| | 少仪: |
闻始见君子者，辞曰：“某固愿闻名于将命者。”不得阶主。敌者曰：“某固愿见。”罕见曰：“闻名”。亟见曰：“朝夕”。瞽曰：“闻名”。适有丧者曰：“比”。童子曰：“听事”。适公卿之丧，则曰：“听役于司徒”。 |
| Shao Yi: |
I have heard (the following things): When one wished to see for the first time another of character and position, his language was, 'so and so, earnestly wish my name to be reported to the officer of communication.' He could not go up the steps directly to the host. If the visitor were of equal rank with the host, he said, 'I, so and so, earnestly wish to see him.' If he were an infrequent visitor, he asked his name to be reported. If he were a frequent visitor, he added, 'this morning or evening.' If he were blind, he asked his name to be reported. If it were on an occasion of mourning, the visitor said he had come as a servant and helper; if he were a youth, that he had come to perform whatever might be required of him. If the visit were at the mourning rites for a ruler or high minister, the language was, 'I am come to be employed by the chief minister of the household.' |
| | 少仪: |
君将适他，臣如致金玉货贝于君，则曰：“致马资于有司”；敌者曰：“赠从者”。臣致禭于君，则曰：“致废衣于贾人”；敌者曰：“襚”。亲者兄弟不，以襚进。臣为君丧，纳货贝于君，则曰：“纳甸于有司”。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When a ruler was about to go out of his own state, if a minister were presenting to him money or pieces of jade, or any other article, the language was, 'I present this to the officer for the expenses of his horses.' To an equal in a similar case it was said, 'This is presented for the use of your followers.' When a minister contributed a shroud to his ruler, he said, 'I send this laid-aside garment to the valuers.' An equal, sending such a gift to another equal, simply said, 'a shroud.' Relatives, such as brothers, did not go in with the shrouds which they presented. When a minister was contributing articles or their value to his ruler who had mourning rites on hand for the previous ruler, he said, 'I present these products of my fields to the officers.' |
| | 少仪: |
賵马入庙门；赙马与其币，大白兵车，不入庙门。赙者既致命，坐委之，摈者举之。主人无亲受也。 |
| Shao Yi: |
A carriage and horses presented for a funeral, entered the gate of the ancestral temple. Contributions of money and horses with the accompanying presents of silk, the white flag (of a mourning carriage) and war chariots, did not enter the gate of the temple. When the hearer of the contribution had delivered his message, he knelt down and left the things on the ground. The officer of communication took them up. The presiding mourner did not himself receive them. |
| | 少仪: |
受立，授立不坐。性之直者则有之矣。始入而辞，曰：“辞矣”。即席，曰：“可矣”。排阖说屦于户内者，一人而已矣。有尊长在则否。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When the receiver stood, the giver stood; neither knelt. Parties of a straightforward character might, perhaps, do so. When (the guest was) first entering, and it was proper to give the precedence to him, the officer of communication said (to the host), 'Give precedence.' When they proceeded to their mats, he said to them, 'Yes; be seated.' When the leaves of the door were opened, only one man could take off his shoes inside the door. If there were already an honourable and elderly visitor, parties coming later could not do so. |
| | 少仪: |
问品味曰：“子亟食于某乎？”问道艺曰：“子习于某乎？”、“子善于某乎？”不疑在躬，不度民械，不愿于大家，不訾重器。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When asking about the various dishes (of a feast), they said, 'Have you enjoyed such and such a dish?' When asking one another about their (various) courses and accomplishments they said, 'Have you practised such and such a course? Are you skilful at such and such an accomplishment?' (A man sought to) give no occasion for doubt about himself, nor to pass his judgment on the articles of others. He did not desire the (possessions of) great families, nor speak injuriously of the things which they valued. |
| | 少仪: |
泛扫曰扫，扫席前曰拚；拚席不以鬣。执箕膺擖。 |
| Shao Yi: |
Sweeping in general was called sao. Sweeping up in front of a mat was called fan. In sweeping a mat they did not use a common broom. The sweeper held the dust-pan with its tongue towards himself. |
| | 少仪: |
不贰问。问卜筮曰：“义与？志与？”义则可问，志则否。 |
| Shao Yi: |
