Research On The Sacrificial Rituals For Previous Rulers

Present rulers and their officials or people offer sacrifices to the emperors of the previous dynasties,called as "sacrifice ritual for the previous rulers".This ritual normally present in the ancient official ritual records and be used by dynasties.It is an important state ritual for the legitimacy of present regime in ancient China.This article focuses on it by doing research on some issues,which are as follows: the origins,the list of previous rulers,the procedure of sacrifice rite,sacrifice rite for the last overthrown dynasty,the local sacrifice rite and the blend of state rite and custom.The origins of this sacrifice ritual had been present in Confucian classics and concepts in the pre-Qin period.According to the chapter "Sacrificial Method" in Liji,the sage-rulers who made great contributions should accept sacrifices.Sacrifice rite for the previous rulers is not conflict with the concept which demands people have only to offer sacrifices to their own ancestors,because it has nothing to do with patriarchal clan system.According to the concepts in the pre-Qin period,previous rulers could bless or damage other regimes.Some functions of the sacrifice rite for the previous rulers,such as offer sacrifices to the Li(厉),pray for be blessed,pray for out of harm,have origins in these concepts.Symbolizing the legitimacy of present dynasty is the main function of the regular sacrifice for previous rulers,who act as political symbols in state ritual.The whole process could be divided into 4 stages according to the list of previous rulers.Firstly,there is no special list in the pre-Sui period.Secondly,the early special lists appeared at the Sui and Tang dynasties.Main function of these lists is offering sacrifices to contribution.However,a list symbolizing legitimacy once appeared.Thirdly,the lists of previous mausoleums appeared at the Song,Jin,Ming and Qing Dynasties.The lists of Northern Song Dynasty,which had given consideration to both the contribution and legitimacy,influenced the later dynasties.Finally,the lists of emperors’ total temple in capital at Ming and Qing Dynasties are aimed at symbolizing the legitimacy.Subjective initiative of present rulers during making lists was magnified,while the theory of the "Five Virtues" was replaced by the theory of orthodoxy based on critics of moral and contribution.Due to this convenience,emperors’ temple turns into the main state rite for orthodoxy.Overall,there was some relative stable regular patterns in the complex transition.Northern ethnic regimes and the regimes established by Huaxia ethnic group approve the common political symbols,preserving the inheritance and continuation Chinese history.The procedure of sacrifice rite consisting of sacrificing for previous mausoleums,sacrificing for emperors’ temple and unscheduled sacrificing.Firstly,the distinction between the recording methods in state ritual records of different dynasties,implies the decreasing position of previous mausoleums in the transition of sacrifice ritual.Secondly,the rite rank at Qing dynasty is higher than Ming dynasty,due to the more attention from the emperors of Qing dynasty.Distinction of rites during emperors attend or not is also be magnified,implies the irreplaceable position of the present emperors in the symbol of regime’s legitimacy.Thirdly,unscheduled sacrificing,including the sacrificing during the patrol activities and the sacrificing during important matters,was developing since the Sui dynasty.The design of unscheduled sacrificing also takes the realistic factors into account.Emperors of the last one preceding rightful dynasty(胜朝)are the most special members of the previous rulers.The present rulers should proclaim their legitimacy by sacrificing emperors of the last dynasty.Normally the descendants of overthrown dynasty could be treated like state guest,while present ruler ennobles descendants of two or three previous rightful dynasties,according to the Confucian classics and historical tradition.Descendants of overthrown dynasty could sacrifice their ancestors independently before Tang dynasty.And such behaviors were independent from central government’s rituals.Thereafter these sacrificial rites were subsumed into central government’s administration,and no longer private affairs.The present rulers adjusted rites of ancestral temple and mausoleums of overthrown dynasty,as well as the sacrifice for the previous rulers.Some setbacks occurred in Tang and Song dynasties,and primary cause was the conflict between adjustment and traditional concepts or rituals.Finally,power of sacrifice for overthrown dynasty was transferred to the present rulers from the descendants of overthrown dynasty.This transition was accompanied by the decline and fall of"the system for descendants of two or three preceding rightful dynasty".The historical background is the concept of"keeping three parallel regime"has not been adopted in state rite during the regime change.The relationship of sacrifice ritual and imperial politics is revealed in the extension of state ritual.Firstly,in order to maintain imperial power,central governments would protect the previous mausoleums actively,while the ideal anticipation of central government is different from the practice of local officials.Secondly,in order to maintain imperial power,the governments would destroy the previous mausoleums and sacrifice behavior to guard against the opposition in reality.Lastly,previous rulers’ political color is not obvious in local society.Populace treat the previous rulers as the local deities and offer utilitarian sacrifice.The Local officials,standing for the central authority,would be obedient to the local belief psychology.There are difference and blend between great tradition and little tradition.