Presents historical, ritual, and musical data preserved in authentic Ming documents illustrating the significance of state sacrifices in imperial China.

This book presents a wealth of historical, ritual, and musical data preserved in authentic Ming documents, describing ritual and musical structures, thoughts, and actions of Ming emperors and scholar-officials who practiced court ritual and music for official and personal purposes. Not only the significance of Ming dynasty state sacrifices and music are illustrated, but also the roles they played in imperial China.