Sima Qifeng
The ceremony of shooting at the betrothal is the greatest ceremony. It is performed when the weather is bright, and the ceremony is completed when the day is almost up. It cannot be performed without a strong person. Therefore, a strong person will perform the rites. When the wine is clear, people will not dare to drink when they are thirsty; when the meat is dry, people will not dare to eat when they are hungry; when the day is not over, people will be solemn and upright, and will not dare to be lazy. To complete the rites, to correct the ruler and his subjects, to be close to fathers and sons, and to reconcile the old and the young. This is difficult for ordinary people, but gentlemen perform it, so it is called having rites; having rites is called having righteousness, and having righteousness is called courage. Therefore, what is valuable in courage is that it can establish righteousness; what is valuable in establishing righteousness is that it has rites; what is valuable in having rites is that it performs rites. Therefore, what is valuable in courage is that it dares to perform rites and righteousness. Therefore, a brave and strong person, when there is no trouble in the world, uses it in propriety and righteousness; when there is trouble in the world, uses it in victory. If used in victory, there will be no enemy; if used in propriety and righteousness, there will be order and harmony; no enemy outside, and order and harmony inside, this is called great virtue. Therefore, the sage king values bravery and strength in this way. If bravery and strength are not used in propriety and righteousness to win, but used in fighting, it is called chaos. When punishment is carried out in the country, those who are punished are chaos. In this way, the people will be governed and the country will be safe.
