Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 186, Section 185: The Sacrifice at the Temple of the Supreme Being
We've arrived at the Temple of the End.

This place was where the emperor worshipped heaven, earth, and his ancestors, and therefore it was built with exceptional magnificence.

Layers of rammed earth formed a solid and stable foundation, while the four copper pillars and tall wooden beams supported each other, supporting the high and symmetrical dome.

The curtains and jade pendants under the eaves fluttered gently in the wind, exuding both grandeur and elegance.

Its square layout resembles a standard stadium, or a large palace shaped like the Chinese character "回".

The four-sided building is slightly taller, with a square platform at the center where music, dance, and ceremonies are held.

There were several layers of rammed earth platforms on all four sides. If there were sacrificial music and dance performances below, the emperor and his ministers would sit quietly on the platforms to watch.

Qin Shi followed Ji Heng into the Temple of the Extreme.

Everywhere you look, there are ministers, attendants, and servants bowing and clasping their hands in worship.

The Imperial Clan Minister and the Imperial Attendant also quickly came to greet them.

Then, a special person led the King and Queen to adjust their attire, ensuring they looked dignified.

Grand Astrologer Yuan Xin, tugging at his white beard, was watching the water clock intently, waiting for the opportune moment.

The Minister of the Imperial Household was equally busy. Upon seeing the King's arrival, he quickly prepared the offerings for the upcoming sacrifice outside the palace.

The sacrificial offerings have already been made, and now we need to prepare the items required for the three-offering ceremony later.

Even without anyone emphasizing it, Qin Shi could sense the solemnity of this ceremony.

Such a solemn ceremony made her involuntarily straighten her back and become serious.

Looking at Ji Heng again, although he still had a cold and aloof appearance, when the Zongzheng Fengchang was going over the projects one by one, he still quietly listened to Qin Shi.

Qin Shi was already extremely satisfied with this attitude.

At the same time, Ji Heng breathed a sigh of relief: although the Queen was full of affection and unwilling to leave, she knew her limits at such an important moment and did not cling to him excessively, clearly demonstrating her ability to maintain order.

Therefore, I feel much more at ease.

The next moment, the Grand Astrologer shouted loudly from the side:

"The time has come, proceed—the sacrificial ceremony!"

The Imperial Clan Minister and the Grand Master of Ceremonies led the way, while Qin Shi and Ji Heng proceeded from the front hall of the Imperial Temple to the square area in the very center.

There, musicians playing instruments such as drums, zithers, sheng, and xiao were scattered around, while in the center there were eight rows and eight columns, totaling 64 people.

Then everyone held a pheasant's long tail feather and began to move in time with the massive music.

Qin Shi walked around while looking at them.

Nowadays, only the emperor can use this standard of eight rows and eight columns for the Eight-Row Dance.

The feudal lords used six, and the high officials used four; the standards and etiquette were absolutely not to be confused.

In the past, the Ji family, a high-ranking official of the State of Lu, rewarded the Eight Dancers with a performance of the Eight Dances. Confucius was indignant and said:

"To allow the Eight-Row Dance to be performed in the courtyard—if this is tolerable, what is intolerable!"

Therefore, this sacrificial music and dance is particularly grand and meaningful.

Qin Shi's heart pounded uncontrollably, and though he kept walking, his eyes remained exceptionally focused.

Today, the dancers of the Eight-Row Dance wear light yellow and brown curved-hem robes, symbolizing the harvest of the Autumn Festival, and wear black hair crowns adorned with gleaming bronze hairpins.

Men and women were mixed together, each making up half of the group; they were dressed formally and moved in unison.

Although her dance did not display the graceful figure of Lady Chu, it possessed a unique beauty and power.

Accompanied by the accompanying songs, the Eight-Row Dance became inexplicably sacred and magnificent—

【At the Muqing Temple, solemnity and dignity are revealed.】

Many talented individuals, upholding the virtue of literature.

The moon shines brightly in the sky, and the swift horse gallops through the temple.

Neither flaunting nor claiming, nor shooting at others!

The sunken, U-shaped sacrificial site has its own echo.

The singers were placed in the four cardinal directions: east, south, west, and north.

As this magnificent and profound song is heard again and again, one's spirit seems to settle and be invigorated, and then a greater sense of weight is added.

