Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/352

 sacrifices in his inner garment of soft silk, and there is not that drinking all round. The cup is set down beside the guests, but they do not take it up. This is the rule. Formerly duke Kâo of Lû, while in that silken garment, took the cup and sent it all round, but it was against the rule; and duke Hâo, at the end of the second year s mourning, put down the cup presented to him, and did not send it all round, but this also was against the rule."

13. 𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze asked, "In a case (of the) mourning for nine months, can (the principal) take part in contributing to the offerings (to the dead of others)?"

Confucius said, "Why speak only of (the mourning for) nine months ? In all cases from (the mourning for) three years downwards, it may be done. This is the rule."

𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze said, "Would not this be making the mourning of little importance, and attaching (undue) importance to mutual helpfulness?"

Confucius said, "This is not what I mean. When there is mourning for the son of Heaven or the prince of a state, (all) who wear the sackcloth with the jagged edges (will contribute to) the offerings. At the mourning of a Great officer, (all) who wear the sackcloth with the even edges will do so. At the mourning of an ordinary officer, his associates and friends will do so. If all these be not sufficient, they may receive contributions from all who should mourn for nine months downwards; and if these be still insufficient, they will repeat the process ."