15. As between husband and wife, it was not until
they were seventy, that they deposited these things in
the same place without separation. Hence though a
concubine were old, until she had completed her
fiftieth year, it was the rule that she should be with
the husband (once) in five days. When she was to do
so, she purified herself, rinsed her mouth and washed,
carefully adjusted her dress, combed her hair, drew
over it the covering of silk, fixed her hair-pins, tied
up the hair in the shape of a horn, brushed the dust
from the rest of her hair, put on her necklace, and
adjusted her shoe-strings. Even a favourite concubine
was required in dress and diet to come after her
superior. If the wife were not with the husband,
a concubine waiting on him, would not venture to
remain the whole nights[1].
16. When a wife was about to have a child, and the month of her confinement had arrived, she occupied one of the side apartments, where her husband sent twice a day to ask for her. If he were moved and came himself to ask about her[2], she did not presume to see him, but made her governess dress herself and reply to him.
When the child was born, the husband again sent twice a day to inquire for her. He fasted now, and did not enter the door of the side apartment. If the child were a boy, a bow was placed on the left
of the door; and if a girl, a handkerchief on the
- ↑ This paragraph has given rise to a great deal of discussion and writing among the commentators, into which it is not desirable to enter.
- ↑ The first character in this clause occasions difficulty to a translator. Zottoli has:—"Negotiisque ipsemet interrogabit illam." Wang Tâo understands it as I have done.
