The Study Of The Ceremonies Of The Emperor In The Western Zhou Dynasty

The King Rite was an important part of the rite in the Western Zhou Dynasty.But because of the pre-Qin literature was not enough,so much so that we can’t fully understand it and bring us some difficulty to do further research.With a large number of unearthed bronze inscriptions,which has provided the first material of study of the King rite.So,the paper on the basis of broadly absorbing previous accomplishment,and combination with the literature,using "twice evidences",dose some explorations.The paper mainly concludes the military salute,the sacrifice ritual,the big banquet ceremony,the rite of pilgrimage,and the appoint rite,ect.First,the military salute of the Zhou Dynasty.After sorting out and researching the inscriptions,we can induce the main content:prewar training,such as shooting ceremony,hunting ceremony,patrolling ceremony,and inspecting ceremony;war rites,such as the King of Zhou’s personal fighting and ordering generals;contributing capture ritual,such as reporting captured,contributing capture;sacrifice,drinking,awarding.Second,the sacrificial rite.According to the study of Si Tian Shi(祀天室),Zheng(烝),Yue(禴),Liao(燎),Di(禘),By analyzing inscriptions,a general understanding about the major etiquettes of sacrificial rites can be got which include the following majors parts:King Zhou appoints envoy to convene of dukes and subjects,collect sacrificial articles,choose divine time,pray,fulfill preparation,play music,set banquet and bestow a reward.Third,The big banquet ceremony.According to the analysis of drinking,the big banquet ceremony includes drinking before guan(祼),ordering helper,drinking,eating,playing music,shooting,treating,and awarding.Compared to materials,the big banquet ceremony can be held in the evening,mainly used for entertaining,the proposed site was not limited to The Zhou Temple.The reasons included after the sacrifice rite,triumphant return,plough,inspecting the local,fulfilling endowment ritual,meeting.Fourth,The rite of pilgrimage.The rite of pilgrimage includes the meeting,and greeting.The meeting rite includes accommodating,ordering helper,contributing,joining some rites,drinking,awarding.The greeting rite includes the King of Zhou,sending,welcoming,sending gifts,entertaining,giving back jade,entertaining,sending off,and awarding.The rite of pilgrimage had from flourishing to fading.The King of Zhou take different method for political aim,but the rite of pilgrimage abided by"reciprocity".Fifth,The appointment rite.Based on analysis an including of time,place,type and ceremony of the appointment rite,which included the King of Zhou acceded the throne,helper guide the appointed,awarding book,official histurial read out appoimt,the ordered gratitude the King of Zhou and leave.The appointment rite experienced from simple to complex.Compared to rite book etiquette,the identity of the helper was complex.Through discussing of the King rite in the Western Zhou inscription,making clear ceremony,feature,exploring the differences for rite books,remedying literature’s defects,and providing reference for the correlative studies.