Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/345

 

BOOK V. THE QUESTIONS OF 𝖅ĂNG-𝖅ZE^[1].

 

Section I.

1. 𝖅ăng-𝖟ze asked, "If a ruler dies and a son and heir is born (immediately after), what course should be adopted?"

Confucius said, 'The high nobles^[2], Great officers and (other) officers, following the chief (minister), who takes charge of the government for the time, (should collect) at the south of the western steps, with their faces towards the north^[3]. (Then) the Grand officer of prayer, in his court robes and cap, bearing in his hands a bundle of rolls of silk, will go up to the topmost step, and (there), without ascending the hall, will order the wailing to cease. Mournfully clearing his voice three times^[4], he will make announcement (to the spirit of the deceased ruler), saying, "The son of such and such a lady has been born. I venture to announce the fact." He will then go up, and place the silks on a stool on the east of the body in the coffin^[5], wail, and descend.

All the relatives of the deceased who are there (at the mourning), the high nobles, the Great and other

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1. See the introduction, pp. 21, 22.
2. These were also ministers; see paragraph 4, page 213.
3. The usual place was at the eastern steps.
4. To call the attention of the spirit of the deceased.
5. The rolls of silk were, I suppose, the introductory present proper on an interview with a superior.