Han shih wai chuan Han Ying's Illustrations of the didactic application of the Classic of songs |
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 | CHAPTER III Han shih wai chuan |  |
11-12[1]
Tradition tells us that, if the rites (li) of mourning and sacrificing
are neglected, then subjects and sons will be lacking in
gratitude. If subjects and sons are lacking in gratitude, then those
who repudiate the dead and forget the living[2]
will be many. The
"Hsiao-ya" says,[3]
Never fail to perpetuate these services!
If human affairs are well ordered,[4]
then they are in conformity
with the spirits. When they are in conformity with the spirits,
then blessings sent down [by Heaven] reach elsewhere.[5]
The Ode
says,[6]
Thus increasing our bright happiness
Li chi 50.5b-6a (Legge 2.259) and TTLC 2.1a-b both include this passage in a
longer argument: "Thus if the ritual of marriage were discontinued, the path of
husband and wife would be embittered, and there would be many offences of licentiousness
and depravity. If the ritual of drinking ceremonies at country feasts were discontinued,
the order between old and young would be neglected, and quarrelsome litigations
would be numerous.... If the ritual of friendly messages and court attendances were
discontinued, the positions of ruler and subject would fall into disuse, the conduct of
the feudal princes would be evil, and the ruin wrought by rebellion, encroachment,
and oppression would ensue." HSWC varies slightly by repeating [OMITTED]
Since this represents a clarification of the text, I would assume the version represented
in the two Li collections to be the older.
Chao Yu-wen (110) would emend [OMITTED] to [OMITTED] "forget their ancestors," as
suggested by Wang Nien-sun.
That this does not properly begin a new paragraph is apparent from the atypical
quotation from the "Hsiao-ya," and the fact that the Ode quoted below is a non
sequitur if limited to these lines. Note also the numerical sequence from § 10: 280-291.
I have kept the usual number of paragraphs to facilitate reference to the various
editions and to Chao.
| CHAPTER III Han shih wai chuan | |