Disarm, disarm
The refrain disarm, disarm or in full form disarm, disarm, for the Supreme Lady approaches (Shinasthana: 倍兵倍兵 天尹且及; peqs-pryang-peqs-pryang qlin-qur-ksaq-krep) is a phrase announced by various court officials when the Emperor of Themiclesia holds audience.
History
The procedure of holding an imperial audience (朝) in Themiclesia was highly ritualistic and symbolic. Prior to the Sovereign's actual appearance before those who have come to seek an audience, a series of announcements are made between officials of his court, his ushers, attendants, and other personages to satisfy legal requirements, usually enhancing the gravity or security of the occasion. Most of these procedures are demanded by the Code of Audiences (朝律), which was first codified in 544 and was not amended significantly since then. Prior to codification, it is believed that the ceremonies of audience evolved out of several types of previous ceremonies and contemporary etiquette but was not written down. Yet the refrain of disarm disarm is not actually found in the Code or any of its iterations.
It is believed the refrain originated or evolved into its modern form during the 10th century when the carrying of weapons before the Sovereign was fully outlawed in the wake of the Tragedy of 913, where the reigning emperor was assassinated with his own sword. Prior to this point, it is thought that courtiers were already required to disarm within the Emperor's precincts, but the Emperor's own sword was borne by one of the Barons-in-Waiting. In the Tragedy of 913, a foreign prince called Ba-nu-tuk, harbouring much dissatisfaction towards the Emperor's court, pulled the sword from the hands of the Baron of Krum and stabbed the Emperor's heart with it. When the crown prince came to the throne, he suspended the carrying of the sword of memory for his murdered father. The question then arose if the Emperor's retainers, the Gentlemen of the Household, should continue to carry swords when their lord no longer did so (even symbolically). Contemporary accounts say the retainers stopped carrying swords out of respect.
The matter was not as simple as it sounds, since under the Code of Audiences the Gentlemen were divided into several troops that carried shields, swords, and spears or were mounted on chariots, and these troops were required to arrive at fixed places at set times, some of which were within the Emperor's precincts. For whatever reason, perhaps the unwillingness of amending an old law, the solution was to exploit an ambiguity within the law, which failed to state when these Gentlemen were required to take hold of their weapons. Thus, the requirement could be satisfied if the Gentlemen who were required to bear weapons withdraw from the imperial precinct to take up their arms elsewhere. Under this re-arrangement, the Gentlemen of the Chariotry furled up their banners (armed chariots were required to have unfurled banners), the Gentlemen of the Spears took the tips off their spears, and the Gentlemen of the Swords physically moved out of the precinct; the Gentlemen Carriers of Shields were not affected because shields were not weapons when not paired with a polearm.
The most interesting aspect of this phrase is perhaps its refernce to the Supreme Lady (天尹), which is the Empress rather than the Emperor, even though the Empress is not present in the ceremony.
Modern usage
The protocol of the imperial audience as last amended in 1847 is as follows:
- The Emperor is awaken ahead of the ceremony and escorted by a team of barons-in-waiting (寺中矦) and privy councillors (中大夫) from his bedchamber to the Great Hall, where he is robed by the Gentlemen of the Bedchamber.
- The privy councillors requests permission to secure the premises of the audience according to law; the emperor does not personally respond but causes the barons-in-waiting to declare his assent. This assent is relayed by the Privy Council to the Attorney-general's Office, where the Attorney-general sends an Attendant Attorney for confirmation (since this is formally a deployment of forces within the imperial precinct). The Privy Council presents a Baron-in-Waiting holding the Great Seal to confirm the command. The Attorney-general then sends one of the junior attorneys as commissioner to execute the written ordinance upon the Commissioner of the Corridors, who has authority over the Gentlemen of the Household. By the Commisioner's signet warrant, the Gentlemen Captain are brought before the Imperial Attorney to be charged of their duties. The Gentlemen of the Household are roll-called by the Gentlemen Captains under the supervision of junior attorneys and commanded to take up arms and positions in the Fore Hall; they light the area with bonfires in the darkness of night.
- One hour from the audience, separate ordinances for opening the Gate of Rectitude and the Gate of Unending Peace are issued by the Attorney-general; the ordinance opening the Gate of Rectitude is executed by the Attorney-general, and that opening the Gate of Unending Peace by the Privy Council.
- Attendees of the audience are ushered into their positions through the Gate of Rectitude and the Gate of Unending Peace. The Chancellor sits facing west, under a canopy and on four mattresses. The Vice Chancellors sit facing north, on three mattresses but no canopy. The other members of the high court receive individual or shared mattresses according to their rank.
- The Chancellor, in his position, sends an envoy with his banner to a (randomly selected by the envoy) Gentlemen of the Household and asks his name. The Gentlemen selected does not answer his name but says "I confess and fear for my life" and kneels at the envoy's feet; the envoy says "you are pardoned; rise". The significance of this custom is unclear. The Chancellor's Baron-envoy then approach Attorney Attendant of Gates and declare the assembly is ready (戒).
- The Attorney Attendant reports to the Attorney-general, who informs the Grand Chamberlain everything outside is in order (具).
- The President of the Privy Council announces that the Hour is arrived (辦).
- The Emperor rises from the throne of the Great Hall, being supported by a Baron-in-Waiting and a Privy Councillor. At the same time, another Privy Councillor opens the door to the Great Hall and tells an Attending Attorney the Supreme Lady approaches. This Attending Attorney then goes to the Commissioner of the Corridors and repeats the Supreme Lady approaches. The Commissioner then says to the Gentlemen Captain disarm, disarm, for the Supreme Lady approaches.