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CH INESE MUSIC. 27 When the Emperor 1 has an ived before the shrine, the grand master of ceremonies gives the signal to commence by beating the little drum he holds in his hand. At this signal the flags (hui) are raised, the chii (leader) beats his instrument three times, and the whole band begins to play. The following hymn is the only one sung in honom of CONFUCIUS, according to a decrne issued in the eighth year of CH'IEN LUNG (A.D. 1743). The same words and the same music are always used, the only difference being the change of lu or key-note. The hymn is always sung in the lu corresponding to the moon during which the ceremony t akes place; for instance, during the second moon chici-chung is assumed' as lii,, and during the eighth moon the key-note is nan -li i. The hymn is divided into six stanzas:- , 1 °. 38! jjiljt, yi ng shen , receiving the approaching Spirit. 2 °. @] ~, ch'u hsi en , first presentation of offerings. 3°. fill. 'lfJlt ya hsien, second presentation. 4 °. ~~ 141{ chung hsien , third and last presentation. 5°. fox ff ch'e chucin, removal of the viands. 6°. ~ jiiljl sung shen, escorting the Spirit back. 2 A remarkable peculiarity of Chinese worship is the_fu-m belief that the spirits in whose honour a ceremony is performed descend from heaven to receive the offerings prepared for them. Therefore here the first stanza is devoted to inviting and meeting the Spirit:- ~~ ~a~~ G~ IM~~ I~ I* llQ~ ~~ R# R9 R~ ~~ R . I~ ll9~ ~ - zZ ·R :l:tl! G~ Gffi RB ~ tt t~ Z8 ~~ Ver y slow. i $ Q 6> Q () II a LJ G I 0 1'a tscii K 'iing tziL. Hsien chiieh hsien chih. I a 6) 0 (2 II 0 0 0 ~ 0 Y il t'ien ti ts'an. Wan hih chih shih. i Q 0 Q ·I 0 I 11 r:) G ., ·E 0 6 Hsiang cMng Lin fit. Yiin ta chin .~ l1. ~ 0 0 a Q I a r 0 I a 11 · J ih yuch chi chieh. (.,?i'icn k'un ch'ing i. 1 I cont inue to sa,y the Emperor becu.tre if be does not officiftte him ·elJ t he ce.re111ouy is a]wny.- carried on as if he were present. • " 2 For tran ·htiou of thi s Hymn see p. 34. 4