| Zhong and Li: |
The descendants of Bo Yi of the Qin were the protectors of the feudal lords, but suddenly they swallowed up all under Heaven. Why did King Nan of Zhou to restrict their expansion.
Yangzi replied: The Son of Heaven restricts dukes, marquis, earls, viscounts and barons using rules of ceremony. In the rules of ceremony there is no fault greater than usurpation. In usurpation, no fault is greater those than in making sacrificial offerings. In making offerings, there is nothing more important than the place of the ceremony, and in the place of the ceremony, nothing is more important than choosing a place to sacrifice to Tian. This being so, Duke Xiang, Duke Wen, Duke Xuan and Duke Ling built their temples. In the past, Duke Xiang usurped the Western Alter and made offerings to the White Emperor. Dukes Wen, Xuan and Ling built temples at Fu, Mi, Shang and Xia to sacrifice to the Four Deities. The Son of Heaven did not rectify this, and to the contrary, wrongly made offerings to King Wen and King Wu. As a result, all within the four boundaries used their power to encroach upon each other, tearing apart flesh and bone. How could King Nan alone control the Qin? |
