Rebirth of Zhu Di's son

Chapter 287 Extra: Zhengdan Festival in the Second Year of Qianxi

Like the people in the Ming Dynasty, the palace began to prepare for the New Year starting from the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.

The palace attendants would put on embroidery to match the occasion. The eunuchs such as Kang Ping, the eunuch in charge of etiquette, Liu Jingzhong, the attendant eunuch, and other eunuchs would specially put on the python robes given by Emperor Qianxi of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Gaoxu.

The so-called supplements for occasions refer to the supplements used specifically at specific times and occasions, which are different from the supplements used by officials of the Ming Dynasty to represent official grades.

Gourd King Buzi is used from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month to the New Year period. Gourd King is also called the lucky gourd.

In the Ming Dynasty, the word "vine" for the branches of a gourd was homophonic with the word "wan". There were many gourd seeds in a mature gourd, which had the meaning of "prosperous descendants".

Gourd is also pronounced as "protection" and "fulu", and has the meaning of praying for happiness.

At the same time, each of the 24 yamen in the inner court steamed snacks and stored meat to pay for one or twenty days.

From this day to the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, fireworks will be set off in front of the Qianqing Palace every day. Unless there is strong wind, they will stop for half a day or a day.

Moreover, Aoshan lanterns and fireworks will be installed in the palace.

According to regulations, Emperor Zhu Gaoxu of the Ming Dynasty would visit these lights every day. When the saint arrived or left, someone would set off fireworks to welcome or send him off.

During this period, everyone was celebrating, all the court officials were on holiday, and Zhu Gaoxu basically did not deal with political affairs, that is, "On the Zhengdan Festival, from December 28th to the [-]th of the first lunar month, all officials will be in auspicious uniforms, and the General Administration Department will not Make a fuss."

On the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month, the palace will become even busier.

This day is the end of the year, that is, they worship each other, which is called "farewell to the old year", and celebrate with drums and music.

Peach charm boards and general charcoal are planted next to the door, and door gods are posted. Paintings such as the God of Fortune, Ghost Judge, and Zhong Kui are hung indoors. The eight treasures of gold and silver, the Western Fan prayer wheel, or yellow coins braided like a dragon are hung on the bed. Sesame straw is placed on the eaves. Burning cypress branches and firewood is called "Zan Sui".

On that day, Zhu Gaoxu will also hold a grand "Xi Sacrifice" ceremony at the Ancestral Temple.

The so-called "Zi sacrifice" means enshrining the tablets of the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty in the Ancestral Temple and holding a joint sacrifice.

Although the Ming Dynasty was founded by Zhu Yuanzhang in the first year of Hongwu, and the actual imperial line should be calculated from him, there is a tradition of posthumous gifts to ancestors after the founding of the country in all dynasties, and Zhu Yuanzhang is no exception.

Although the elder Zhu's family had been poor and unknown for several generations, it did not affect Zhu Yuanzhang's will to respect his ancestors. He rejected the opinions of civil servants "respecting Zhu Xi as his ancestor" and grandly declared "to this Huaiyou commoner" , it is not the fault of our ancestors that we are destined to have our country at the last moment of destiny!"

Considering that after the founding of a country, the dynasties of all dynasties would honor their ancestors, either three or four generations back, that is, they would honor their great ancestors or great ancestors.

Therefore, after Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, he respected his ancestors as a rule, and honored his great ancestor Zhu Bailiu as Emperor Dezuxuan, his great-grandfather Zhu Sijiu as Emperor Yizuheng, his grandfather Zhu Chuyi as Emperor Xizuyu, and his father Zhu Shizhen (Zhu Wusi). ) as Emperor Injo-shun.

This was the origin of the royal family who pursued honor at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty.

Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu worshiped a total of five ancestors in the Ancestral Temple. In addition to the four posthumous emperors mentioned above, there was also Zhu Yuanzhang, the great emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

The next day was the first day of the first lunar month in the second year of Qianxi.

