Qu Li (Summary of the Rites)

曲禮曰：毋不敬，儼若思，安定辭，安民哉！

The Qu Li says: Let there be nothing that is not reverent; be solemn as if deep in thought, and let your speech be settled, and you can bring peace to the people!

敖不可長，欲不可從，志不可滿，樂不可極。

Arrogance must not be allowed to grow, desire must not be indulged, ambition must not be filled to complacency, and pleasure must not be carried to the extreme.

賢者狎而敬之，畏而愛之，愛而知其惡，憎而知其善，積而能散，安安而能遷，臨財毋苟得，臨難毋苟免，很毋求勝，分毋求多，疑事毋質，直而勿有。

Toward a worthy person, be close to him yet revere him, stand in awe of him yet love him; love someone yet know his faults, dislike someone yet know his virtues; be able to gather and also to scatter, be content with ease yet able to change; when facing wealth do not seek it carelessly, when facing danger do not seek to escape it carelessly; in a quarrel do not seek to win, in dividing things do not seek more; on doubtful matters do not pronounce hastily, and be upright without claiming credit.

若夫坐如屍，立如齊，禮從宜，使從俗。

As for sitting, sit upright like the impersonator of the dead; as for standing, stand reverent as in a fast; in ritual follow what is fitting, and on missions follow local custom.

夫禮者，所以定親疏、決嫌疑、別同異、明是非也。

Ritual is what is used to settle closeness and distance, decide doubts, distinguish likeness and difference, and make clear right and wrong.

禮不妄說人，不辭費。禮不踰節，不侵侮，不好狎。

Ritual does not casually please people and does not speak idle words. Ritual does not overstep its bounds, does not encroach upon or insult others, and does not delight in familiarity.

修身踐言，謂之善行；行修言道．禮之質也。

To cultivate oneself and fulfill one's promises is called good conduct; when conduct is cultivated and words accord with the Way, this is the substance of ritual.

禮聞取於人，不聞取人。禮聞來學，不聞往教。

It is heard that in ritual one takes example from others; it is not heard that one imposes ritual on others. It is heard that one comes to learn ritual; it is not heard that one goes to teach it.

道德仁義，非禮不成；教訓正俗，非禮不備；分爭辨訟，非禮不決；君臣、上下、父

The Way, virtue, humaneness, and righteousness cannot be accomplished without ritual; instruction and the correcting of customs are not complete without ritual; settling disputes and lawsuits cannot be decided without ritual; ruler and minister, superior and inferior, father

子、兄弟，非禮不定；宦學事師，非禮不親；班朝治軍，蒞官行法，非禮威嚴不行；禱

and son, elder and younger brothers cannot be settled without ritual; studying for office and serving a teacher are not close without ritual; arranging the court, governing the army, taking office, and enforcing the law would have no authority put into effect without ritual; prayers,

祠、祭祀、供給鬼神，非禮不誠不莊。是以君子恭敬撙節，退讓以明禮。鸚鵡能言，不離飛鳥，猩猩能言，不離禽獸，今人而無禮，雖能言，不亦禽獸之心乎？夫唯禽獸無禮，故父子聚麀，是故聖人作，為禮以教人，使人以有禮，知自別於禽獸。

sacrifices, and offerings to ghosts and spirits would be neither sincere nor solemn without ritual. Therefore the gentleman makes ritual manifest through reverence, restraint, and deference. The parrot can speak, yet does not leave the birds; the orangutan can speak, yet does not leave the beasts. If people today have no ritual, though they can speak, are they not still the hearts of beasts? Just because beasts have no ritual, father and son share a single female. Therefore when the sages arose, they made ritual to teach people, so that people would have ritual and know that they are distinct from beasts.

太上貴德，其次務施報。禮尚往來，往而不來，非禮也，來而不往，亦非禮也。

In highest antiquity people valued virtue; next they devoted themselves to giving and repaying. Ritual esteems coming and going: going without a return is not ritual; coming without going is also not ritual.

人有禮則安，無禮則危，故曰：禮者不可不學也。

A person with ritual is secure; without ritual he is in danger. Therefore it is said: ritual cannot be left unlearned.

夫禮者，自卑而尊人，雖負販者必有尊也，而況富貴乎？

Ritual is to humble oneself and honor others. Even a peddler carrying goods on his back surely has something worthy of respect; how much more the rich and noble?

富貴而知好禮，則不驕不淫；貧賤而知好禮，則志不懾。

If the rich and noble know to love ritual, they are neither arrogant nor licentious; if the poor and lowly know to love ritual, their will is not timid.

