Sacrifice was the top event of the ancient government, and the state even set up a special Ministry of Rites to take charge of this matter.
For a family, ancestor worship is also a top priority.
The 53rd chapter of Dream of Red Mansions describes the worship of ancestors in Jiafu. This story may seem boring, but its historical value is exceptionally high.
It is said that in ancient times, it was a ritual society, and to what extent the ritual law was meticulous and solemn, 53 times is the best answer.
How the ancient aristocracy celebrated the New Year, how to decorate the house, and how to carry out large-scale collective activities were vividly portrayed.
01 Replacement
It has come to the 29th day of the lunar month, all colors are ready, the two mansions have changed the door god, the couplet, the listing, the new oil peach charm, a new look.
Before the sacrifice, it must be renewed.
The wash should be washed, the wipe should be rubbed, the oil should be smeared, the oil should be pasted, the hanging should be hung, and the light should be lit.
All this work must be completed by the 29th of the lunar month.
1. Door God
In ancient times, every household offered door gods, taking the meaning of guarding peace. Modern times still have reservations, everyone is familiar with them, and there is not much to explain.
2. Coupling
The couplet is the couplet, and it is also a New Year's goods that the people are familiar with.
Not only the door should be pasted, but also the second door, the corner door, and the house door should be pasted. Some doors also have to be pasted on the bucket square.
Couplets can be long and short. The gate is pasted with long couplets, and small pairs are pasted on the shrine of the king of the stove, such as "God says good things, and returns to the palace to be auspicious" and so on.
3. Listing
It's a strange thing, and few people explain it clearly.
I checked the information, and there were many forms of listing in ancient times.
The first is the guise of the store, which is hung at the gate to indicate the identity of the industry.
The second is to hang a sign that indicates what needs to be informed, both externally and internally, similar to the function of a modern blackboard.
For example: thank you today, be at home today, sweep away at the time....
The ancients did not have a small blackboard, so they made wooden or bronze plaques and hung them out.
The third type is a pass worn by an individual.
The fourth is an irregularly shaped coin with auspicious meaning, which hangs on the building and has the meaning of attracting wealth and treasure, warding off evil spirits.
Qing Dynasty peach-shaped Fushou listed
Qing Dynasty Ganoderma lucidum shaped listing
A pair of brass flower basket hangers
Nowadays, there is a folk custom for the New Year, which is called [hanging money]. Red paper or colored silk is cut into various auspicious patterns and hung on the lintel, eaves, trees, etc., to add festivity to the festival.
This is likely a way for civilians to spend money without spending money.
So, what exactly is Ning Guofu's [listing]?
Many people interpret it as hanging paper money. In fact, it is impossible, what is written here is the gate, and the gate of the Guogong Mansion emphasizes a sense of solemnity, and will not hang gadgets, let alone paper money.
I think it's the second type, it's a sign for specific issues during the Chinese New Year.
4. Peach mark
The peach charm is the predecessor of the Spring Festival couplets and the door god.
The ancients believed that peach wood warded off evil spirits. Write the names of the two gods "Shen Tu" and "Yu Lei" on a peach wood board and hang them on the gate, which is the door god. Later, it gradually became a paper couplet.
The couplets are written on red paper, and the peach charm refers specifically to the wooden, also known as the "hugging pillar".
The pillars of the aristocratic halls and rooms have wooden carved couplets. The content reflects elegance and feelings, and has nothing to do with the New Year's prayer.
Every new year, they should be repainted to give them a new look.
In other words, wooden couplets and red paper couplets do not conflict with each other, and both must be there.
02 Open the door
Ningguo Mansion from the gate, the instrument door, the hall, the warm pavilion, the inner hall, the inner three doors, the inner instrument door and the inner door, until the main hall, all the way to the main door, all the way to the main gate wide open, on both sides of the stairs under the color of vermilion and high light, the point of the two golden dragons in general.
There is a plaque hanging on the gate of the Guogong Mansion, and with this plaque, it is similar to the royal forbidden land, and it cannot be opened for non-major matters.
If you can't reach the level of Guogong or above, you are not qualified to go to the main gate. So, those who make up something "the Xue family goes to the main gate", you can rest.
