“Ancient Chinese Rituals and Sacred Geography”

In the second year of his reign, Emperor Er Shi conducted an eastern tour to Jieshi and Hainan, visited Mount Tai, and reached Kuaiji, where he performed sacrificial rites. He also inscribed stone tablets adjacent to the monument erected by Qin Shi Huang, commemorating the achievements of the First Emperor.

During the autumn of that year, the vassals rebelled against Qin. Three years later, Emperor Er Shi was assassinated.

Twelve years after the Fengshan ceremony, the Qin Dynasty fell. Confucian scholars lamented the burning of poems and books, the persecution of intellectuals, and the people’s resentment towards the harsh laws. The populace spread rumors that “Emperor Shi Huang ascended Mount Tai, but was struck by a violent storm, preventing him from completing the Fengshan ceremony.” Can this be said of someone who lacks virtue but engages in ceremonial affairs?

In ancient times, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors resided in the region between the Yellow River and Luo River. Therefore, Song High Mountain was considered the central mountain, with the Four Sacred Mountains located in their respective directions, and the Four Rivers all flowing to the east. When Qin declared itself an empire and established its capital in Xianyang, the Five Sacred Mountains and Four Rivers were all situated in the east. From the Three Sovereigns to the Qin Dynasty, the rise and fall of prominence saw famous mountains and rivers either under the dominion of feudal lords or the emperor. Ritual practices varied with time, making it difficult to record all changes.

Following this, from Yang to the east, there were five named mountains and two major rivers. These were Taishan, Hengshan, Kuaiji, Xiangshan, and the Jiang and Huai rivers. Spring rituals included offerings of dried meat and wine, which were followed by autumn ceremonies that marked the onset of freezing, and winter rituals that symbolized closure and prayer. Sacrificial offerings included a calf and a young bull, each with unique ceremonial vessels and jade coins.

West of Huayin, there were seven named mountains and four major rivers. These included Huashan, Baoshan, and other lesser-known peaks. Mountains such as Taishan, Hengshan, Kuaiji, and Xiangshan were followed by rivers like the Ji and Huai. Spring and autumn ceremonies, like those in the east, involved similar offerings, but with different ceremonial vessels and jade coins. The Four Great Tombs—Hong, Qi, Chang, and Feng—were all given grains as offerings.

Chen Baojie came to offer sacrifices, while the Yellow River was given barley beer. All these occurred within the borders of Yongzhou, close to the imperial capital, and thus entailed a chariot and four horses.

In the areas of Ba and Chang, the Chong River flowed underneath the Qinling Mountains and then entered the Wei River. The Long River, which flowed southward, entered the Yellow River. According to the geographical records, there were two rivers: the Qiong and the Luo. The Ming and Yang rivers, as well as the Long and Jings, were all minor rivers that did not require the same ceremony as the major mountains and rivers.

At the confluence of the Qiong and Luo rivers, there were a few places like Mingze and Poshan. These were small mountains and rivers that required their own rituals, but did not have to follow the same practices as those for major mountains and rivers.

In addition to these, there were also shrines and temples for the sun, moon, stars, and constellations, as well as for wind and rain deities, the four seas, nine officials, and fourteen ministers. There were more than a hundred temples dedicated to such entities. To the west, there were also dozens of shrines.

In Hu County, there was a shrine dedicated to the Zhou dynasty. In Xiagu, there was a temple dedicated to Tian Shen. In Fong and Hao, there were shrines dedicated to Zhao Ming