A eunuch read out the edict in the great hall while the ministers listened on their knees.
Tips
usage
诏书 and 圣旨 are near-synonyms. 圣旨 is the more common word today, and is also used jokingly for an order from a boss or a parent.
culture
Costume dramas made the opening formula famous: 奉天承运皇帝，诏曰, "the Emperor, who holds the mandate of Heaven, decrees". The formula dates from the Ming dynasty.
