CHAPTER XIV THE OBSERVANCES OF THE GREAT ARCHERY MEETING (Part II.)

I. The First Shooting.

(a) and (b) Vide IX., I, a.

(d) Vide IX., I, c, except that the shooters stand by the dressing-tent.

(e) Vide IX., I, d and e, except that the shooters stand by the dressing-tent, and here the master-at- arms puts on the finger-stall and armlet, to be in keeping with the greater ceremoniousness in presence of the Prince.

(f) The markers, who are standing with their backs to the target, all respond in the note Kung, and run straight west. When they are abreast the screen, they again respond, this time in the note Shang,' 1 and when they reach the screen their voices cease.

(g) The man who hands the flag to the marker 2 withdraws and stands to the west. Then the marker gets up and stands at attention, with his joined hands lifted in front of him.

(h) Vide IX., (i), g, the " dressing-tent " being here substituted for "the west of the hall."

(i) Vide IX., I, h, i, j, and k.

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(j) When they have finished shooting, they hold the bow, with an arrow in it, in the left hand, and, turning north, salute, the rest of the saluting being gone through as when they came up.

(k) and (l) Vide IX., I, l, m, and n, except that here they go to the dressing-tent, and then return to their places.

(m) The director of archery lays aside his rod, leaning it against the west of the west steps, and, going to the foot of the east steps, faces north, and announces to the Duke that the three couples have finished shooting. Then he returns, puts his rod in his belt, and goes back to his place.

2. Gathering the Arrows.

(a) Vide IX., 2, a, but without the first reference to the director of archery.

(b) Vide IX., 2, b.

(d) Then a retainer sets out the arrow- stand, and the master-at-arms, facing east and using his bow as a measure, directs him. When it is set, he goes to the dressing-tent, lays down his bow, doffs finger-stall and armlet, draws on his coat, and returns to his place.

(e) A retainer sits down and spreads out the arrows on the stand, with their feathered ends to the north. The deputy master-at-arms then sits and arranges them in sets, and when that is finished, if all the arrows are not there, he again bares his arm, and, taking his bow, ascends, and commands that the arrows be gathered as before. He says: "The fall tale of arrows is not gathered." They again search for the arrows, and put those they find in the stand. When they are finished, the master-at-arms advances

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and, sitting, moves the arrows with his right and left hands, arranging them in their sets, and thereafter rises and returns to his place.

3. The Second Invitation to Shoot.

The director then goes to the west of the western steps, and, laying his rod against them, ascends, and, facing east, invites the Duke to shoot, he consenting.

4. Arranging the Couples.

(a) Then he goes to the top of the west steps and commands the principal guest to wait as partner on the Duke. He then goes up and announces in the hall the pairs for the ducal and ordinary ministers. The great officers descend and go to their places, and afterwards their couples are announced.

(b) The director, from the top of the western steps, faces north and makes announcement to the great officers, inviting them to descend. He himself precedes them down the steps, puts his rod in his girdle, and returns to his place, the great officers descending after him and going to the dressing-tent, where they stand to the south of the three student couples, facing west, and graded from the north.

(c) Then the director, standing facing east to the west of the great officers, arranges the couples, great officer with great officer, and instructs the first shot : " So-and-so will wait on your honour ''; and the second : *' Your honour will shoot with his honour So-and-so."

(d) When this is finished, he arranges all the rest of the couples who take part in the shooting, and these stand to the south of the great officers, facing west, and graded from the north.

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(e) If an ordinary officer be paired with a great officer, the great officer's partner is made the first shot, and the director instructs him as follows ; " His honour So-and-so will shoot with your honour." To the great officer he says : " So-and-so will wait on your honour."

(f) The words used in instructing the body of couples of contestants are the same as those used to the three couples. The ducal and ordinary ministers do not yet come down the steps.

5. The Three Couples Take Their Arrows.

(a) Then he commands the three couples, and each man, along with his partner, takes up his arrows. Both bare the left shoulder, put on finger-stall and armlet, take the bow, and fit an arrow to it with the right hand.

(b) The first couple issue from the dressing-tent, face west and bow, advance, and when abreast the stand bow again, and again when they reach the stand. Then the first shot faces east, and the second shot west.

