33. Soup and boiled grain were used by all, from
the princes down to the common people, without
distinction of degree. Great officers did not regularly
have savoury meat, but when seventy they had
their cupboards. The cupboards of the son of
Heaven were five on the right (of the dining hall),
and five on the left; those of dukes, marquises,
and earls were five, all in one room; those of
Great officers three (in a side chamber), and other
officers had one on their buffet.
Section II.
1. In nourishing the aged[1], (Shun), the lord of Yü, used the ceremonies of a drinking entertainment; the sovereigns of Hsi4, those (at entertainments after) a reverent sacrifice or offering; the men of Yin, those of a (substantial) feast; and the men of Kâu cultivated and used all the three[2].
Those of fifty years were entertained in the schools of the districts; those of sixty, in the school of the capital; and those of seventy, in the college. This rule extended to the feudal states. An old man of eighty made his acknowledgment for the ruler's invitation by kneeling once and bringing his head
to the ground twice. The blind did the same. An
- ↑ Khǎn Hâo says:—The nourishment of the aged took place in four cases: 1st, in the case of the three classes of ancients; 2nd, in that of the father and grandfather of one who had died in the service of the country; 3rd, in that of officers who had retired from age; and 4th, in that of the aged of the common people. On seven occasions of the year it was done formally.
- ↑ On the different designations of the dynasties, see on Confucian Analects, III, 21.
