Зze-yû urged, "How can a family that has means and one that has not have things done in the same way?" "Where there are means," was the reply, "let there be no exceeding the prescribed rites. If there be a want of means, let the body be lightly covered from head to foot, and forthwith buried, the coffin being simply let down by means of ropes. Who in such a case will blame the procedure?"
18. Pǎn, superintendent of officers' registries, informed Зze-yû of his wish to dress his dead on the couch. "You may," said Зze-yû. When Hsien-jze heard of this, he said, "How arrogant is the old gentleman! He takes it on himself to allow men in what is the proper rule[1]."
19. At the burial of his wife, duke Hsiang of Sung[2] placed (in the grave) a hundred jars of vinegar and pickles, Зǎng-jze said, "They are called 'vessels only to the eye of fancy,' and yet he filled them!"
20. After the mourning rites for Ming Hsien-jze, the chief minister of his family made his subordinates return their money-offerings to all the donors. The Master said that such a thing was allowable.
21. About the reading of the list of the material contributions (towards the service of a funeral), Зǎng-
- ↑ On death, the body was lifted from the couch, and laid on the ground. When there was no response to the recalling of the spirit, it was returned to the couch and dressed. A practice seems to have arisen of slightly dressing it on the ground, which Pǎn did not wish to follow. Зze-yû ought to have told him that his proposal was according to rule; whereas he expressed his permission of it,—a piece of arrogance, which Hsien-jze condemned.
- ↑ Hsiang died in B.C. 637.