(c) The first shot salutes and advances, sits, holds his bow across his body, and extending his hand, palm up, below the bow, takes an arrow and lays it on the hold. He then rises, adjusts the feathers, and turning to the left, but not through a full circle, faces in the opposite direction and salutes.

(d) Then the second shot advances, sits, holds his bow across his body, and, inverting his hand, extends it over the bow, and, laying an arrow on the hold, grips it, rises, adjusts the feathers, turns to the left, but not through a full circle, and, facing in the opposite direction, salutes.

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(e) When the arrows are all taken up, they even the ends together.

(f) Then each lays his set of arrows on the bow, and both turn inwards, and, facing south, salute.

(g) When they reach the south of the arrow-stand, they both turn by the left, and, facing north, salute, putting three arrows in the belt, and laying one on the bow.

(h) Then they bow and turn together to the left, the first shot being on the left side. The retiring couple keep the left hand to the left hand of those advancing, and each pair bow as they pass the other. Then they withdraw and lay down bow and arrows in the dressing-tent, put off finger-stall and armlet, and return to their places.

(i) The two remaining couples also take up their arrows in the same fashion, those coming last lifting the arrows used in the demonstration as well. They gather the set together and hand them to the assistant in the dressing-tent, and all draw on their coats and return to their places.

6. The Second Shooting.

(a) Vide IX., 7, a.

(b) The director again fits an arrow on the bow, and, putting away his rod, meets the master-at-arms at the foot of the steps. He goes to the foot of the eastern steps, faces north, and asks permission of the Duke to have the hits scored. The Duke consents, and, returning and putting his rod in his belt, the director comm.ands the scorer to place the tally-holder in position, himself using his bow as a measure, and facing north to direct him.

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sitting down, lays it in place, facing east. Then he retires, and the great recorder places eight tallies in the holder, and lays the rest across to the west of it, rises, lifts his joined hands, and stands at attention.

(d) The director, facing west, issues the following instructions : " If the arrow hit the stay of the target and hang from it, or ricochets into the target, or rebounds from the target without piercing it, only in the case of the Duke will it be scored.

(e) "Whichever of the three targets the Duke may hit, the hit will score."

(f) The scorer transmits these instructions to the junior recorder, who, in turn, informs the marker. 3

(g) Vide IX., 7 f.

(h) Vide IX., 7, g.

(i) Vide IX., 7, h, i, and j.

(j) Then the principal guest goes down and takes his bow and arrows from the west of the hall.

(k) Then the ducal and ordinary ministers go to the dressing-tent and stand in line with the three couples, and to the south of them.

(l) When the Duke is about to shoot, the assistant master-at-arms commands the markers all to take their flags and stand to attention. The assistant then returns to his place.

(m) Slaves are then sent to sweep the shooting-range.

(n) Then the director of archery puts away his rod, and, going to the foot of the east steps, announces the shooting to the Duke, who gives his consent. He then goes to the east of the west steps, and does the same to the principal guest, and thereafter puts his rod into his belt and returns to his place.

(o) Then a lieutenant of archers takes the Duke's finger-stall and armlet from the top of the eastern

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cupboard, while another receives the bow and dusts it, and both take them and stand ready in the eastern hall.

(p) When the Duke is about to shoot, the guest descends, and, going to the west of the hall, bares his left arm, puts on finger-stall and armlet, and, taking his bow, puts three arrows in his belt, and fits one to the bow. He then ascends by the west steps, and first waits an arrow's length north of the mark, and facing east.

(q) The master-at-arms then ascends, and, commanding them to leave the target as before, turns round by the right and goes down, lays aside his bow, and returns to his place.

(r) Then the Duke goes to his mat, while the archery lieutenant, carrying his finger-stall on a bamboo tray, and another holding the bow, follow him.

(s) Then the lieutenant sits, and, laying down the tray to the south of the mark, dusts the articles with a napkin, takes the finger-stall, and, rising, assists in fitting it on, setting in their place the three finger-cases.

(t) Then the head retainer assists the Duke to bare his arm, and he strips to the red undershirt. When that is finished, the assistant withdraws and stands to attention in the eastern hall.

(u) Then the archery lieutenant sits down again, and, taking up the armlet, rises and assists the Duke to put it on. After this he takes the tray, withdraws, and, placing it on the cupboard, returns to his place.

