‘正祭’ (zhēng jì) refers to the main ancestral sacrifice ceremony held during the first lunar month, traditionally the most solemn and important rite of the year in classical Chinese ritual practice. The character ‘正’ here is pronounced zhēng (not zhèng), an archaic reading reserved for this specific context and for the name of the first lunar month; it conveys meaning related to ‘primary’, ‘inaugural’, or ‘orthodox’. The character ‘祭’ means ‘sacrifice’ or ‘ritual offering’, typically involving food, wine, incense, and formal bows before ancestral tablets or graves.

This term originates from ancient Zhou dynasty rites and appears in classical texts like the Rites of Zhou and Book of Rites. It reflects Confucian emphasis on filial piety and continuity of lineage. Though rarely practiced in daily modern life, ‘正祭’ remains significant in historical, academic, and ceremonial discussions of traditional Chinese religion and ancestor veneration—especially among scholars, temple custodians, and families reviving heritage rituals.