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Chinese inscription

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Several different ways to write the character 齋 are found on the plaques. The central cluster above the 示 and below the 亠 often varies. Instead of the central ya 丫, we find 了. Instead of the 刀 on the left side, a 夕 might be written. Finally, the part to the right of the center may be exchanged for one slanting line with two short strokes over it.

With these changes in place, one cannot help but notice the similarity between the new strokes and the character 祭 meaning ‘sacrifice.’ It seems that this character 祭 now forms the core of the alternative character zhāi 齋, strengthening its relation to the imperial sacrificial rites: 祭was the word used to refer to state sacrifices. For example, the sacrifices of the highest order were referred to as dàjì 大祭 'grand sacrifices.'