(v) The captain of archers takes the bow on his hands, which are covered by his sleeves, and runs his hands over the bends of it to right and left, twice on the upper, and once on the under, side. Then he

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takes the hold in his left hand, and the end in his right, and presents it to the Duke, who himself bends it.

(w) Then the head retainer dusts the arrows with the inside of the cloth, and hands them to the Duke, lightly wrapped in the cloth itself.

(x) The captain of archers stands behind the Duke to tell him the course the arrow will take. If he is to aim low, he says, *' Drop it "; and if he is to aim high, he says, " Raise it." If he is to aim more to the left or right, he names the side to which he is to aim.

(y) When the Duke has shot, the captain receives the bow and stands at attention. They shoot in turn until the whole set of arrows is exhausted.

(z) When the Duke has finished shooting, the head retainer takes the cloth and withdraws to his place. The captain of archers then receives the bow, and the lieutenant the finger-stall and armlet in the tray, and, withdrawing, places them on the cupboard and returns to his place. The captain of archers then withdraws to the place occupied by the overseer, and the head retainer assists the Duke to draw on his coat.

(aa) Then the Duke turns, and thereafter the guest goes down the steps, and, laying down his bow to the west of the hall, returns to his place at the west of the steps, where he stands, facing east.

(bb) The Duke then goes to his mat, and the over- seer, in the name of the Duke, sends the guest up the stairs. He returns to his mat, and thereafter the ministers and great officers shoot in succession.

(cc) The ducal and ordinary ministers take their bows in the dressing-tent, bare the left arm, put on the finger-stall and armlet, grasp their bows, put three arrows in their belts, and fit one on the string. Then they come out, face west, and salute. Then they

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salute as the three couples did, and ascend to shoot.

When their shooting is finished, they descend like the three couples, and, going to the dressing-tent, put away their bows, doff finger-stall and armlet, draw on their coats, and return to their places. The rest all shoot in succession, the score being taken, and all else con- ducted as before.

(dd) When the shooting is finished, the scorer takes the odd tally that he holds, and, going to the foot of the east steps, faces north, and announces to the Duke that both sides are finished. Thereafter he returns to his place, sits, and, laying out the odd tally to the west of the holder, rises, lifts his joined hands, and stands at attention.

7. Taking the Arrows for the Second Time.

(a) The master-at-arms bares his left arm, takes his bow, ascends, and commands them to take the arrows. The marker replies, " All right," and, taking the flag, stands with his back to the target. The master-at- arms then descends and lays down his bow, while the retainer spreads out the arrows on the stand. All this is done as formerly.

(b) The arrows of the principal guest, ducal and ordinary ministers, and great officers, are all separated out and tied with ribbon-grass. When this is finished, the master-at-arms sits down and moves them with his left and right hands into sets, placing the bound ends in front. Thereafter he returns to his place.

(d) Then the Master of Ceremonies lays down his bow and returns to his place, and thereafter the ministers and great officers ascend and go to their mats.

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FEATHER BANNERETTE.

To face p. 176.

8. Announcing the Score.

(a) The director of archery then goes to the west of the steps, lays down his bow, puts away his rod, draws on his coat, and, advancing by the east of the tally- holder, stands to the south of it, and, facing north, examines the score.

(b) The scorer, facing east to the west of the tally-holder, sits, and first counting the tallies to the right, two tallies making a "pair," takes them up a pair at a time and lays them in his left hand. When ten pairs are taken, he reckons them a bundle, and lays them down, each bundle by itself, and if there be pairs over, lays them across below the others. One tally over is called " The odd," and is placed in line with and below the odd pairs. Then he rises and goes by the front of the holder to the left side, where he faces east, sits, and gathers the tallies, putting them into his left hand. He lays out each pair as he gathers it, and keeps the sets of ten pairs separate. He deals with those remaining over as he did with those laid on the right side.

(c) Then the director of archery returns to his place, and the scorer thereupon advances, and taking up a tally for the winning side, holds it, and, going to the foot of the east stairs, faces north and announces the score to the Duke. If the right side has won, he says: "The right side has excelled the left"; while if the left side has won, he says: "The left has excelled the right." Then he announces the number of pairs of tallies, and if there be an odd one over, he says : " And the odd." If left and right be equal, then he takes one tally of each side, and says : " The two sides are equal." Then he turns and goes back to his place, sits and gathers up the tallies, places

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eight in the holder, and spreads the rest to the west of it. He then rises, lifts his joined hands, and stands to attention.

