Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/367

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SECT. II.
THE QUESTIONS OF 𝖅ǍNG-𝖅ZE.
333

services (to the departed), but not for those of every morning and evening[1]."

11. (𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze asked), "If, when they have begun to remove the coffin, the minister be called to the funeral rites for his father or mother, how should he do?"

Confucius said, "He should go home and wail, and then return and accompany the funeral of the ruler."

12. "If," said (𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze), 'before the ruler has been coffined, a minister be called to the funeral rites for his father or mother, what should be his course?"

Confucius said, "He should go home, and have the deceased put into the coffin, returning (then) to the ruler's. On occasion of the great services, he will go home, but not for those of every morning and evening. In the case of a Great officer, the chief servant of the household will attend to matters; in the case of an ordinary officer, a son or grandson. When there are the great services at the ruler s, the wife of the Great officer will also go there, but not for those of every morning and evening."

13. One in a low position should not pronounce the eulogy of another in a high, nor a younger man that of one older than himself. In the case of the

son of Heaven, they refer to Heaven as giving his


  1. It has been seen that morning and evening offerings to the dead were placed near the coffin. On the first and fifteenth of the month these were on a great scale, and with special observances,—at the new and full moon. They were "the great services." The practice still continues.