The family of a woman who has been given in marriage does
not extinguish the light for three nights: [this is because] they are
thinking of the separation. The family [whose son] has taken a
wife does not make music for three days: [this is because] they
are thinking that he [soon] will succeed his father. For this reason
in the ceremony (
li) of marriage, congratulations are not offered,
since the generation of men [is about to change]. After three
months [the bride] is presented in the ancestral temple and announced
as the [newly] arrived wife [of the son]. On the following
day she is presented to her father-in-law and mother-in-law, who
descend from the steps on the west; the bride descends
[2]
from
the steps on the east and is led into her own apartments. Sad
thoughts for three days and abstinence from killing for three
months are due to the feelings of the filial son. Truly ceremony
(
li) is ordered after men's feelings.
The Ode says,[3]
Their mothers have tied their sashes;
Ninety is the number of her ceremonials.[4]
It speaks of the many ceremonials.