9. Giving Wine to the Losers.

(a) The director of archery then commands that the cup-stand be set. The assistant to the keeper of the vessels brings in the stand, carrying it respectfully in his two hands, and going up by the west steps. He faces north, sits, and sets it to the west of the west pillar, descends, and returns to his place.

(b) A junior among the victors then washes the goblet, ascends, fills it from the ordinary wine-holder, faces south, sits, places it on the stand, descends, and returns to his place.

(c) Vide IX,, 10, c, except that here the director stands " facing east at the west of the three couples,'* because those to receive the orders are at the dressing- tent.

(d) The director first returns to his place, and then the three couples and all the other shooting couples ascend and drink the shooting-cup at the top of the western steps.

(e) It is the lieutenant of archers who marshals those who ascend and drink the shooting-cup, as he marshalled them for the shooting.

(f) One couple at a time issues from the tent, saluting as when they go up to shoot. When they reach the steps, the victor first ascends, and, going up to the hall, bears a little to the right. The loser then goes forward, faces north, sits, takes the goblet which is on the stand, rises, retires a little, stands, and, finishing off the goblet, advances, sits, lays the goblet at the foot of the stand, rises, and salutes. The loser goes down first, keeping his left hand to the left of

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those coming up to drink, and when they meet in front of the steps, saluting the others, and being saluted by them. He then goes to the tent, lays down his bow, draws on his coat, and returns to his place.

(g) The head slave ladles out the shooting draughts one after the other, taking the goblet and filling it, returning, and laying it on the stand. He then retires and stands ready at the end of the inner wall. The shooters ascend and drink as above, until all three couples are finished.

(h) If the principal guest, or a ducal or ordinary minister, or a great officer, be among the losers, he does not descend, or hold his bow, nor does his partner ascend.

(i) The head slave washes the goblet, and, ascending, fills and presents it. The guest, ducal and ordinary ministers, and great officers, receive it at their mats, and, going down, proceed to the top of the west steps, face north, and stand to drink When the goblet is finished, the drinker hands it to the cup-bearer, and, returning, goes to his mat.

(j ) If the Duke is to drink, it is the principal guest who waited on his shooting who goes down, and, washing the horn-goblet, ascends, fills it from the ordinary wine-holder, descends, and bows.

(k) The Duke 4 descends one step, and the head retainer declines the honour of the obeisance on his behalf. Then the guest ascends and kowtows twice, the Duke responding with two bows. The guest then sits, pours a libation, drinks off the cup, and kowtows twice, the Duke responding with two bows. Then the guest descends and washes the ivory goblet, ascends, and, ladling out a cupful from the Duke's wine-holder, hands it to the Duke. Then he descends to bow, the head retainer again declining for the

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Duke. He then ascends and kowtows twice, the Duke replying with two bows and drinking off the goblet. The guest goes forward and receives it, descends, and, washing an ordinary goblet, ascends, fills it at the ordinary wine-holder, goes down again to bow, the declining, kowtowing, and responses being as before. The guest sits, and, without pouring a libation, drinks off the goblet. He then descends, and, laying the empty cup in the basket, and at the west of the steps, turns his face eastward and stands.

(l) The usher, in the name of the Duke, causes the guest to ascend, which he does, and returns to his mat.

(m) If the partner of the ducal or ordinary minister or great officer be a loser, he also takes his unstrung bow and goes up to drink.

(n) Vide IX., 10, n.

10. Offering Wine to Those Connected with the Markers.

(a) The keeper of the vessels places the wine-holder for the targets to the north-east of the Fu-pu, It consists of two vases of wine for presenting to the markers, facing east, and graded from the south, with a ladle in each. The used- water jar is placed to the north-west of the wine-holder, with the cup-basket to its south, and both facing squarely east, while a beaker is placed in the basket.

(b) The master-at-arms then washes the beaker, and, filling it, presents it to the Fu-pu, who, standing three paces north-west of the target, faces north, and bows as he receives it.

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(d) The steward's assistant brings forward the relishes, and the cadets set out the stands of dis- membered joints.