There was no divining (twice about the same thing) with a double mind. In asking about what had been referred to the tortoise-shell or the stalks, two things were to be considered, whether the thing asked, about were right, and what was the diviner's own mind. On the matter of right he might be questioned, but not on what was in his own mind. |
| | 少仪: |
尊长于己逾等，不敢问其年。燕见不将命。遇于道，见则面，不请所之。丧俟事不特吊。侍坐弗使，不执琴瑟，不画地，手无容，不翣也。寝则坐而将命。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When others more honourable and older than one's self took precedence of him, he did not presume to ask their age. When they came to feast with him, he did not send to them any (formal) message. When he met them on the road, if they saw him, he went up to them, but did not ask to know where they were going. At funeral rites for them, he waited to observe the movements (of the presiding mourner), and did not offer his special condolences. When seated by them, he did not, unless ordered to do so, produce his lutes. He did not draw lines on the ground; that would have been an improper use of his hand. He did not use a fan. If they were asleep, and he had any message to communicate to them, he knelt in doing so. |
| | 少仪: |
侍射则约矢，侍投则拥矢。胜则洗而以请，客亦如之。不角，不擢马。 |
| Shao Yi: |
At the game of archery, the inferior carried his four arrows in his hand. At that of throwing darts, he carried the four together in his breast. If he conquered, he washed the cup and gave it to the other, asking him to drink. If he were defeated, the elder went through the same process with him. They did not use the (large) horn; they did not remove the (figure of a) horse (for marking the numbers). |
| | 少仪: |
执君之乘车则坐。仆者右带剑，负良绥，申之面，拖诸幦，以散绥升，执辔然后步。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When holding the reins of the ruler's horses, the driver knelt. He wore his sword on his right side with his back to the best strap (for the ruler.). When handing this to him, he faced him and then drew the strap towards the cross-bar. He used the second or inferior strap to help himself in mounting. He then took the reins in hand, and began to move on. |
| | 少仪: |
请见不请退。朝廷曰退，燕游曰归，师役曰罢。 |
| Shao Yi: |
One asked permission to appear at court, but not to withdraw. One was said to withdraw from court; to return home from a feast or a ramble; to close the toils of a campaign. |
| | 少仪: |
侍坐于君子，君子欠伸，运笏，泽剑首，还屦，问日之蚤莫，虽请退可也。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When sitting by a person of rank, if he began to yawn and stretch himself, to turn round his tablet, to play with the head of his sword, to move his shoes about, or to ask about the time of day, one might ask leave to retire. |
| | 少仪: |
事君者量而后入，不入而后量；凡乞假于人，为人从事者亦然。然，故上无怨，而下远罪也。不窥密，不旁狎，不道旧故，不戏色。 |
| Shao Yi: |
For one who (wished to) serve his ruler, (the rule was) first to measure (his abilities and duties), and then enter (on the responsibilities); he did not enter on these, and then measure those. There was the same rule for all who begged or borrowed from others, or sought to engage in their service. In this way superiors had no ground for offence, and inferiors; avoided all risk of guilt. They did not spy into privacies nor form intimacies on matters aside from their proper business. They did not speak of old affairs, nor wear an appearance of being in sport. |
| | 少仪: |
为人臣下者，有谏而无讪，有亡而无疾；颂而无谄，谏而无骄；怠则张而相之，废则扫而更之；谓之社稷之役。 |
| Shao Yi: |
One in the position of a minister and inferior might remonstrate (with his ruler), but not speak ill of him; might withdraw (from the state), but not (remain and) hate (its Head); might praise him, but not flatter; might remonstrate, but not give himself haughty airs (when his advice was followed). (If the ruler were) idle and indifferent, he might arouse and assist him; if (the government) were going to wreck, he might sweep it away, and institute a new one. Such a minister would be pronounced as doing service for the altars (of the state). |
| | 少仪: |
毋拔来，毋报往，毋渎神，毋循枉，毋测未至。士依于德，游于艺；工依于法，游于说。毋訾衣服成器，毋身质言语。言语之美，穆穆皇皇；朝廷之美，济济翔翔；祭祀之美，齐齐皇皇；车马之美，匪匪翼翼；鸾和之美，肃肃雍雍。 |
| Shao Yi: |