人生十年曰幼，學。二十曰弱冠。三十曰壯，有室。四十曰強，而仕。五十曰艾，服官政。六十曰耆，指使。七十曰老，而傳。八十九十曰耄，七年曰悼，悼與耄，雖有罪，不加刑焉。百年曰期頤。大夫七十而致事，若不得謝，則必賜之几杖，行役以婦人，適四方，乘安車，自稱曰老夫，於其國則稱名，越國而問焉，必告之以其制。

A person of ten years is called a youth, and begins to study. At twenty he is called a stripling, and undergoes the capping ceremony. At thirty he is called in his prime, and has a household. At forty he is called strong, and takes office. At fifty he is called an elder, and holds government posts. At sixty he is called an aged one, and directs others. At seventy he is called old, and hands over family affairs. At eighty or ninety he is called very aged; at seven a child is called a young one; the young and the very aged, even if they have committed crimes, are not punished. At a hundred he is called a centenarian, and is cared for and nourished. A grandee at seventy retires from office; if he cannot be excused, he must be given a stool and staff, and on journeys he is accompanied by a woman attendant when on service; when he travels to the four quarters he rides in a comfortable carriage, calls himself 'old fellow,' and in his own state uses his name; if someone from another state comes to ask, he must be told the regulations.

謀於長者，必操几杖以從之。長者問，不辭讓而對，非禮也。

When consulting with an elder, one must carry a stool and staff and follow him. When an elder asks a question, to answer without yielding first is not ritual.

凡為人子之禮，冬溫而夏凊，昏定而晨省，在醜夷不爭。

In the ritual for any son: in winter keep his parents warm and in summer keep them cool; at dusk set out their bedding and in the morning look in on them; and do not quarrel among his peers.

夫為人子者，三賜不及車馬，故州閭鄉黨稱其孝也，兄弟親戚稱其慈也，僚友稱其弟也，執友稱其仁也，交遊稱其信也。見父之執，不謂之進，不敢進，不謂之退，不敢退，不問不敢對，此孝子之行也。

A son who has been granted rank three times but has not yet been given a carriage and horses is called filial by the district and neighborhood, kind by brothers and relatives, brotherly by colleagues, humane by like-minded friends, and trustworthy by associates. On seeing a close friend of his father, if not told to come forward he does not dare advance, if not told to withdraw he does not dare retreat, and if not asked he does not dare reply; this is the conduct of a filial son.

夫為人子者，出必告，反必面，所遊必有常，所習必有業，恆言不稱老。年長以倍則父事之，十年以長則兄事之，五年以長則肩隨之。群居五人，則長者必異席。

A son, when going out must report, and on returning must see his parents face to face; where he roams must have a regular pattern, what he practices must have a learning purpose, and in everyday speech he does not call himself old. One who is twice his age is served as a father, one ten years older as an elder brother, and one five years older he follows side by side but a little behind. When five people live together, the eldest must have a separate mat.

為人子者，居不主奧，坐不中席，行不中道，立不中門，食饗不為概，祭祀不為屍，聽於無聲，視於無形，不登高，不臨深，不苟訾，不苟笑。

A son does not dwell in the southwest corner of the house, does not sit in the middle of the mat, does not walk in the middle of the road, does not stand in the middle of the gate; he does not set limits when serving food, does not act as the impersonator of the dead at a sacrifice, listens for the soundless and looks for the formless, does not climb heights, does not approach depths, does not carelessly slander, and does not carelessly joke or laugh.

孝子不服闇，不登危，懼辱親也。父母存，不許友以死，不有私財。

A filial son does not act in the dark, does not climb dangerous places, for fear of bringing shame to his parents. While his parents are alive, he does not promise to die for a friend and does not own private wealth.

為人子者，父母存，冠衣不純素，孤子當室，冠衣不純採。

A son whose parents are alive does not use white trim on his cap and clothing; an orphan who heads the household does not use colored trim on his cap and clothing.

幼子常視毋誑，童子不衣裘裳，立必正方，不傾聽。長者與之提攜，則兩手奉長者之

To a young child, constantly show by example not to lie. A child does not wear fur garments, and when he stands he must face squarely and does not listen sideways. When an elder takes his hand, he holds the elder's

手，負劍辟咡詔之，則掩口而對。

hand in both of his; when an elder bends his head from the side to speak to him, he covers his mouth with his hand when replying.

