11. The nets used in hunting animals and birds,
hand nets, archers' disguises, and injurious baits
should not (in this month) issue from (any of) the
nine gates[1].
12. In this month orders are given to the foresters throughout the country not to allow the cutting down of the mulberry trees and silk-worm oaks. About these the cooing doves clap their wings, and the crested birds light on them[2]. The trays and baskets with the stands (for the worms and cocoons) are got ready. The queen, after vigil and fasting, goes in person to the eastern fields to work on the mulberry trees. She orders the wives and younger women (of the palace) not to wear their ornamental dresses, and to suspend their woman's-work, thus stimulating them to attend to their business with the worms. When this has been completed, she apportions the cocoons, weighs out (afterwards) the silk, on which they go to work, to supply the robes for the solstitial and other great religious services, and for use in the ancestral temple. Not one is allowed to be idle.
13. In this month orders are given to the chiefs of works, to charge the workmen of their various departments to inspect the materials in the five storehouses:—those of iron and other metals; of skins
- ↑ "On each side of the wall of the royal city," says Lû Tien (early in the Sung dynasty), "there were three gates." Wû Khǎng says, "The three gates on the south were the chief gates. Generally, such things as are mentioned here might issue from the other gates, but not from these; but in this month they could not issue from any of the nine." Other explanations of "the nine gates" have been attempted. The "baits" (or medicines) were used to attract and to stupefy.
- ↑ Perhaps the hoopoe.