Do not commence or abandon anything hastily. Do not take liberties with or weary spiritual Beings. Do not try to defend or cover over what was wrong in the past, or to, fathom what has not yet arrived. A scholar should constantly pursue what is virtuous, and amuse himself with the accomplishments. A workman should follow the rules (of his art), and amuse himself with the discussion (of their application). One should not think about the clothes and elegant articles (of others), nor try to make good in himself what is doubtful in words (which he has heard). The style prized in conversation required that it should be grave and distinct. The demeanour prized in the court required that it should be well regulated and urbane; that at sacrifices was to be grave, with an appearance of anxiety. The horses of the chariot were to be well-paced and matched. The beauty of their bells was that they intimated dignity and harmony. |
| | 少仪: |
问国君之子长幼，长，则曰：“能从社稷之事矣”；幼，则曰：“能御”，“未能御”。问大夫之子长幼，长，则曰：“能从乐人之事矣”；幼，则曰：“能正于乐人”，未能正于乐人”。问士之子长幼，长，则曰：“能耕矣”；幼，则曰：“能负薪”、“未能负薪”。 |
| Shao Yi: |
To a question about the age of a ruler's son, if he were grown up, it was said, 'He is able to attend to the business of the altars.' If he were still young, it was said, 'He is able to drive' or 'He is not yet able to drive.' To the same question about a Great officer's son, if he were grown up, it was said, 'He is able to take his part in music;' if still young, it was said, 'He is able to take lessons from the music-master,' or 'He is not yet able to do so.' To the same question about the son of an ordinary officer, if he were grown up, it was said, 'He is able to guide the plough;' if he were still young, it was said, 'He is able to carry firewood,' or 'He is not yet able to do so.' |
| | 少仪: |
执玉执龟策不趋，堂上不趋，城上不趋。武车不式；介者不拜。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When carrying a symbol of jade, a tortoiseshell, or the divining stalks, one did not walk hastily. Nor did he do so in the raised hall, or on a city wall. In a war chariot he did not bow forward to the cross-bar. A man in his mail did not try to bow. |
| | 少仪: |
妇人吉事，虽有君赐，肃拜。为尸坐，则不手拜，肃拜；为丧主则不手拜。葛绖而麻带。 |
| Shao Yi: |
A wife, on festive occasions, even though it were on receiving a gift from the ruler, (only) made a curtsy. When seated as a personatrix (of the deceased grandmother of her husband), she did not bow with her head to her hands, but made the curtsy. When presiding at the mourning rites, she did not bow with her head to her hands lowered to the ground. (After the sacrifice of repose), her head-band was of dolychos cloth, and her girdle of hempen. |
| | 少仪: |
取俎进俎不坐。执虚如执盈，入虚如有人。凡祭于室中堂上无跣，燕则有之。未尝不食新。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When taking meat from a stand or putting meat on it, they did not kneel. An empty vessel was carried (with the same care) as a full one, and an empty apartment entered (with the same reverence) as if there were people in it. At all sacrifices, whether in the apartment or in the hall, they did not have their feet bare. At a feast they might. Till they had offered a portion in the temple, they did not eat of a new crop. |
| | 少仪: |
仆于君子，君子升下则授绥；始乘则式；君子下行，然后还立。乘贰车则式，佐车则否。贰车者，诸侯七乘，上大夫五乘，下大夫三乘。有贰车者之乘马服车不齿。观君子之衣服，服剑，乘马，弗贾。 |
| Shao Yi: |
In the case of a charioteer and the gentleman whom he was driving, when the latter mounted or descended, the other handed him the strap. When the driver first mounted, he bowed towards the cross-bar. When the gentleman descended to walk, (he also descended), but (immediately) returned to the carriage and stood. The riders in an attendant carriage (to court or temple), bowed forward to the bar, but not if it were to battle or hunt. Of such attendant carriages, the ruler of a state had seven; a Great officer of the highest grade, five; and one of the lowest grade, three. People did not speak of the age of the horses or of the carriages of those who possessed such attendant carriages; nor did they put a value on the dress, or sword, or horses of a gentleman whom they saw before them. |
| | 少仪: |
其以乘壶酒，束修，一犬赐人，若献人，则陈酒执修以将命，亦曰乘壶酒，束修，一犬。其以鼎肉，则执以将命。其禽加于一双，则执一双以将命，委其馀。犬则执绁；守犬，田犬，则授摈者，既受，乃问犬名。牛则执紖，马则执靮，皆右之。臣则左之。 |
| Shao Yi: |
