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The Sacrifice

SOLEMN indeed were the great annual sacrifices to Heaven. In A. E. Grantham's new and interesting book entitled The Temple of Heaven, we have a most vivid word picture of this most remarkable ceremony.

"Seven quarters of an hour before sunrise," while the blackness of night still clung to the chill morning ait, "the sacred tablets were borne processionally from their temples up to the blue silk pavilions prepared for them on the mound. At the same hour, summoned by a president of the Board of Rites, the emperor passed out of the cypress-sheltered gate of the Hall of Abstinence into the palanquin of jade, and under the white light of the stars and the red light of the lanterns set forth to meet his Sovereign Lord of Heaven. Reaching the southern approach of the great altar, he left the palanquin and entered a tent."

At a given signal, accompanied by the president and the vice-president of the Board of Rites, the emperor left the tent and went to the place of prostration at the head of the southern stairs on the second terrace. The officials who assisted in the service, the guardians of the offerings, the ushers and heralds, all had their places on the southern side of the circular inclosure around the altar, facing north, "while the princes of the blood were permitted a place on the altar itself, but no higher than the bottom terrace." When all had taken their places, the Grand Master of Ceremonies opened the service by calling out: "Ye musicians and dancers, ye choristers and officiating attendants, all perform your duty."

Then, after the choir had sung the opening Hymn of Peace, amid "the roll of drums, the wail of wind instruments, the resonance of bells and sonorous tones, the emperor ascended the topmost terrace, where the Spirit of the God of the Universe gazed down on him." Here, under the blue dome of the sky, he knelt in humble worship, and eighty one times he prostrated himself before the Sovereign Lord of Heaven. After this solemn service, the "wine of felicity" and the "meat of good fortune" were distributed. Then the "Prayer" together with the sacrificial offerings of silk were reverently carried from the topmost terrace down the eastern and western stairs, and while the closing hymn was sung, were consigned to the glowing iron braziers.

The emperor then descended the white steps of the altar and "was conducted to a stand close to the great furnace of green tiles there, to watch the burning of the sacrificial victims." The service ended, the Son of Heaven returned to the tent, where he removed his pontifical robes, and within an hour was back in his palace within the purple walls of the Forbidden City. The plate opposite shows a comer of the giant Du Men, where all the officials gathered in full court dress to welcome the emperor on his return from the sacrifice

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