Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 27.djvu/39

 Mayers adds, that on the completion of the work, Lü Pû-wei suspended 1000 pieces of gold at the gate of his palace, which he offered as a reward to any one who could suggest an improvement of it by adding or expunging a single character.

Such was the origin of the Yüeh Ling. We do not know who compiled it from the Khun Khiû of Lü, but it was first received into the Lî Kî by Mâ Yung. It can be explained only by noting the Khin peculiarities in the names of titles and other things. It is in itself full of interest, throwing light on the ancient ways and religious views, and showing how the latter more especially came to be corrupted by the intrusion among them of Tâoistic elements.

The Book has sometimes been called "A Calendar of the Months of Kâu." Callery translates the name Yüeh Ling by "Attributs des Mois." My own translation of it is after Kǎng Hsüan, who says, "The Book is called Yüeh Ling, because it records the proceedings of Government in the twelve months of the year."

This Book is named from the first three characters in it, meaning "The Questions of 𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze." Most of the different paragraphs or chapters in the two Sections of it commence in the same way. It is not found at all in the expurgated editions of the classic.

𝖅ǎng-𝖟ze, or Mr. 𝖅ǎng, about fifty years younger than Confucius, was one of the chief disciples of his school, perhaps the ablest among them. He was distinguished for his filial piety, and straightforward, honest simplicity.