從於先生，不越路而與人言。遭先生於道，趨而進，正立拱手，先生與之言則對，不與之言則趨而退。從長者而上丘陵，則必鄉長者所視，登城不指，城上不呼。將適舍，求毋固。將上堂，聲必揚。戶外有二屨，言聞則入，言不聞則不入。將入戶，視必下，入戶奉扃，視瞻毋回，戶開亦開，戶闔亦闔。有後入者，闔而勿遂。毋踐屨，毋踖席，摳衣趨隅，必慎唯諾。

When following a teacher, do not cross the road to speak with others. If you meet the teacher on the road, hurry forward, stand upright with hands folded; if the teacher speaks to you, answer, and if he does not, hurry away. When following an elder up a hill, always face the direction the elder is looking. When climbing a city wall do not point, and on the wall do not shout. When about to arrive at another's lodging, do not be insistent in making requests. When about to ascend the hall, your voice must be raised. If there are two pairs of shoes outside the door, go in if you hear speaking, and do not enter if you do not hear speaking. When about to enter the door, your eyes must be lowered; when entering, hold the door bar with both hands, and do not turn your gaze around; if the door was open leave it open, if it was closed leave it closed. If someone follows behind you, close it but do not shut it tight. Do not step on others' shoes, do not step across mats; lift your garment hem and go to the corner, and be careful in responding and answering.

大夫士出入君門，由闑右，不踐閾。

When grandees and officers enter and leave the ruler's gate, they go along the right side of the doorpost and do not step on the threshold.

凡與客入者，每門讓於客，客至於寢門，則主人請入為席，然後出迎客，客固辭，主人肅客而入。主人入門而右，客入門而左，主人就東階，客就西階。客若降等，則就主人之階，主人固辭，然後客復就西階。主人與客讓登，主人先登，客從之，拾級聚足，連步以上。上於東階，則先右足，上於西階，則先左足。

Whenever one enters together with a guest, yield every door to the guest. When the guest reaches the inner door, the host asks to go in first to lay out the mats, then comes out to welcome the guest. The guest declines repeatedly, and the host leads the guest in. The host enters the door to the right and the guest enters to the left; the host goes toward the eastern steps and the guest toward the western steps. If the guest is of lower rank, he goes toward the host's steps, and the host declines repeatedly, and then the guest goes toward the western steps. The host and guest yield to each other in climbing; the host ascends first and the guest follows, one step at a time with feet together, in connected steps. Going up the east steps, one first puts forward the right foot; going up the west steps, one first puts forward the left foot.

帷薄之外不趨，堂上不趨，執玉不趨。堂上接武，堂下布武，室中不翔，並坐不橫肱。授立不跪，授坐不立。

Outside the curtains and screens do not hurry, in the hall do not hurry, and when holding jade do not hurry. In the hall one's footsteps are close together, below the hall one's footsteps are spread apart; in a room do not walk with arms spread, and when sitting side by side do not stick out your elbows. When handing something to a person standing, do not kneel yourself; when handing something to a person seated, do not stand yourself.

凡為長者糞之禮，必加帚於箕上，以袂拘而退，其塵不及長者，以箕自鄉而扱之。

In the ritual of sweeping for an elder, one must put the broom on the dustpan, shield it with one's sleeve as one withdraws so that the dust does not reach the elder, and collect it with the mouth of the dustpan facing oneself.

奉席如橋衡，請席何鄉，請衽何趾。席南鄉北鄉，以西方為上，東鄉西鄉，以南方為上。

When carrying mats, hold them level like a bridge beam; ask which direction the mat faces, and ask which way the feet of the sleeping mat point. For mats facing south or north, the west is the senior side; for mats facing east or west, the south is the senior side.

若非飲食之客，則布席。席間函丈，主人跪正席，客跪撫席而辭，客徹重席，主人固辭，客踐席，乃坐。主人不問，客不先舉。將即席，容毋怍，兩手摳衣，去齊尺，衣毋撥，足毋蹶。

If the guest has not come for a meal, lay out only a mat. Allow a space of ten feet between mats; the host kneels and straightens the mat, and the guest kneels and touches the mat to decline. The guest removes the doubled mats, and the host declines repeatedly. When the guest has stepped onto the mat, he then sits down. If the host does not ask, the guest does not speak first. When about to take his seat, he does not change his expression, lifts his garment hem with both hands a foot off the ground, does not let his clothes sway, and does not stumble.

先生書策琴瑟在前，坐而遷之，戒勿越。虛坐盡後，食坐盡前。坐必安，執爾顏，長者不及，毋儳言，正爾容，聽必恭，毋剿說，毋雷同，必則古昔，稱先王。

If the teacher's books, zithers, and lutes are in front, move them aside while seated, being careful not to step over them. When seated without a meal, sit as far back as possible; when seated for a meal, sit as far forward as possible. Sit steadily, and keep your expression composed. Do not interject when the elder has not spoken to you. Compose your bearing, listen with respect, do not plagiarize others' words, do not echo others, and always take the ancients as your model and cite the former kings.

