Mencius. Book 2, Part 2, Chapter 7.
Book 2, Kung-Sun Ch'ow. Part 2.
1. Mencius went from Ts'e to Loo to bury his other. On his return to Ts'e, he stopped at Ying, where Ch'ung Yu begged to put a question to him, and said, "Formerly, in ignorance of my incompetency, you employed me to superintend the making of the coffin. As you were then pressed by the urgency of the business, I did not venture to put any question to you. Now, however, I wish to take the liberty to submit the matter. The wood of the coffin, it appeared to me, was too good."
2. Mencius replied, "Anciently, there was no rule for the size of either the inner or the outer coffin. In middle antiquity, the inner coffin was made seven inches thick, and the outer one the same. This was done by all, from the emperor to the common people, and not simply for the beauty of the appearance, but because they thus satisfied the natural feelings of their hearts.
3. "If prevented by statutory regulations from making their coffins in this way, men cannot have the feeling of pleasure. If they have not the money to make them, in this way, they cannot have the feeling of pleasure. When they were not prevented, and had the money, the ancients all used this style. Why should I alone not do so?
4. "And moreover, is there no satisfaction to the natural feeling sof a man, in preventing the earth from getting near to the bodies of his dead?
5. "I have heard that the superior man will not for all the world be niggardly to his parents."
Book 2, Kung-Sun Ch'ow. Part 2.
1. Mencius went from Ts'e to Loo to bury his other. On his return to Ts'e, he stopped at Ying, where Ch'ung Yu begged to put a question to him, and said, "Formerly, in ignorance of my incompetency, you employed me to superintend the making of the coffin. As you were then pressed by the urgency of the business, I did not venture to put any question to you. Now, however, I wish to take the liberty to submit the matter. The wood of the coffin, it appeared to me, was too good."
2. Mencius replied, "Anciently, there was no rule for the size of either the inner or the outer coffin. In middle antiquity, the inner coffin was made seven inches thick, and the outer one the same. This was done by all, from the emperor to the common people, and not simply for the beauty of the appearance, but because they thus satisfied the natural feelings of their hearts.
3. "If prevented by statutory regulations from making their coffins in this way, men cannot have the feeling of pleasure. If they have not the money to make them, in this way, they cannot have the feeling of pleasure. When they were not prevented, and had the money, the ancients all used this style. Why should I alone not do so?
4. "And moreover, is there no satisfaction to the natural feeling sof a man, in preventing the earth from getting near to the bodies of his dead?
5. "I have heard that the superior man will not for all the world be niggardly to his parents."
Footer section, if any
Text source: The Works of Mencius. Translated by James Legge.
Footer section, if any
Footer section, if any