‘Tianjia an hemiao’ 田家安禾苗 (Farmers securing the crops), Qishen zouge, 776.
I reckon that food is what people depend on for life, as one always needs to eat the five grains. Grains are a state levy, the payment of which always come from the eight households. If it were not for the gods’ merits, how can farmers fulfil their wishes? Now, we worshippers of the gods, XX and XX from XX village, together with fellow worshippers, have chosen the XX day of XX month in XX year to cautiously prepare an auspicious banquet of pure wine, meat, and vegetables. We visit the field located at XX with respect to extend our invitations to: Emperor Shennong Who Is the Master of All Grains, the Luminous Noble God of Earth of the local area, the Gods of Soil in the Five Directions, the Dragon Gods and Earth Gods, the Dragon God of Crops, the Divine Lord Who Manages Waste from Fields and Gardens, the various gods – the Father, Mother, Sons and Grandsons – of the field, the Emissary Who Captures Locusts, and all other gods. We humbly wish that the gods would come from afar and through the true incense share the offerings.
In my concerns, we live in this place and make a living by farming. Planting crops has many difficulties. To work on the fields, we have to rely on the gods’ power. We receive favours from Heaven and Earth who nurture us, and we hold gratitude to the gods who assist us. At a time of annual prayers, we express our sincere hope in the beginning of the year. We reckon that plenty of rain in one go will enable farmers to plant more and harvest more. Clouds gathering above the ten thousand hectares of fields will show that the gods always respond to prayers. … pray with sincerity … be awarded a good harvest. With wine filling the golden goblet, we respectfully present the first libation. We reckon that when crops are yielded all across the fields, people will sing for the harmonious weather (just like) in the good days (of ancient past) under King Shun. When the grains ripen, people will live in peace and abundance with music celebrating the […] of Heaven. We fully rely on the grand favours from the gods who fulfil our wishes. With wine filling the golden goblet, we respectfully present a second libation. We reckon that when the carriages are filled with evil spirits [to be disposed of], there will be no worries about droughts or flooding in the fields. When the trenches are filled with […], there will be no harm to the crops from locusts and diseases. We pray wholeheartedly for the gods’ protection and wish for a good harvest. With wine filling the golden goblet, we respectfully present the final libation.
We humbly wish that the Ancestor of Farming will give us blessings and the King of Grains will award us good luck. With rain and sunshine in good timing, crops will grow without ploughing. With crops bearing ears and seeds, weeds will disappear by themselves without weeding. There will be no disasters of locusts throughout the whole year, and we will celebrate a good harvest of the five grains. There will be plenty to serve the old and raise the young; there will be no sound of sighs and laments. The state will thereby be stable, and the people will thereby live in peace. There will be no sufferings from dislocation and homelessness. All will receive the gods’ nurturing, and all will be blessed by the gods’ protection. May the gods kindly examine and accept the money and valuables in the fire.
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