The Great Encyclopedia of Taoism

Guo She — The State Altar Sacrifice in Feudal China 国社

Guo She — The State Altar Sacrifice in Feudal C...

Paul Peng

Guo She (国社) is the state-level earth altar established by feudal lords for the people of their domain in Zhou China, occupying the second tier of the four-tier altar hierarchy.

Guo She — The State Altar Sacrifice in Feudal C...

Paul Peng

Guo She (国社) is the state-level earth altar established by feudal lords for the people of their domain in Zhou China, occupying the second tier of the four-tier altar hierarchy.

Ying Sui — New Year Welcoming Sacrifice in Ancient China 迎岁

Ying Sui — New Year Welcoming Sacrifice in Anci...

Paul Peng

Ying Sui (迎岁) is the ancient Chinese new year welcoming sacrifice performed at the ancestral temple, closing the old year's ritual cycle and opening the new under divine protection.

Ying Sui — New Year Welcoming Sacrifice in Anci...

Paul Peng

Ying Sui (迎岁) is the ancient Chinese new year welcoming sacrifice performed at the ancestral temple, closing the old year's ritual cycle and opening the new under divine protection.

Li She — The Village Altar Sacrifice in Ancient China 里社

Li She — The Village Altar Sacrifice in Ancient...

Paul Peng

Li She (里社) is the village-level earth altar sacrifice in Zhou China, maintained by each li (25 households) as the primary religious institution for commoners.

Li She — The Village Altar Sacrifice in Ancient...

Paul Peng

Li She (里社) is the village-level earth altar sacrifice in Zhou China, maintained by each li (25 households) as the primary religious institution for commoners.

Gao Tian — The Announcement Sacrifice to Heaven 告天

Gao Tian — The Announcement Sacrifice to Heaven 告天

Paul Peng

Gao Tian (告天) is the Zhou announcement sacrifice to Heaven, combined with burnt offering so smoke carries the announcement upward, reserved for major state events.

Gao Tian — The Announcement Sacrifice to Heaven 告天

Paul Peng

Gao Tian (告天) is the Zhou announcement sacrifice to Heaven, combined with burnt offering so smoke carries the announcement upward, reserved for major state events.

He Ji — The Combined Ancestral Sacrifice in Zhou China 合祭

He Ji — The Combined Ancestral Sacrifice in Zho...

Paul Peng

He Ji (合祭) is the grand combined ancestral sacrifice of the Zhou dynasty, gathering all ancestors from founding to most recent in a single ceremony every three years.

He Ji — The Combined Ancestral Sacrifice in Zho...

Paul Peng

He Ji (合祭) is the grand combined ancestral sacrifice of the Zhou dynasty, gathering all ancestors from founding to most recent in a single ceremony every three years.

Ci Si — The Secondary Sacrifice Rite in Zhou Religion 次祀

Ci Si — The Secondary Sacrifice Rite in Zhou Re...

Paul Peng

Ci Si (次祀) is the middle grade of the Zhou three-tier sacrificial hierarchy, offered to the sun, moon, and stars, ranked between great sacrifice and minor sacrifice.

Ci Si — The Secondary Sacrifice Rite in Zhou Re...

Paul Peng

Ci Si (次祀) is the middle grade of the Zhou three-tier sacrificial hierarchy, offered to the sun, moon, and stars, ranked between great sacrifice and minor sacrifice.