Sacrifices are the most important offering for sacrificial rites. During the pre-Qin period (the Zhou Dynasty in particular) it was only the emperors who were entitled to officiate at the sacrificial rites to the gods...Sacrifices are the most important offering for sacrificial rites. During the pre-Qin period (the Zhou Dynasty in particular) it was only the emperors who were entitled to officiate at the sacrificial rites to the gods of heaven and earth or to imperial ancestors. The ritual practice of selecting animals for the sacrificial rites includes: (1) Animal selection, which is done three months before the day of the official ceremony according to the requirements for the horn and body, the color of hair, the sex and the size. (2) Animal raising, which means raising the selected animals in a very clean pen for three months. (3) Animal check-up, which is done thoroughly (again) on the eve of the day. (4) Animal greeting, which means that at the beginning of the official rites the emperor goes in person to greet and guide the animals to the site where the rites are going on. (5) Animal killing, which is done by the emperor ceremonially either shooting or slaughtering. And (6) animal sacrificing, which includes some parts of the ceremony like sacrificing the blood, the raw, and the cooked.展开更多
YUAN Shuguo, 82, is an amiable and kind woman. Despite many years of hardship and frustration, she has brought up and educated four children. Even her granddaughter is married. Many of Yuan’s burdens have been lifted...YUAN Shuguo, 82, is an amiable and kind woman. Despite many years of hardship and frustration, she has brought up and educated four children. Even her granddaughter is married. Many of Yuan’s burdens have been lifted from her shoulders and she now lives a content life with her husband. Yet deep in her heart, there will always be one regret. This is her story, in her own words.展开更多
文摘Sacrifices are the most important offering for sacrificial rites. During the pre-Qin period (the Zhou Dynasty in particular) it was only the emperors who were entitled to officiate at the sacrificial rites to the gods of heaven and earth or to imperial ancestors. The ritual practice of selecting animals for the sacrificial rites includes: (1) Animal selection, which is done three months before the day of the official ceremony according to the requirements for the horn and body, the color of hair, the sex and the size. (2) Animal raising, which means raising the selected animals in a very clean pen for three months. (3) Animal check-up, which is done thoroughly (again) on the eve of the day. (4) Animal greeting, which means that at the beginning of the official rites the emperor goes in person to greet and guide the animals to the site where the rites are going on. (5) Animal killing, which is done by the emperor ceremonially either shooting or slaughtering. And (6) animal sacrificing, which includes some parts of the ceremony like sacrificing the blood, the raw, and the cooked.
文摘YUAN Shuguo, 82, is an amiable and kind woman. Despite many years of hardship and frustration, she has brought up and educated four children. Even her granddaughter is married. Many of Yuan’s burdens have been lifted from her shoulders and she now lives a content life with her husband. Yet deep in her heart, there will always be one regret. This is her story, in her own words.