(e) When the presentation is over, the marker (the Fu-pu) goes to the right edge of the target, followed by the relishes and stand of meat.

(f) The marker then takes the cup in his left hand, offers the relishes and joints with his right, and then, with both hands, pours the libation.

(g) Then he goes to the left edge of the target and does the same, and repeats it at the centre.

(A) When the offering is finished, he takes his stand three paces north-west of the left edge, facing east, and when the relishes and the meat-stand are set out, he stands and drinks off the cup.

(i) Then one of the master-at-arms' assistants receives the empty cup, washes and gives it to the slaves, and the officers in charge of the curtained chariots, who act as markers, all as in the case of the presentation at the great target; and when this is finished, the assistant takes the empty cup and places it in the cup-basket.

(j ) Then each of the markers lifts his own relishes, and the cadets take the stand, and, following them, lay them down a little south of the screen. There- upon the Fu-pu again backs the target and stands to attention.

II. Offering Wine to the Scorer.

(a) and (b) As IV., 12, a, but with the additional detail that the rod is leant at the west of the steps, and the other things put at the west of the hall.

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12. The Third Invitation to Shoot.

The director of archery leans his rod against the west steps, goes to the foot of the east steps, and, facing north, invites the Duke to shoot as before.

13. The Couples All Take Their Arrows from the Arrow-Stand,

(a) The master-at-arms then returns, puts his rod in his belt, goes to the dressing-tent, and orders the three couples to bare the left arm, put on finger-stall and armlet, take their bows, go out in their order, and take their arrows,

(b) The director first returns to his place.

(c) The three couples bare the left arm and take their arrows as before, the assistant director marshalling them as before.

(d) When the three couples have taken the arrows, the ducal and other ministers and great officers all descend, and, taking their former places, enter with the three couples into the dressing-tent, and all bare the arm, put on finger-stall and armlet, take their bows, and advance until they come abreast the arrow- stand. Then they go forward, sit, take the binding off their arrows, the first shot facing east, and the second west. Then they lift up their arrows as the three couples did.

(e) If an ordinary officer be paired with a great officer, he stands facing east, and his partner west. Then the great officer advances, and, sitting, takes the band off his arrows and returns to his place.

(f) His partner, the ordinary officer, salutes, and, going forward, sits, collects his set of arrows, rises, adjusts the feathers, and, turning round to the left, but

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not through a full circle, resumes his original direction and salutes. Then the great officer advances, sits, and collects his set of arrows as his partner did.

(g) Facing north, they put three arrows into the belt, lay one to the bow, salute, and withdraw.

(h) The two go together to the dressing-tent, lay aside their bows, doff finger-stall and armlet, draw on their coats, return to their places, the ducal and other ministers ascending and returning to their mats.

(i) All the shooters in turn take up their arrows as did the three couples, and, entering the tent, lay aside bow and arrows, put off finger-stall and armlet, and return to their places.

14. The Third Shooting.

(a) Vide IX., 15, a.

(b) Then the master-at-arms ascends and commands the markers to leave the target. They reply, " All right," and he descends, lays his bow aside, and returns to his place.

(c) The director meets the master-at-arms in front of the steps, where he leans his rod against the west side, goes to the foot of the eastern steps, and, facing north, asks permission of the Duke to have the music played, to which the Duke assents.

(d) The director then returns, puts his rod in his girdle, faces east, and instructs the bandmaster, saying : " The Duke orders me to have music performed during the shooting." The bandmaster replies, "All right."

(e) Vide IX., 15, d and e, except that the music here is "The fox's head." 5

(f) When the three couples have finished shooting, the guest goes and stands at attention at the mark as before, and the Duke goes to the mark as soon as the

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music has commenced, having the arrows loosely bound up in a cloth, and paying no attention to the time set by the music ; the other details and the finish of the shooting being as before.

(g) Then the guest goes to his mat,- and the ducal and other ministers, great officers, and the rest of the shooters, shoot in succession j the scoring being as before. When the shooting is finished, they descend and return to their places, the scorer taking the odd tally and going forward to announce that left and right have finished shooting, as before.

15. Taking the Arrows and Announcing the Score, as Before.

(a) and (d) Vide IX., 16, except that here the retainer lays out the arrows, and the master-at-arms' assistant arranges them into sets.

