Zuo Hongzhi
Sacrificing in the Mingtang is to teach the princes to be filial; eating the three elders and five changes in the university is to teach the princes' brothers. Sacrificing to the sages in the Western Learning is to teach the princes' virtues; farming is to teach the princes to raise their children; paying homage is to teach the princes' ministers. The five are the great teachings of the world. Eating the three elders and five changes in the university, the emperor strips bare and cuts the animals, holds the sauce and feeds, holds the cup and drinks, and wears the crown and shakes the wine, so as to teach the princes' brothers. Therefore, there are ages in the village, and the old and the poor are not left out, the strong do not bully the weak, and the majority do not oppress the minority. This is due to the university. The emperor set up four schools, and when they enter the school, they will be the elders. The emperor patrols and the princes wait until the end. The emperor foresees the hundred years. Eighty, ninety, and ninety years old: those who go eastwards dare not pass by those who go westwards; those who go westwards dare not pass by those who go eastwards. If you want to talk about politics, the king can go to them. The first order is to be a senior in the village, the second order is to be a senior in the clan, and the third order is not a senior; if there are seventy people in the clan, they dare not go before them. Seventy-year-olds shall not enter the court without a major reason; if they enter the court for a major reason, the king must bow and yield to them, and then to those with titles. When the emperor does good, he yields his virtue to heaven; when the princes do good, he gives it to the emperor; when the ministers do good, they recommend it to the princes; when scholars and common people do good, they give it to their parents and keep it in the elders; and the salaries, titles, celebrations and rewards are given to the ancestral temples; this is to show obedience. In the past, the sages established the relationship between yin and yang, heaven and earth, and established it as the Book of Changes. The Book of Changes holds a tortoise shell and faces south, and the emperor rolls up his crown and faces north. Although he has a clear mind, he must advance and stop his intention. This shows that he dares not monopolize, so as to respect heaven. When he does good, he praises others; when he does wrong, he praises himself. Teach not to boast, so as to respect the virtuous. When a filial son is about to offer sacrifices, he must have a solemn heart to consider matters, prepare clothes and things, repair the palace, and manage all things. On the day of the sacrifice, his face must be warm and his movements must be fearful, as if fear is not as good as love. When he is offering sacrifices, his face must be warm and his body must be bent, as if he is talking but not yet. All the night guests have left, and they stand low and calm, as if they are about to be seen. After the sacrifice, he is happy and calm, as if he is about to go back. Therefore, sincerity and goodness do not violate the body, the ears and eyes do not violate the heart, and thoughts and considerations do not violate the parents. Tie all the hearts, express all the faces, and the art of reflection is the will of the filial son. The god of the country is on the right, and the ancestral temple is on the left.
