Imperial Ceremony Procedure (封禅仪式)

This procedure outlines the requirements and steps for conducting the Fengshan ceremony.

Prerequisites

Legitimacy Requirements

1. 受命而王 - Must have received the Mandate of Heaven
2. 功至 - Must have achieved significant accomplishments
3. 德洽 - Must have virtue that reaches all people
4. 符瑞见 - Must have auspicious signs appear

Material Requirements

• 鄗上之黍
• 北里之禾
• 一茅三脊
• 比目之鱼
• 比翼之鸟

Ceremony Steps

Phase 1: Preparation

1. Select auspicious date
2. Prepare ritual vessels and offerings
3. Purify participants
4. Construct altars

Phase 2: Feng Ceremony (封泰山)

1. Ascend Mount Tai from south side
2. Perform sacrifice at summit
3. Bury jade documents (玉牒书)
4. Erect stone monument

Phase 3: Shan Ceremony (禅梁父)

1. Descend to designated location
2. Perform earth sacrifice
3. Offer prayers for continued blessing

Phase 4: Proclamation

1. Announce completion to realm
2. Grant amnesty
3. Distribute rewards
4. Commemorate with inscriptions

Historical Precedents

Ancient rulers who performed Fengshan:

• 无怀氏
• 伏羲
• 神农
• 炎帝
• 黄帝
• 颛顼
• 帝喾
• 尧
• 舜
• 禹
• 汤
• 周成王

Warnings

• Do not perform without proper signs
• Do not perform without sufficient virtue
• Failure brings ridicule and loss of legitimacy

Validation

1. Confirm all four legitimacy requirements are met: 受命而王, 功至, 德洽, 符瑞见
2. Verify the four-phase ceremony sequence was completed in order: Preparation, Feng at summit, Shan at foot, Proclamation
3. Check that jade documents (玉牒书) were buried and stone monument was erected, and amnesty plus rewards were distributed to the realm