when the Xia dynasty declined, the Zhou ancestor Qi continued Nong's work, so later generations sacrificed to Qi as the god of millet. When the Gonggong clan dominated the nine provinces, his son was called Houtu, who was able to pacify the nine provinces, so later generations sacrificed to him as the god of the soil. Emperor Ku was able to instruct the people according to the movements of the stars; Yao was able to administer rewards and punishments fairly and ended his life with ren (benevolence) and yi (righteousness); Shun toiled for the people and died in the wilds of Cangwu. Gun dammed the flood and was executed; Yu was able to complete Gun's work. The Yellow Emperor assigned names to all things, enabling the people to understand principles and share resources; Zhuanxu was able to perfect the Yellow Emperor's work. Xie served as Minister of Education and successfully transformed the people; Ming was diligent in his duties and died in the water. Tang governed the people with leniency and eliminated the tyranny of Jie; King Wen governed with civil virtue; King Wu used martial prowess to remove the people's calamities. These all had merit for the people. As for the sun, moon, and stars, they are what the people look up to; the mountains, forests, rivers, valleys, and hills are where the people obtain their resources. Anything not falling into these categories is not included in the sacrificial canon.