Conduct State Sacrifices

Overview

A procedure for performing official state sacrificial rituals to deities, establishing religious legitimacy. Based on Qin's various sacrificial ceremonies (畤).

Steps

1. Select the Occasion

   • New state establishment
   • Major military victory
   • Regular calendrical observances

2. Prepare the Altar (畤)

   • Construct or designate the sacrificial altar
   • Choose appropriate location (e.g., western altar for western regions)

3. Prepare Sacrificial Animals

   • Select appropriate animals (horses, cattle, sheep)
   • Standard offering: three of each kind (三牢)
   • Larger ceremonies may use hundreds of animals

4. Conduct the Ritual

   • Perform sacrifice according to established rites
   • Make offerings to specified deities (e.g., Supreme God/上帝, White Emperor)