The Research Of The Sacrifice Of Tian In《Rites Of Zhou》

In the pre-Qin period, the sacrifice of Tian(天)is the most solemn in the fiesta. The sacrifice of Yuanqiusitian(圜丘祀天)occupies an influential position, complete system, and the most representative of the ceremonies contained various sacrificial rituals in the Rites of Zhou. In this paper, the basic research method of history was taken with the Yuanqiusitian(圜丘祀天)records as the core, combined with other masterpieces of the pre-Qin period literature and unearthed documents etc, the sacrifice of Yuanqiusitian(圜丘祀天)was studyed roundly and systematically. This paper contains six parts, which discusses the background of the sacrifice of Yuanqiusitian(圜丘祀天),diet implements and food, the Bi(璧)and Gui(圭), musical instruments, and serving crown, preparatory work, the specific rituals and procedures of the sacrifice of Tian, as well as god beliefs embodied in Zhou dynasty.First, the sacrifice of Yuanqiusitian(圜丘祀天)in the Rites of Zhou is also called Jiaotian(郊天)mentioned in the pre-Qin thought. Zhou dynasty emperor held the sacrifice of Tian did not necessarily rural country, not necessarily the altar, just chosen the higher ground. In the Rites of Zhou, the winter solstice as the Jiaotian(郊天)days, did not meet the real of the Zhou dynasty, In Zhou dynasty the sacrifice of Tian often select the time at April of Zhou calendar or the February of Xia calendar, The people in Zhou dynasty held the sacrifice of Tian with Houji(后稷),the sun was the main Gods, the moon was the supporting role. Even if the king suffered the funeral, the worship of the god should be held as scheduled.Second, the sacrifice of Yuanqiusitiani(圜丘祀天)involved a wide variety of diet implements and a large amount of food. Ding(鼎)contained Zhengding(正鼎)and Peiding(陪鼎)Huo(镬)was not only used for cooking, but also used for washing animal sacrifice meat and the king's hands, Zu(俎)is the diet implements for placing animal sacrifice meat, which held cooked livestocks as Ding(鼎)In the Zhou Dynasty, there are nine Zhengding(正鼎)and three Peiding(陪鼎)for the sacrifice of Tian. The number of Huo(镬)and Zu(俎)was the same with Zhengding(正鼎).In the Rites of Zhou, the Doui(豆)was used for the ritual, and was also called Bian(笾)and Deng(登).Bian(笾)and Dou(豆) has the same shape, just different materials. The sacrifice of Tian had26Dou(豆), the number of Bian(笾)were the same with the Dou(豆).Fu(簋)and Gui(簋)were the appliances of holding the proso, millet, rice and sorghum. After the middle of Zhou dynasty, Fu(簋)and Gui(簋) were important implements with Ding(鼎),there were nine Ding(簋)and eight Gui(簋)in the sacrifice of Tian. Jue(爵)was the main implements of the drinking implements, the one liter Jue(爵)called Xianjue (献爵),which filled with Qijiu(齐洒).Third, Cangbi(苍璧)was used for respecting the God in the sacrifice of Tian, there would use Siguiyoudi(四圭有邸)when burning the wood, Gui(圭)and Bi(璧)would used both in the Sacrifice of Tian.The bells, Qing(磐),and drums were used for the instrument. In the unearthed Zhou dynasty bells, Yongzhong(甬钟),Bozhong(缚钟)and Newzhong(纽钟)were the three main types of bells. The bells often appeared in the eight or nine as a combined. The Qing(磬)was made by stone, and evolved from the production tools. The drum was one of the earliest instruments, and has an equally important role as the bell. In the Zhou dynasty, regulations governing instruments surrounded as Gongxuan(宫悬),bells can be called Si(肆)without Qing(磬).Fourth, the sacrifice of Yuanqiusitian(圜丘祀天)preparatory work:First, the king personally held farming with Zhuhong(朱纮)and crown, then choosing the sacrifice, and feeding the acceptable sacrifice three months by Chongren(允人).The second was reporting to the temple by divination, such as the number of sacrifice, the coat color, size, conceive, whether castration, etc. In the turtle divination, Jiao(燋)was eternal flame. The Jiao(燋)were the firewood for chiseling tortoiseshell were called Qi(契), and also called Chutun(楚焞)Then the king taken an oath, chosen the accompany, and fasted, Taizai(太宰)taken oath with officials of all ranks and descriptions ten days before the sacrifice of Tian. Taizai(太宰)personally check up the items using in the sacrifice with Zaifu(宰夫),Dazongbo(大宗伯),Xiaozongbo(小宗伯),Chongren(充人)and Sishi(肆师)In the morning of sacrifice, Xiaozongbo(小宗伯)reported to the king, then the king went to held the sacrifice with wearing Daqiu(大裘).Fifth, in the sacrifice of Yuanqiusitian(圜丘祀天), burning woods before the main sacrifice did not contain the animal sacrifice but had a little Gui(圭)Then there were blood sacrifice, and the animal sacrifice did not dismemberment. When the king, Shi(尸) or he animal sacrifice appeared, the music called Jinzou(金奏)would played. In the sacrifice of Tian, the Shi(尸)of Houji(后稷) was used as Shi(尸)of Tian(天),one of the three duke in the Zhou Dynasty played the Shi(尸)After the ceremony of Jiangshen(降神),the king stepped down the altar going to lead the animal sacrifice with Taizai(大宰) etc. Then there were the ceremony of Gaosha(告杀),the ox, sheep and pig were shoot with arrows by the king symbolically. As late as the western Zhou dynasty, the king shooting animal sacrifice with arrows in the boat at Piyong(辟雍),which called Sheshengli(射牲礼),Already obviously became divided from ordinary shoot ritual, different from practice shooting or Dashe(大射).Six, the sacrifice of Tian reflects the concept of "god worship" in the Zhou dynasty. The king of Zhou indeed claimed to be the God's eldest son, this was likely to be deliberately imitate the king of Shang's prediction, as "the God has a son called Shang", with the purpose of increase the patriarchal cohesion and sense of religious awe. The social function of god belief in the Zhou dynasty, showed in the political, moral and psychological sides, displaying its significance and role. The political integration was benefit for consolidating the emerging of the Zhou dynasty. Function of moral constraints not only reducing the extent of the absolute monarchy, but also training to teach right from top to bottom to create a good social morality. Common people on the religious beliefs of the Gods, had a certain psychological catharsis, spiritual comfort and emotional cohesion, and its positive meaning was obvious.Combing through analysis and discussion the sacrifice of Yuanqiusitian(圜丘祀天)in the Rites of Zhou, not only have a system of the root for utensils, personnel, specific ceremony and processes involved in many of these issues in the sacrifice of Tian, but also help to deepen research on the book of the Rites of Zhou, as well as deeper understanding the relations of an earlier era in the history of ancient China.