| | 曾子問: |
曾子問曰：「三年之喪，吊乎？」 |
| Zengzi Wen: |
Zeng-zi asked, 'May one, wearing the three years' mourning for a parent, go to condole with others?' |
| | |
孔子曰：「三年之喪，練，不群立，不旅行。君子禮以飾情，三年之喪而吊哭，不亦虛乎？」 |
| |
Confucius said, 'On the completion of the first of the three years, one should not be seen standing with others, or going along in a crowd. With a superior man the use of ceremonies is to give proper and elegant expression to the feelings. Would it not be an empty form to go and condole and wail with others, while wearing the three years' mourning?' |
