The following passage is a detailed depiction of a sacrificial ceremony held at the ancestral graveyard of one kinship clan during the festival of Qing Ming.

After all things are in readiness, the whole party stands until the director gives the word. He first cries with a loud voice, "Let the official persons take their places"; this is immediately done and the ceremonies proceed.

Director: "Strike up the softer music." Here the smaller instruments begin to play.

Director: "Kneel." The priest then kneels in a central place fronting the grave, and behind, him, arranged in order, the aged and honorable, the children and grandchildren all kneel down.

Director: "Present the incense." Here stewards take three sticks of incense, and present them to the priest. He arises, makes a bow towards the grave, and then plants one of the sticks in...