Ximen Hongqin
If one is superior to one's elders, one should not ask their age. When meeting a banquet, one should not take orders. When meeting on the road, one should greet the other, but not ask where to go. When attending funerals, one should not express condolences. When serving a gentleman, one should not hold a zither or draw a line on the ground, and one should not move his hands. When sleeping, one should sit and take orders. When serving an archer, one should draw arrows, and when serving a thrower, one should hold arrows. When winning, one should wash and ask for permission, and the same applies to guests. One should not fight or raise a horse. When holding the carriage of the king, one should sit. A servant should wear a sword in his right hand, carry a good rein, extend it to his face, drag the various hats, and let the reins go up, holding the reins before walking. Asking for an audience does not mean asking to leave. In court, one should say "leave", in banquets, one should say "return", and in military service, one should say "stop". When serving a gentleman, if the gentleman yawns, stretches, carries a scepter, cleans the head of the sword, and puts on his shoes, one should ask how early the day is, and even if one asks to leave, one can do so. Those who serve the king should consider before entering, and if not, then consider again; the same applies to those who ask for leave from others and those who work for others. Yes, so the superiors have no resentment, and the subordinates are far from sin. Do not spy on secrets, do not be intimate, do not talk about old times, and do not play with women. As a minister, there is remonstrance without slander, there is loss without anger; praise without flattery, remonstrance without arrogance; if lazy, promote and assist, if abolished, sweep and replace; this is called the service of the state.
