Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/166

 "Where are you going?' said Зâng-jze; and the man replied, "My father is dead, and I am going to wail for him in the lane." "Return to your apartment," was the reply, "and wail for him there." (The man did so), and Зâng-jze made him a visit of condolence, standing with his face to the north.

3. Confucius said, "In dealing with the dead, if we treat them as if they were entirely dead, that would show a want of affection, and should not be done; or, if we treat them as if they were entirely alive, that would show a want of wisdom, and should not be done. On this account the vessels of bamboo (used in connexion with the burial of the dead) are not fit for actual use; those of earthenware cannot be used to wash in; those of wood are incapable of being carved; the lutes are strung, but not evenly; the pandean pipes are complete, but not in tune; the bells and musical stones are there, but they have no stands. They are called vessels to the eye of fancy; that is, (the dead) are thus treated as if they were spiritual intelligences ."