Tong Ding
Zengzi asked, “In ancient times, when a teacher traveled, did he have to move the temple master?” Confucius said, “When the emperor went on a tour, he moved the temple master and carried him in a Qi carriage, which means that he must have a dignified one. Now, if you take the masters of the seven temples with you, you will lose this. There should be no empty masters in the seven temples and the five temples. The empty masters are only when the emperor dies, the princes die, or leave their countries, and when offering sacrifices to the ancestors, there is no master. I heard from Lao Dan that when the emperor dies or the monarch dies, the celestial priest takes the masters of the temples and hides them in the temples of the ancestors. This is a ritual. After the mourning is over, the masters return to their temples. When the monarch leaves his country, the great minister takes the masters of the temples and follows him. This is a ritual. When offering sacrifices to the ancestors, the celestial priest welcomes the masters of the four temples. The master must ride in a carriage when leaving or entering a temple. Lao Dan said. ”Zengzi asked, “In ancient times, when a teacher traveled, he did not move the master, so who was the master?” Confucius said, “The master commands. ” Asked, “What does it mean?” Confucius said, “When the emperor and the princes are about to go out, they must inform their ancestors with coins, silk, leather and jade, and then carry them out on the Qi carriage. Every time they leave, they offer sacrifices before returning to their homes. When they return, they must inform, set up sacrifices, collect coins and jade, and hide them between the two steps before leaving. This is because of the noble destiny.”