The noble gate usually has no chance to be used, only the day of ancestor worship is solemnly opened.
Not only did the door open, but all the doors of the house were opened. This is to welcome the ancestral gods home, and treat them with the same respect as emperors.
The book mentions five gates, four small gates, and the specifications are amazing!
In other words, the number of security personnel is estimated to increase tenfold during the Chinese New Year. Because the doors are always open.
For the sake of security, but also for the sake of style, it must be lit up day and night.
This means that the whole family is in a state of combat readiness, and it is difficult to sleep peacefully at night.
Ancient architecture follows the principle of the central axis, and all the doors of Ningfu are on the central axis. When all opened, the main road leads straight to the end, how spectacular!
Both sides of the main road are full of red palace lights, with golden decorations, so it is like "two golden dragons".
The deep mansion compound is like a small imperial city, usually extremely secret and heavy, and only on this day can it show its true face to the world.
Many buildings are mentioned here, what they look like and what they do, and Zhuo Yu has explained them in the column. If you are interested, let's go and learn.
03 Shrine
The next day, by Jia's mother has a seal, all according to the grade of the court clothes, first sit in the eight-person sedan chair, lead everyone into the palace to congratulate, salute and receive the banquet back, then go to Ningguo Mansion to warm your sedan chair. All the sons and daughters who did not follow the court all lined up in front of the Ningfu Gate to serve, and then introduced into the ancestral hall.
In the "Book of Rites and Sacrifices", it is required that the sacrificial parents should fast three days in advance, abstain from seven days in advance, and think five times.
The so-called fasting refers to purifying the mind and body, concentrating and meditating, and the so-called abstinence is abstinence from sexual pleasures, such as not eating meat and drinking, not sleeping with wives and concubines, not participating in mourning and funerals, and stopping entertainment. This is a way to express piety.
Strictly according to the etiquette law, everyone in Jia Mansion should be like this. But this is unrealistic, and some children don't even have the conditions.
And some heavyweights must take a bath and change clothes, do some fasting rituals in advance, and symbolically express it.
On the morning of the thirtieth day of the lunar month, the ladies with the seal will enter the palace to congratulate.
The noble lady was ordered to take the money according to the rank, and she was essentially a member of the system. I don't usually go to work, but I have to meet the leader during the New Year.
They have some ceremonies in the palace and eat a meal, which can be regarded as a gilding ceremony before worshipping their ancestors.
After the palace banquet, they went straight to Ningfu to participate in the sacrificial ceremony. It's a non-stop moment.
The rest of the people had to wait in line outside the gate, just like they did when Yuanchun was in the province. No matter how long you wait, there must be this ceremony.
In short, from early in the morning, everyone can not rest for a moment, as grand and grand as the car. It can be seen that ancestor worship is a physical work!
04 Shrine
And said that Baoqin is the first time, while carefully looking at this ancestral hall, it turns out that another courtyard in the west of Ningfu, five gates in the black oil fence, a plaque is hung on it, it is written that it is "Jia's ancestral hall" four words, and the side book "Yan Shenggong Kong Jizong Book". On both sides there is a long couplet, which reads:
肝脑涂地,兆姓赖保育之恩;
The fame is all over the world, and hundreds of generations are steaming and tasting. [Gengmei: This joint should be reversed. 】
The Book of the Holy Father's Office. Entering the courtyard, Baishiyong Road, both sides are pine and cypress. On the platform, there are green bronze tripods and other instruments. A Kowloon gold plaque is hung on the front of the building, which reads: "Xinghui Fubi". It is the imperial pen of the emperor. A couplet on both sides reads:
The meritorious industry has the sun and the moon, and the fame and grandchildren are endless.
It is also a royal pen. In front of the five main halls, a dragon is hung in front of the green plaque, which reads: "Be cautious and chase the distance". Next to it, a couplet reads:
He has inherited his children and grandchildren, and he still thinks of Rongning.
It's a royal pen.
This paragraph is very long, and from a writing point of view, it is the most important part of the sacrifice.
The author meticulously describes the geographical orientation, architectural pattern, and environmental layout of the ancestral hall. The plaque and the couplet alone describe the main gate, the platform and the main hall respectively.