16. Giving Wine to the Vanquished, as Before.

(a) and (b) Vide IX., 17, adding that when the drinking is finished they withdraw the stand and goblet, as before.

17. The Couple Again Take the Arrows from the Stand, as Before.

(a) Then the director of archery again bares his arm, dons finger-stall and armlet, takes the bow in his left hand, and, picking up an arrow in his right, lays it on the string with the point to the front, and, going to the tent, commands the competitors to take their arrows as before. He then returns to his place, and the three couples, with the ducal and other ministers, great officers, and the rest of the shooters, all bare the

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arm, don finger-stall and armlet, and take their arrows, as before. They do not fit the arrows to the string, but lay them along it with their points to the front, and withdraw, going to the tent and handing their bows and arrows to the attendants, after which they draw on their coats and return to their places.

(b) Then the ministers and great officers ascend and go to their mats.

18. The Finish of the Shooting.

(a) Then the director goes to the tent, lays aside his bow, doffs finger-stall and armlet, puts away his rod, draws on his coat, and returns to his place. The master-at-arms commands the arrow-stand to be re- moved and the braces of the targets cast off. The head retainer removes the stand, while the officer in charge of the curtained chariots and the measurers cast off the lower left braces of the targets.

(b) Then the assistant master-at-arms commands the marker to remove the standard and relishes and stand of meat, while the director calls on the scorer to remove the tally-holder and tallies and to wait orders.

19. The Duke Begins the General Pledging on Behalf of the Great Officers.

The Duke on this occasion also raises the goblet, which was set down to pledge whomsoever he chooses, whether the principal guest or the senior of the great officers, and takes it to the top of the western steps to start the general pledging, as before. The last to receive the goblet takes it down, places it in the cup- basket, and returns to his place.

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20. Removing the Stands.

(a) The master-at-arms goes up the western steps, and, at the east of the eastern pillar, faces north, and announces to the Duke that he asks permission to have the stands removed, the Duke giving his assent.

(b) Then he goes to the top of the western steps, and, facing north, announces this assent to the guest, who turns north, and, taking his stand, goes out with it, the ducal and other ministers taking theirs, with the ceremonial observed by the guest, and going out and handing them to their followers outside the door.

(d) And the leader of the cadets removes the Duke's stand, and, going down by the eastern steps, passes with it to the east side.

21. Putting Off Shoes, Ascending, and Sitting.

(a) The guest, ducal and other ministers, all enter the door, and stand, facing north, and graded from the east.

(b) The overseer then orders the guest up the stairs, and the guest, the ducal and other ministers and great officers, all put off their shoes, and, going up, proceed to their mats, and the Duke invites them to be seated and put themselves at their ease.

(d) Vide XII., 6, c and d, with the ducal ministers added to the list of guests.

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22. The Master of Ceremonies Offers Wine to the Officers.

(a) Vide XII., 7, a.

(b) Then the relishes are brought in. The overseer and one of the archers stand to the south of the goblet, facing north, and graded from the east, the overseer being in the place of honour.

(e) Vide XII., 7, e, and adds : " Then the Master of Ceremonies takes the empty cup, lays it in the cup- basket, and returns to his place."

23. The Guest Raises the Goblet to the Duke. Vide XII., 9, a, i, and c.

24. The Duke Begins the General Pledging on Behalf of the Officers,

Vide XII., 10.

25. Another Shooting.

(a) If the Duke order that there be another round of shooting, they delay the offering of wine to the cadets. 6

(b) Then the director tells those to shoot who choose to do so.

(d) They loose only one arrow each, and no matter which target is hit, the hit is counted.

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26. The Master of Ceremonies Presents Wine to the Cadets and Those Below Them in Rank

Vide XII., II, except that there the wine is offered to the cadets at the top of the eastern steps.

27. The Unmeasured Drinking.

(a), (b), and (c) Vide XII., a to h,

(d) and (e) Vide XII., 12, i to l, except that here the principal guest and ducal minister are mentioned among those who descend.

28. The Guest L eaves , and the Duke Re-enters.

Vide XII., 13, adding: "When the Duke re-enters the Ao-hsia 7 is played."

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CHAPTER XIV THE OBSERVANCES OF THE GREAT ARCHERY MEETING (Part II.)