Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/21

THE LÎ KÎ

OR

COLLECTION OF TREATISES ON THE RULES
OF PROPRIETY OR CEREMONIAL USAGES.

 

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INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER I.

Three different Lî King, or Ritual Books, acknowledged in China. The recovery of the first two, and formation of the third, under the Han Dynasty.

 1. Confucius said, "It is by the Odes that the mind is aroused; by the Rules of Propriety that the character is established; from Music that the finish is received^[1]"

 How Confucius 

 spoke of the Lî. 

On another occasion he said, "Without the Rules of Propriety, respectfulness becomes laborious bustle; carefulness, timidity; boldness, insubordination; and straightforwardness, rudeness^[1]."

These are two specimens of the manner in which Confucius expressed himself. about the Lî, the Rules of Propriety or Ceremonial Usages, recognised in his time. It is a natural inference from his language that there were Collections of such Rules which could be read and studied; but he does not expressly say so.

 How Mencius 

 spoke of them. 

The language of Mencius was more definite. In at least two passages of his works we find the usual form of quotation Lî Yüeh, "The Lî says^[2]" which, according to the analogy of Shih Yüeh, "The Shih King, or Book of Poetry, says," might be rendered,

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1. Confucian Analects, Book VIII, 8 and 2.
2. Works of Mencius, II, Part ii, a. 5; III, Part ii, 3. 3.