strictly enjoined, charging the various officers (to see) that noble and mean all exert themselves in the work of ingathering, in harmony with the storing of heaven and earth. They must not allow anything to remain out in the fields.
7. Orders are also given to the chief minister, after the fruits of husbandry have all been gathered in, to take in hand the registers of the produce of the different grains (from all the country), and to store up the produce that has been gathered from the acres of God in the granary of the spirits; doing this with the utmost reverence and correctness[1].
8. In this month the hoar-frost begins to fall; and all labours cease (for a season).
9. Orders are given to the proper officers, saying, "The cold airs are all coming, and the people will not be able to endure them. Let all enter within their houses (for a time)."
10. On the first ting day orders are given to the chief Director of music to enter the college, and to practise (with his pupils) on the wind instruments.
11. In this month an announcement is made to the son of Heaven that the victims for the great sacrifice to God, and the autumnal sacrifice in the ancestral temple[2] are fit and ready.
- ↑ "This," says Hsü Sze-𝖟ǎng (Ming dynasty), "is the great rule of making provision for the sustenance of men and for serving spiritual beings,—two things demanding the utmost inward reverence and outward reverential vigour." I suppose that the "spirit-granary" contained the grain for all governmental sacrifices, as well as that gathered from "the acres of God," and to be used specially in sacrifices to Him.
- ↑ This paragraph gives great trouble to the Khien-lung editors; but we need not enter on their discussions.