When it comes to the fifth watch, everyone in the palace will get up early, burn incense and set off fireworks, drink pepper and cypress wine, eat flat food (dumplings), or hide one or two coins inside, and those who get them will predict the good fortune of the year.

On this day, all the palace officials and courtiers worship each other according to their rank, which is called "New Year's Eve".

The food is like a Pepsi box containing persimmons, lychees, round eyes, chestnuts, and ripe dates.There is also donkey head meat, which is also served in a small box and is called "chewing ghost", referring to the common donkey as a ghost.

This is because the pronunciation of the word donkey during the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties is similar to that of ghost.

After the above-mentioned activities are over, Zhu Gaoxu will go to Fengxian Hall to worship. If Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun are still in the palace, he should then go to salute the Emperor and the Empress Dowager to wish them a happy new year.

Since Zhu Di and Xu Miaoyun have already gone to sea, Zhu Gaoxu will go to Fengtian Palace to hold a grand meeting next.

At this time, the civil and military ministers and envoys from the four barbarians congratulated the Ming Emperor.

At the same time, all married women who have been granted imperial titles will also enter the palace to pay congratulations to Empress Qianxi of the Ming Dynasty.

Since there is a special process for congratulating hundreds of officials at the Great Court Meeting, I will not go into details here.

The scene of the Fengtian Hall Great Court Meeting was very spectacular, with both civil and military officials and foreign envoys participating, which highlighted the majesty of the Ming Emperor and the Ming Dynasty's lofty status as the Celestial Kingdom.

Dachaohui is completely different from Changchao. Just hearing the name, you can tell that the difference lies in the word "big".

Historically, the Great Court Meeting was held at the beginning of the year from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was the largest imperial ceremony in the imperial court, with as many as ten thousand officials participating. Those in remote locations even had to leave months in advance.

In today's Qianxi Dynasty of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming vassal states such as Zhou, Chu, Shu, Tang, Lu, Ning, Shen and other vassal states, as well as Korea, Japan, Ryukyu, Chenla, Siam, etc. More than sixty vassal states, including Champa, Champa, Mount Ceylon, and Kochi, and more than ten large-scale tribal leaders in Waci, Tatar, Wusizang, Nurgan and other regions had to send envoys to pay New Year greetings to the Ming Emperor.

When a large court meeting is held, all departments of the imperial court will be busy in advance. There are three main things that are most important that day.

The first is the guard. The royal guards and flag-bearer guards are responsible for guarding the ceremony and guarding during the court meeting.

The Jinyiwei secret agents will collect information on all participants in the court meeting in advance, and must nip the danger in the bud.

The second is etiquette. All national ceremonies, suburban temples, sacrifices, court gatherings, banquets, scripture banquets, book judging, entering the calendar, entering the spring, passing down the system, and memorializing victory are all for their own purposes.

In other words, during the imperial meeting, there are regulations on where civil and military officials, royal nobles, and envoys from outside the country enter from, and where they kneel. The Ministry of Rites and Honglu Temple are responsible for the details.

Because Fengtian Hall cannot accommodate tens of thousands of people, all the people entering from Fengtian Gate to Fengtian Hall are filled with people.

Although Mo Qiaosi had already developed a simple loudspeaker, the imperial meeting was no child's play. Zhu Gaoxu could not shout there with a big loudspeaker, so drums were still needed.

Different drum sounds represent different meanings.

The music of Sheng'an was played when Zhu Gaoxu ascended to the palace, the music of Long Live the Emperor was played when the officials saluted, and the music of Ding'an was played when Zhu Gaoxu returned to the palace.

The third is the banquet, which is mainly handled by Guanglu Temple.

After the grand meeting, there will be a grand banquet. Zhu Gaoxu will give a banquet to all officials according to the old system. At the same time, he will reward civil and military officials, royal nobles, and foreign envoys with Zhengdanjie money (red envelopes).

Historically, the way the emperors of the Ming Dynasty celebrated the New Year was roughly the same as that of previous dynasties, all to reflect the royal family's spirit of respecting heaven and ancestors and the majesty of the heavenly kingdom (sovereign state).

(End of this chapter)