together. In these cases the fewness of the things formed the mark of distinction.
9. In others, greatness of size formed the mark. The dimensions of palaces and apartments; the measurements of dishes and (other) articles; the thickness of the inner and outer coffins; the great- ness of eminences and mounds[1]:—these were cases in which the greatness of size was the mark.
10. In others, smallness of size formed the mark. At the sacrifices of the ancestral temple, the highest in rank presented a cup (of spirits to the representative of the dead), and the low, a san (containing five times as much): (at some other sacrifices), the honourable took a khih (containing 3 cups), and the low a horn (containing 4). (At the feasts of viscounts and barons), when the vase went round 5 times, outside the door was the earthenware fâu (of supply), and inside, the hû; while the rulers vase was an earthenware wû:—these were cases in which the smallness of size was the mark of distinction[2].
11. In others, the height formed the mark of
- ↑ Both these names refer, probably, to mounds raised over the dead. Those over the emperors of the Ming dynasty, about midway between Peking and the Great Wall, and that over Confucius at Khü-fü in Shan-tung, are the best specimens of these which I have seen.
- ↑ It is difficult to explain fully and verify all the statements in this paragraph, for want of evidence. The unit in them is the shǎng (升), or "pint," now = 1.031 litre; the cup, (𝖟io, 爵) contained one shǎng; the khih (觶), three; the kiǒ (角), four; and the san (散), five. The hû (壺) contained one "stone" (石), = 10.310 litre; and the wû (甒) = 51.55. The size of the fâu (缶) is unknown.
