Description of the Rites of Chou

This paper narrates the basic informations of the rites of Chou which reconded by Chou′s Commentory.The thesis essentially generlized it in following aspects.I.Auspicions rites.These include the regular sacrifuial rites,to the Henven in spring;for the rain in summer;the others in autumn and winter.Mean while,they inelude the scrificial rites to avert natural calamities——Ying().2.Ominous rites.These are funeral systems.that mainly consist of following content.First,Kings must take part in the others King′s funeral at definite period.Second,they all sent presents to the funeral.The last was funerary systems about the numbers and kind of the articles burried with the dead.3.Militery rites.These consist of force training;the sacrificial rites for the fighting and march;the reward of punish ment after the war,ect.4.Guest rites.It's diplomatic manners.These manners are such systems that consist of having an audience with the King of Chou,visiting and oathing of alliance among the Kingdoms and a series of related systems.5.Fine rites.The fine rites are the customs of matrimony.There were six steppes in period Spring and Autumn,first,to gire gift to the girl's family;second,to ask the girl's name;third,to present good omen to the girls family;fourth,to give the betrothal gifts;fifth,to draw up the time;last,to see the bride in. In the same time,this paper introduces some interrelated politieal systems such as the patriarchy institutions;the rules of city wall's scale ect.At last,the article demonstrates the effect that this rite systems imposed up on the sociaty in that historic period and discripes the changes of the rite systems conceptions.