Why so tireless?
If you understand the ancient building regulations and utensils regulations, you will know that this is a thunderstorm hidden in the calm!
The specifications of this ancestral hall are not ordinarily high!
Not to mention anything else, only the word [hall] of this main hall is incredible! There are so many tall buildings written in the book, which one dares to name it XX Palace?
The courage highlighted in the details is comparable to the Son of Heaven overlooking the world.
(Due to the fact that there is too much professional knowledge involved, this article will not be expanded, and will be explained in detail later)
No wonder everyone in Jiafu is arrogant, with this ancestral hall, there is arrogant capital!
But the world is impermanent, and the supreme ruler turns his hands into clouds and hands into rain, and in an instant he is sent to hell. When Jiafu fell from the sky to the earth, who did these once glorious praises satirize? Whose sorrow is it? Is it just Jiafu?
The picture below is the floor plan of the ancestral hall. Please note that the ancestral hall is an independent courtyard, and it is a second-entry courtyard. This picture is not all of Ning Guofu.
05 Shoho System
The incense and candles inside are brilliant, and the brocade tent is embroidered, although there are gods and lords, but they can't really be seen. I saw that the people of Jiafu were divided into Zhaomu and set up shifts:
The temple system stipulates that the Son of Heaven should set up seven temples (that is, seven ancestors), the princes should set up five temples, the doctor should set up three temples, the scholars should establish one temple, and the people would not have a temple.
How are the ancestral tablets arranged? It's not a line like on TV, it's a pyramid.
Where to put the tablet, that's a big deal. In ancient times, many political turmoil originated from temple disputes. What are you fighting for? It's about position!
The Zhaomu system stipulates that since the first ancestor, the father is Zhao and the son is Mu.
The ancestor lives in the middle, and there are two columns on the left and right, the left is Zhao, and the right is Mu. The second is Zhao, the third is Mu, the fourth is Zhao, and the fifth is Mu. And so on.
Of course, the placement of the ancestral hall of Jiafu is strictly in accordance with the Zhaomu system. When sacrificing, the clansmen should also be arranged according to their own generations.
After the two teams of Zhaomu are separated, they will be in place according to their dignity and inferiority.
Jia Jing and Jia Yu are the third generation, but they should be the fourth generation in the ancestral hall, so they are Zhao and stand on the left. (Jia Zheng is not at home at this time)
Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Baoyu and others, the ancestral hall should be the fifth, so it is Mu, standing on the right.
Jia Yan, Jia Ling, Jia Lan, Jia Qin and others are the sixth generation, so they are Zhao and stand on the left.
06 First dedication
Jia Jing is the main sacrifice, Jia pardon is a sacrifice, Jia Zhen is a knight, Jia Lian Jia Cong is a silk, Baoyu holds incense, Jia Ling shows a carpet, and guards the burning pond. Tsing Yi music, three dedications, worship the end, burn the silk and drink wine. After the ceremony, the joy stops, and the exit
The first part of the sacrifice is the sacrifice of the silk lord.
The dedicator will enshrine the silk lord to the incense case, and the chief priest will read and offer the sacrificial text.
Please note: Only men participate in this session, women are not allowed to enter the ancestral hall, so they do not participate.
The reason why Baoqin can't really see the gods is because standing outside the courtyard, they can only line up to observe (the door of the ancestral hall is open, and they can also see it outside the courtyard).
1. Celebrant: The person who presides over the sacrifice.
2. Accompanying priest: the deputy of the main priest.
3. Offering Jue: It is to offer wine, and Jue is an ancient drinking vessel.
The dedication is for the sake of the liquor. Pinch the wine vessel with both hands, slowly raise it up until it is level with your eyebrows, and then slowly sprinkle the wine down on the ground. There are a variety of rituals for the sake of drinking, such as three bows and nine bows, twenty-four bows, etc.
4. Offering silk: Silk is a silk fabric. In ancient times, the princes would ally hold the jade silk to show reconciliation. Therefore, jade silk is a ritual vessel.
5. Sacrifice
Holding incense: Before offering incense, hold the incense in your hand in a fixed posture and worship.
