Zhu or benediction is a short essay written to pay tribute to gods and seek their blessing. Meng or a vow of allegiance is made by allies to gods. They both express a wish and a commitment to gods. According to Liu Xie (465?-520) of the Southern Dynasties, a zhu should be sincere in tone and plain in wording, without any pomposity or fanfare. A meng, as a vow of allegiance, is intended to let gods know the commitment of rulers to entering into an alliance and sharing weal and woe. Therefore, a meng should be candid and sincere and reinforce solidarity between the allies through a prayer to gods. The success of entering into an alliance, said Liu Xie, depends ultimately on the sincerity of all the parties involved, not on gods. But a beautifully written zhu or meng will help to foster trust in and noble character among the people involved.

After the positions of heaven and earth were determined, people began offering sacrifices to gods. The prayers to heaven, earth and the four seasons were offered, and tributes were being paid to distant mountains, rivers and sea. As a result, mild winds and precious rain helped crops to grow. People all had faith in divine power; they offered their best sacrifices to repay gods for their blessings. The best food would be offered to gods in reverence. The master of sacrificial ceremonies would naturally use zhu (benedictions) to express people’s sincere wish. (Liu Xie: The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons)

It can thus be seen that a meng or a vow of allegiance made without sincerity would be meaningless. (Liu Xie:The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons)

It is not difficult to write a vow of allegiance. The hard part is honoring it. People in later generations should learn the past lessons of breaking vows of allegiance. One should remain true to one’s word and not rely on the grace of the gods. (Liu Xie: The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons)