faces towards the elder, (they stand) by the shoes, which they then, kneeling, remove (some distance), and, stooping down, put on[1].
6. 30. When two men are sitting or standing together, do not join them as a third. When two are standing together, another should not pass between them. 31. Male and female should not sit together (in the same apartment), nor have the same stand or rack for their clothes, nor use the same towel or comb, nor let their hands touch in giving and receiving. 32. A sister-in-law and brother-in-law do not interchange inquiries (about each other). None of the concubines in a house should be employed to wash the lower garment (of a son)[2]. 33. Outside affairs should not be talked of inside the threshold (of the women's apartments), nor inside (or women's) affairs outside it. 34. When a young lady is promised in marriage, she wears the strings (hanging down to her neck)[3]; and unless there be some great occasion, no (male) enters the door of her apartment[4]. 35. When a married aunt, or sister, or daughter returns home (on a visit), no brother (of the family) should sit with her on the same mat or eat with her from the same dish. (Even) the father and daughter should not occupy the same mat[5].
36.
- ↑ The host would be seeing the visitors off, and therefore they would keep their faces towards him.
- ↑ Concubines might be employed to wash clothes; delicacy forbade their washing the lower garments of the sons.
- ↑ Those strings were symbolic of the union with and subjection to her husband to which she was now pledged.
- ↑ Great sickness or death, or other great calamity, would be such an occasion.
- ↑ This is pushing the rule to an extreme. The sentence is also (but wrongly) understood of father and son.
