Cao Ji
Sacrifices should not be frequent, as frequent sacrifices will lead to trouble, and trouble will lead to disrespect. Sacrifices should not be frequent, as frequent sacrifices will lead to laziness, and laziness will lead to forgetfulness. Therefore, a gentleman should follow the way of heaven: Spring sacrifices and autumn tastings. When frost and dew have fallen, a gentleman will feel sad when walking on them, not because of the cold. In spring, when rain and dew have wetted, a gentleman will feel terrified when walking on them, as if he is about to see it. Music is used to welcome, and sorrow is used to send off. Therefore, there is music in the sacrifices but no music in the tastings. Bring harmony inside and disperse harmony outside. On the day of the sacrifices: think about where he lives, think about his laughter, think about his aspirations, think about what he enjoys, and think about what he likes. After three days of sacrifices, you can see what he has done for harmony. On the day of sacrifice: when entering the room, one must see the position; when going out of the door, one must hear the voice; when going out of the door, one must hear the sigh. Therefore, the filial piety of the ancient kings is that the color does not forget the eyes, the sound does not stop in the ears, and the desires of the heart do not forget the heart. If you love, it will be preserved; if you are sincere, it will be remembered. If it is preserved and not forgotten in the heart, how can you not be respectful? A gentleman respectfully supports when he is alive and respectfully offers sacrifices to his dead, thinking that he will not be humiliated throughout his life. A gentleman has a lifelong mourning, which is the meaning of the anniversary of the death. Not using the anniversary of the death is not a bad omen. On the day of the death, one's mind is to reach a certain point, but he dare not use his private interests to the fullest. Only the sage can offer sacrifices to the emperor, and the filial son can offer sacrifices to his parents. Offering sacrifices means to pay respect. After paying respect, one can offer sacrifices. Therefore, the filial son does not feel ashamed when he is in front of the corpse. The king leads the sacrifice, and the lady offers the bowl. The king offers the corpse, and the lady offers the rice. The ministers assist the king, and the women assist the lady. Be respectful, be loyal, and be happy. Don't be too eager to entertain. King Wen's sacrifice: treat the dead as if they were alive, think of the dead as if they didn't want to live, mourn on the anniversary of the death, and mention the taboo as if you saw your parents. The loyalty of the sacrifice is like seeing the loved ones of the parents, and like the desire to express it; is it King Wen? The Book of Songs says: "I wake up in the morning and can't sleep, I have two people in my mind." This is King Wen's poem. The day after the sacrifice, I wake up in the morning and can't sleep, and I offer it to the deceased, and then I think about it. On the day of the sacrifice, there is half joy and half sorrow; the feast must be joyful, and the arrival must be sorrowful.
