Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/21



&emsp;1. Confucius said, "It is by the Odes that the mind is aroused; by the Rules of Propriety that the character is established; from Music that the finish is received " On another occasion he said, "Without the Rules of Propriety, respectfulness becomes laborious bustle; carefulness, timidity; boldness, insubordination; and straightforwardness, rudeness ."

These are two specimens of the manner in which Confucius expressed himself. about the Lî, the Rules of Propriety or Ceremonial Usages, recognised in his time. It is a natural inference from his language that there were Collections of such Rules which could be read and studied; but he does not expressly say so.

The language of Mencius was more definite. In at least two passages of his works we find the usual form of quotation Lî Yüeh, "The Lî says " which, according to the analogy of Shih Yüeh, "The Shih King, or Book of Poetry, says," might be rendered, [27]