釋奠
Chinese edit
to release; to offer | to lay; to present ceremonially | ||
---|---|---|---|
trad. (釋奠) | 釋 | 奠 | |
simp. (释奠) | 释 | 奠 |
Etymology edit
Traditionally glossed (e.g. by Zheng Xuan) as 釋菜奠幣 (to make a ritually clean offering of vegetables and ceremoniously lay the treasures of silk), it was specified in the Book of Rites as part of a ritual honouring the 先師, ancient instructors (of war).
- 反,釋奠于學,以訊馘告。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
- From: The Book of Rites, c. 4th – 2nd century BCE
- Fǎn, shìdiàn yú xué, yǐ xùn guó gào. [Pinyin]
- When the forces return, (they make) the offerings of vegetables and silk at the school (to the ancient instructors of war), and announce (the news of victory) by presenting the captives and the severed ears of the slain.
反,释奠于学,以讯馘告。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]
The association of the school and education with war was once common in proto-feudal China (see Yang, 1965). The term was later used chiefly in the Confucian context as a ceremony honouring Confucius and other sages, without the warlike association.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
釋奠
- (history) ritual offering honouring ancient instructors
- (Confucianism) ceremony honouring Confucius and Confucian sages in schools
- 今釋奠有伯魚而無子思。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, trad.]
- From: c. 13th century, various editors, A Collection of Conversations of Master Zhu (《朱子語類》)
- Jīn shìdiàn yǒu Bóyú ér wú Zǐsī. [Pinyin]
- These days in the rites of shidian offerings were made to Boyu but not to Zisi.
今释奠有伯鱼而无子思。 [Written Vernacular Chinese, simp.]