In giving (to an inferior) or offering to a superior, four pots of spirits, a bundle of dried meat, and a dog, (the messenger) put down the liquor, and carried (only) the dried meat in his hand, when discharging his commission, but he also said that he was the bearer of four pots of spirits, a bundle of dried meat, and a dog. In presenting a tripod of flesh, he carried (one piece) in his hand. In presenting birds, if there were more than a couple, he carried a couple in his hand, leaving the others outside. The dog was held by a rope. A watch dog or a hunting dog was given to the officer who was the medium of communication; and on receiving it, he asked its name. An ox was held by the tether, and a horse by the bridle. They were both kept on the right of him who led them; but a prisoner or captive, who was being presented, was kept on the left. |
| | 少仪: |
车则说绥，执以将命。甲若有以前之，则执以将命；无以前之，则袒櫜奉胄。哭则执盖。弓则以左手屈韣执拊。剑则启椟盖袭之，加夫桡与剑焉。 |
| Shao Yi: |
In presenting a carriage, the strap was taken off and carried in the hand of the messenger. In presenting a coat of mail, if there were other things to be carried before it, the messenger bore them. If there were no such things, he took off its covering, and bore the helmet in his hands. In the case of a vessel, he carried its cover. In the case of a bow, with his left hand he stript off the case, and took hold of the middle of the back. In the case of a sword, he opened the cover of its case, and placed it underneath. Then he put into the case a silken cloth, on which he placed the sword. |
| | 少仪: |
笏、书、修、苞苴、弓、茵、席、枕、几、颖、杖、琴、瑟、戈有刃者椟、策、龠，其执之皆尚左手。刀却刃授颖。削授拊。凡有刺刃者，以授人则辟刃。 |
| Shao Yi: |
Official tablets; writings; stalks of dried flesh; parcels wrapped in reeds; bows; cushions; mats; pillows; stools; spikes; staffs; lutes, large and small; sharp-edged lances in sheaths; divining stalks; and flutes - these all were borne with the left hand upwards. Of sharp-pointed weapons, the point was kept behind, and the ring presented; of sharp-edged weapons, the handle was presented. In the case of all sharp-pointed and sharp-edged weapons, the point was turned away in handing them to others. |
| | 少仪: |
乘兵车，出先刃，入后刃，军尚左，卒尚右。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When leaving the city, in mounting a war-chariot, the weapon was carried with the point in front; when returning and entering it again, the end. The left was the place for the general and officers of an army; the right, for the soldiers. |
| | 少仪: |
宾客主恭，祭祀主敬，丧事主哀，会同主诩。军旅思险，隐情以虞。 |
| Shao Yi: |
For visitors and guests the principal thing was a courteous humility; at sacrifices, reverence; at mourning rites, sorrow; at meetings and reunions, an active interest. In the operations of war, the dangers had to be thought of. One concealed his own feelings in order to judge the better of those of others. |
| | 少仪: |
燕侍食于君子，则先饭而后已；毋放饭，毋流歠；小饭而亟之；数噍毋为口容。客自彻，辞焉则止。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When feasting with a man of superior rank and character, the guest first tasted the dishes and then stopt. He should not bolt the food, nor swill down the liquor. He should take small and frequent mouthfuls. While chewing quickly, he did not make faces with his mouth. When he proceeded to remove the dishes, and the host declined that service from him, he stopt. |
| | 少仪: |
客爵居左，其饮居右；介爵、酢爵、僎爵皆居右。羞濡鱼者进尾；冬右腴，夏右鳍；祭膴。凡齐，执之以右，居之于左。赞币自左，诏辞自右。酌尸之仆，如君之仆。其在车则左执辔右受爵，祭左右轨范乃饮。 |
| Shao Yi: |
The cup with which the guest was pledged was placed on the left; those which had been drunk (by the others) on the right. Those of the guest's attendant, of the host himself, and of the host's assistant - these all were placed on the right. In putting down a boiled fish to be eaten, the tail was laid in front. In winter it was placed with the fat belly on the right; in summer with the back. The slices offered in sacrifice (to the father of the fish-diet were thus more easily cut). All condiments were taken up with the right (hand), and were therefore placed on the left. He who received the presents offered (to the ruler) was on his left; he who transmitted his words, on the right. A cup was poured out for the driver of a personator of the dead as for the driver of the ruler. In the carriage, and holding the on the right and left (to the father of charioteering), and then drank off the cup. |
| | 少仪: |
凡羞有俎者，则于俎内祭。 |
| Shao Yi: |
Of all viands which were placed on the stands, the offering was put down inside the stand. |
| | 少仪: |
君子不食圂腴。 |
| Shao Yi: |
