Page "religion" Paragraph 266

Thus, the emperor could draw on sources not available to those with less puissant ancestors.

But this eminence was not without its weighty responsibilities.

Since he possessed more power in an interdependent universe of living beings and dead spirits, the emperor had to use it for the benefit of the living.

The royal ritual generated power into the other world: it also provided the living with a way to control the spirits, and bring their powers directly to bear on the everyday affairs of the world.

Proper ritual observance at any level of society was capable of generating power for use in the spirit world ; ;

but naturally, the royal ritual, which provided unusual control over already supremely powerful divine spirits, was held responsible for regulating the universe and insuring the welfare of the kingdom.