Qin Shi felt as if a micro-current was passing through her straight back, causing her heart to beat rapidly and her mind to feel both detached and excited.

The tall figure beside him continued to walk slowly forward, steadfast and unwavering.

He is the one and only king of this great Qin. And today, together with the queen, he offers sacrifices to heaven and earth, and she will also be the rightful queen of the great Qin.

now.

As the two stepped onto the upper steps in unison, the music and dance sounds behind them seemed to remain in another space.

The Imperial Clan Head and the Imperial Attendant then led the two to the center of the Imperial Temple.

The Grand Astrologer shouted loudly from the side:
"First Offering—"

Zhou Ju and Chi Nu offered wine cups to each other, one on the left and one on the right. Qin Shi and Ji Heng picked them up and stood in front of the three sacrificial animals to offer them respectfully.

"Ya Xian—"

The King of Qin and the Queen offered incense together.

"Final Offering—"

Ji Heng picked up the scroll in front of him and began to recite aloud:
"Heaven and Earth unite in virtue, the two principles give rise to the beginning. The sun and moon shine together, the two luminaries are auspicious... Receiving the mandate from Heaven, we generously support all living beings, and forever illuminate the correct calendar... Governing all directions, the Qin palace awaits its vacant position."

"You, Qin clan, are summoned by Heaven and Earth. You are benevolent, kind, wise, and virtuous... Now we respectfully inform Heaven and Earth, offer sacrifices to our ancestors, and hereby appoint you as our Queen."

His voice was deep, yet exceptionally powerful.

This is Ji Heng.

Despite his many concerns, once he makes a decision, he never regrets it.

Qin Shi knew that, given the Queen's current status, appointing a new Queen would mean sharing his power and bringing him another crisis.

However, Ji Heng still registered it.

At this moment, the master of this great Qin Dynasty stood in the ancestral temple reciting the eulogy for establishing the queen. Bearing the weight of the nation and its people, he did not let her feel wronged.

He generously gave everything he could and should have given.

Qin Shi looked at him.

Before her stood heaven and earth and the ancestors of the Qin state, while behind her was the magnificent Eight-Row Dance.

Beside her stood the monarch she would forever support and assist, her husband, and her community of shared interests.

Her gaze was gentle and focused, lingering for a long time.

……

The ritual at the Temple of the Supreme God was carried out gradually amidst this magnificent dance music.

As the dancers and musicians withdrew, rows of soldiers were once again stationed on the altars that had been in place on all four sides.

They were clad in armor, wielding long spears, with dark faces but incredibly fierce eyes.

Row after row, column after column, densely packed, shoulder to shoulder.

This enormous altar could barely accommodate them at this moment.

These were the elite troops who once fought alongside the Qin army to conquer the world, and now they are the Queen's personal guards.

Feng Chang explained, "These are the personal guards of my Queen of Qin. According to the law, there should be a unit of two thousand men."

"But now that my Qin state has unified the world, and the Queen has great ambitions and is devoted to assisting the king, Your Majesty has specially granted five divisions of personal guards, totaling ten thousand able-bodied soldiers."

"All orders shall be obeyed by the Queen."

Zongzheng stood to the side, holding up the jade seal:
"Please, Queen, take command of the troops!"

Qin Shi looked at Ji Heng, this extremely heroic and fierce monarch, standing there like a dormant beast, his tall figure as imposing as a mountain.

His expression was cold and stern, devoid of joy.

But the commands he gave carried immense weight.

"As the Queen of my Great Qin, you deserve this congratulation."

Qin Shi took a deep breath, then stretched out his hands and solemnly picked up the cold, heavy white jade dragon-tiger military seal.

Below the stage, ten thousand people roared in cheers:
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

　"Zhou Song: Qingmiao" is the first poem in the "Zhou Song" section of the Book of Songs, also known as the "beginning of the hymns". The poem consists of eight lines in one chapter and was a dance tune commonly used by the Western Zhou Dynasty for grand sacrifices and other important events.

　　Not knowing what the Qin Dynasty sang, they used the Zhou Dynasty's. After all, Zhou rituals held supreme status at that time.

　　I wrote very little because it was too difficult! There was so much material!
　　There is very little information available about the eulogy for the investiture of Empress Zhangsun; it is adapted from the one given by Emperor Taizong of Tang when he was making Zhangsun his empress.

　　(End of this chapter)