A gentleman did not eat the entrails of grain-fed animals. |
| | 少仪: |
小子走而不趋，举爵则坐祭立饮。凡洗必盥。牛羊之肺，离而不提心。凡羞有湇者，不以齐。 |
| Shao Yi: |
A boy ran, but did not walk quickly with measured steps. When he took up his cup, he knelt in offering (some of the contents) in sacrifice, and then stood up and drank (the rest). Before rinsing a cup, they washed their hands. In separating the lungs of oxen and sheep, they did not cut out the central portion of them; when viands were served up with sauce, they did not add condiments to it. |
| | 少仪: |
为君子择葱薤，则绝其本末。 |
| Shao Yi: |
In selecting an onion or scallion for a gentleman, they cut off both the root and top. |
| | 少仪: |
羞首者，进喙祭耳。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When the head was presented among the viands, the snout was put forward, to be used as the offering. |
| | 少仪: |
尊者以酌者之左为上尊。尊壶者面其鼻。饮酒者、禨者、醮者，有折俎不坐。未步爵，不尝羞。 |
| Shao Yi: |
He who set forth the jugs considered the left of the cup-bearer to be the place for the topmost one. The jugs and jars were placed with their spouts towards the arranger. The drinkers at the ceremonies of washing the head and cupping, in presence of the stand with the divided victims on it, did not kneel. Before the common cup had gone round, they did not taste the viands. |
| | 少仪: |
牛与羊鱼之腥，聂而切之为脍；麋鹿为菹，野豕为轩，皆聂而不切；麇为辟鸡，兔为宛脾，皆聂而切之。切葱若薤，实之醯以柔之。其有折俎者，取祭肺，反之，不坐；燔亦如之。尸则坐。 |
| Shao Yi: |
The flesh of oxen, sheep, and fish was cut small, and made into mince. 'That of elks and deer was pickled; that of the wild pig was hashed: these were all sliced, but not cut small. The flesh of the muntjac was alone pickled, and that of fowls and hares, being sliced and cut small. Onions and shalots were sliced, and added to the brine to soften the meat. When the pieces of the divided body were on the stand, in taking one of them to offer and in returning it, they did not kneel. So it was when they made an offering of roast meat. If the offerer, however, were a personator of the dead, he knelt. |
| | 少仪: |
衣服在躬，而不知其名为罔。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When a man had his robes on his person, and did not know their names (or the meaning of their names), he was ignorant indeed. |
| | 少仪: |
其未有烛而有后至者，则以在者告。道瞽亦然。凡饮酒为献主者，执烛抱燋，客作而辞，然后以授人。执烛不让，不辞，不歌。 |
| Shao Yi: |
If one came late and yet arrived before the torches were lighted, it was announced to him that the guests were all there, and who they were. The same things were intimated to a blind musician by the one who bid him. At a drinking entertainment, when the host carried a light, or bore a torch before them, the guests rise and decline the honour done to them. On this he gave the torch to a torchbearer, who did not move from his place, nor say a word, nor sing. |
| | 少仪: |
洗盥执食饮者勿气，有问焉，则辟咡而对。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When one was carrying in water or liquor and food to a superior or elder, the rule was not to breathe on it; and if a question was asked, to turn the mouth on one side. |
| | 少仪: |
为人祭曰致福；为己祭而致膳于君子曰膳；祔练曰告。凡膳告于君子，主人展之，以授使者于阼阶之南，南面再拜稽首送；反命，主人又再拜稽首。其礼：大牢则以牛左肩、臂臑、折九个，少牢则以羊左肩七个，特豕则以豕左肩五个。国家靡敝，则车不雕几，甲不组縢，食器不刻镂，君子不履丝屦，马不常秣。 |
| Shao Yi: |
When one conducted sacrifice for another (and was sending to others the flesh of the victim), the message was, 'Herewith (the flesh of) blessing.' When sending of the flesh of his own sacrifice to a superior man, the party simply announced what it was. If it were flesh of the sacrifice on placing the tablet of the deceased in the temple, or at the close of the first year's mourning, the fact was announced. The principal mourner spread out the portions, and gave them to. his messenger on the south of the eastern steps, bowing twice, and laying his head to the ground as he sent him away; when he returned and reported the execution of his commission, the mourner again bowed twice and laid his head to the ground. If the sacrifice were a great one, consisting of the three victims, then the portion sent was the left quarter of the ox, divided-into nine pieces from the shoulder. If the sacrifice were the smaller, the portion sent was the left quarter, divided into seven pieces. If there were but a single pig, the portion was the left quarter, divided into five portions. |