In fact, just the incense link can also be divided into a variety of roles. Such as awakening incense, holding incense, incense, etc.
The ancient etiquette is complicated, you can accept it!
6. Worship carpet
It's a mat. When kneeling, there is a thick cushion under the knees, which needs to be solemnly spread out and placed in the altar.
7. Guarding the burning pond
The vessel for the incineration of the offering is called the incineration pool. In order to burn it safely, there is a special person in charge of guarding the sacrifice.
The chief priest is to offer wine three times, perform a prostration, offer incense, prayers, and sacrifices. Finally, the silk is burned and the wine is laid.
Music was played throughout the process. It can be seen that Jiafu has a special band, and this band is not the same thing as the opera troupe of Lixiangyuan.
When the music stopped, everyone disbanded the rituals, returned to their teams, and exited the ancestral compound.
At this time, the two teams of men and women converged, led by Jia Mu, and slowly entered the main hall (main living room) of Ningfu. Next, we will enter the second sacrifice session: Shadow Worship.
The climax of the festival, which has the largest number of participants, begins at this time. It's a pity that the space in this article is limited, so let's explain it in another article.
07 Emphasis
The 53 chapters recorded the ancient sacrificial culture and provided a large number of historical materials for later generations. The most notable are:
1. The complexity of ancient etiquette is so complicated that only you can't think of it, and you can't do it without them.
2. The scale of the Jiafu family festival is far beyond imagination, and no film and television can show it correctly so far.
The ancestor worship activity is divided into several stages, and everyone gathers at least three times, which requires three large venues: the main gate, the ancestral hall, and the main hall.
Ningguo Mansion is a long gate, and its main hall is absolutely magnificent, and it is definitely better than Rongxi Hall. But only a small number of people can stand.
At the time of worship, there were only women in the main hall, and the men were all outside, and there were people everywhere under the corridor, on the steps, and in the courtyard, and even standing all the way to the inner door.
The servants and servants are outside the Yimen, and they are not qualified to approach the main hall, let alone enter the ancestral hall (87 version shooting error).
The items were passed by the slaves layer by layer, and when they arrived at the Yimen, they were picked up by the children and nephews, and passed layer by layer to the inner courtyard and the main hall. Finally, it was passed through the noble lady layer by layer to Jia's mother.
What kind of spectacle will it be to reproduce this scene, what kind of long dragon?
On this issue, the much-ridiculed version of Li Shaohong has become a lame general.
Li Shaohong's version is a bit interesting in terms of the scale of the scene, but the timing is wrong. Jiafu worships ancestors during the day, not at night.
As for the 87 version, it is full of loopholes in the costumes, personnel, and ritual details, and it does not have the style of a nobleman and the appearance of a big family at all. It's like a simplified version of modern people's playhouse.
3. Ancestor worship is not the only one, the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve is the most solemn, so it is recorded.
There are many more sacrifices during the Chinese New Year. It was not until the seventeenth day of the first month that the sacrifice was completed.
4. The clansmen who participate in ancestor worship are very extensive
usually has no role at all, such as Jia Xun, Jia Zhi and others have appeared. Jia Jing can usually escape, but on this day, he must take off his robe and resume his status as the patriarch to personally officiate the sacrifice.
5. In the ancestor worship ceremony, we can see the legal characterization of each person's family status
Mrs. Wang, who usually shows off her martial arts, can only be under Mrs. Xing at this time.
For another example, why is Baoyu ranked after Jia Cong? No matter how humble Jia Cong is, he is the head of the Rong Mansion, and his family status should be in front of Baoyu.
Jia Huan, Jia Lan is not absent from the scene, but because the family status is too low to be able to work. It is enough for them to have Baoyu representatives.
6. The process of worshipping ancestors is orderly, even if it is a prodigal and absurd son, he also performs his duties at this time and shows a high style.
On the one hand, it shows that the ancients worshiped their ancestors above all else, and the Jia family is indeed a home of hairpins and poetry.
On the other hand, it shows that it is not possible to rely on the blessing of ancestors. If you don't work hard, don't be motivated, no matter how good your ancestors are!
The tragic Dream of Red Mansions is perhaps the most poignant irony of the word "rite"!
Source: Zhuo Yu
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