The Pitch-Pot Game

The ritual of pitch-pot is as follows: The host holds the arrows (shi), the director holds the stand (zhong, the vessel for counting chips), and has someone carry the pot. The host requests, saying, "I have crooked arrows and a misshapen pot; may I use them to entertain the guests?" The guest replies, "You have fine wine and excellent dishes; I have already been favored. To add musical entertainment as well—I dare to decline." The host says, "Crooked arrows and a misshapen pot are not worth declining; I presume to request again." The guest says, "I have already been favored, and musical entertainment is added; I dare to decline again." The host says, "Crooked arrows and a misshapen pot are not worth declining; I presume to request once more." The guest says, "I have firmly declined but have not been permitted; how dare I not respectfully obey?" The guest bows twice to accept, and the host turns aside in avoidance, saying, "Avoid." The host bows and sends the arrows from the eastern steps, and the guest turns aside in avoidance, saying, "Avoid." After the bowing is complete, the guest receives the arrows, advances to the space between the two pillars, returns to his position, and bows to invite the guest to take his seat.

The director steps forward to measure the position of the pot, which is two and a half arrows (approximately seven feet) from the mat. He returns to his position, sets up the stand, faces east, and stands holding eight counting chips.

He announces to the guest, saying: "Only when the arrow enters the pot mouth smoothly is it counted. Consecutive hits do not accumulate chips. The winner drinks with the loser; after the penalty cup (zheng jue) is administered, please establish one horse (ji ma, a victory marker) for the winner. One horse can gain a second horse (meaning if the winner wins two rounds, the two horses are combined), and when three horses are established, please celebrate the side with more horses. Please let the host proceed in the same manner." He commands the musician, saying, "Please play the 'Li Shou' melody, with even rhythm." The Grand Musician says, "Yes."

Those on the left and right report that the arrows are ready and request to take turns shooting. When there is a hit, the director sits and places one counting chip. The guest's side is on the right, and the host's side is on the left.

When the pitch-pot is finished, the director holds the counting chips and says, "The left and right sides have finished shooting; please count. Two chips form one pair (chun); take them away one pair at a time. One chip is an odd number (qi)." Then, using the odd chips, he reports, saying, "Such-and-such side exceeds the other by so many pairs. If there is an odd number, say the odd number. If equal, say left and right are equal."

He commands the wine server, saying, "Please serve the wine." The wine server says, "Yes." Those who should drink all kneel and hold the wine cup, saying, "Please grant the drink." The winner kneels and says, "Please respectfully offer."

After the penalty cup is administered, please establish the horse. The horse is placed opposite its respective counting chips. One horse can be combined with two horses (meaning if the winner wins two rounds, the horses are merged into one), to be used for celebration. The celebration ritual says: "Three horses are ready; please celebrate the side with more horses." Both guest and host say, "Yes." After the penalty cup is administered, please remove the horses.

The number of counting chips depends on the number of people present. The length of the arrows: indoors, five fu (each fu four inches); in the hall, seven fu; in the courtyard, nine fu. The counting chips are one foot two inches long. The pot: neck seven inches long, belly five inches deep, mouth two and a half inches in diameter, capacity one dou and five sheng (about 1.5 liters). The pot is filled with small beans to prevent the arrows from bouncing out. The pot is placed two and a half arrows (about seven feet) from the mat. The arrows are made from black locust or jujube wood, with the bark left on. The rules for the disciples of the state of Lu say: "Do not be arrogant, do not be negligent, do not stand with your back turned, do not speak improperly. Standing with your back turned and speaking improperly incur a fixed penalty." The rules for the disciples of the state of Xue say: "Do not be arrogant, do not be negligent, do not stand with your back turned, do not speak improperly. Those who do so are to be fined a cup of wine."

Drum pattern: ○□○○□□○□○○□; half section: ○□○□○○○□□○□○.

Lu drum: ○□○○○□□○□○○□□○□○○□□○; half section: ○□○○○□□○.

Xue drum: For the pitch-pot ritual, take the half section and below; for the archery ritual, use the full pattern. The director, the court steward, and the capped gentlemen and those standing belong to the guest's side; the musicians, attendants, and boys belong to the host's side.

Lu drum: ○□○○□□○○; half section: ○□○○□○○○○□○□○.

Xue drum: ○□○○○○□○□○□○○○□○□○○□○; half section: ○□○□○○○○□○.