侍坐於先生，先生問焉，終則對，請業則起，請益則起。父召無諾，先生召無諾，唯而起。

When sitting in attendance beside a teacher, if the teacher asks, wait until he finishes before answering. When asking about studies, rise; when asking for further instruction, rise. When your father summons you, do not say 'yes' casually; when your teacher summons you, do not say 'yes' casually; simply say 'wei' and rise.

侍坐於所尊，敬毋餘席，見同等不起，燭至起，食至起，上客起，燭不見跋，尊客之前不叱狗，讓食不唾。

When sitting in attendance beside someone you honor, be reverent and do not leave an empty seat. On seeing an equal, do not stand; when a candle is brought in, stand; when food is brought in, stand; when a distinguished guest arrives, stand. Do not look at the base of a candle; do not scold a dog before a respected guest; when declining food, do not spit.

侍坐於君子，君子欠伸，撰杖屨，視日蚤莫，侍坐者請出矣。

When sitting in attendance beside a gentleman, if the gentleman yawns and stretches, picks up his staff and shoes, or looks at the sun to see how early or late it is, the attendant should ask leave to withdraw.

侍坐於君子，君子問更端，則起而對。

When sitting in attendance beside a gentleman, if the gentleman asks about another matter, rise to answer.

侍坐於君子，若有告者曰：少間願有復也，則左右屏而待。

When sitting in attendance beside a gentleman, if someone comes and says: when there is a little leisure I would like to report again, those on the left and right withdraw and wait.

毋側聽，毋噭應，毋淫視，毋怠荒，遊毋倨，立毋跛，坐毋箕，寢毋伏，斂發毋髢，冠毋免，勞毋袒，暑毋褰裳。

Do not listen with your head turned sideways, do not answer in a loud voice, do not let your gaze wander, and do not be lazy or dissolute. When walking do not be arrogant, when standing do not lean to one side, when sitting do not spread your legs like a winnowing basket, and when sleeping do not lie on your stomach. When tying up your hair do not let it hang down like a wig, do not take off your cap, when working do not go bare, and in the heat do not lift up your lower garment.

侍坐於長者，屨不上於堂，解屨不敢當階。就屨，跪而舉之，屏於側。鄉長者而屨，跪而遷屨，俯而納屨。

When attending an elder, do not wear shoes into the hall; and when taking off shoes do not dare place them directly facing the steps. When putting on shoes, kneel to pick them up and withdraw to the side. When putting on shoes facing the elder, kneel and turn the shoes around, and bend down to slip into them.

離坐離立，毋往參焉，離立者不出中間。

If others are sitting apart or standing apart, do not go forward to join them. If people are standing apart, do not walk out between them.

男女不雜坐，不同椸枷，不同巾櫛，不親授。

Men and women do not sit mixed together, do not share clothes racks, do not share kerchiefs and combs, and do not hand things directly to each other.

嫂叔不通問，諸母不漱裳。

Brother's wife and husband's brother do not exchange inquiries; a father's concubine does not wash another's lower garment.

外言不入於捆，內言不出於捆。

Words from outside do not enter beyond the inner threshold, and words from inside do not go out beyond the inner threshold.

女子許嫁，纓，非有大故不入其門。

When a young woman has been promised in marriage, she is tied with a ribbon; unless there is a great reason, one does not enter her door.

姑、姊、妹、女子子，已嫁而反，兄弟弗與同席而坐，弗與同器而食。

A father's sister, an older sister, a younger sister, or one's own daughter who has married and returned: her brothers do not sit on the same mat with her and do not eat from the same vessel with her.

父子不同席。

Father and son do not sit on the same mat.

男女非有行媒，不相知名，非受幣，不交不親。

Unless there is a go-between going back and forth, men and women do not know each other's names; unless betrothal gifts have been accepted, they do not associate or become close.

故日月以告君，齊戒以告鬼神，為酒食以召鄉黨僚友，以厚其別也。

Therefore one informs the ruler by announcing the date, informs ghosts and spirits by fasting, and invites village neighbors, colleagues, and friends by preparing wine and food, in order to deepen the distinction.

取妻不取同姓，故買妾不知其姓則卜之。

In taking a wife, one does not marry someone of the same surname; so when buying a concubine whose surname is unknown, one consults divination.

寡婦之子，非有見焉，弗與為友。

The son of a widow, unless he has understanding, is not to be made a friend.

賀取妻者曰：某子使某，聞子有客，使某羞。

The one who congratulates on a marriage says: Master so-and-so has sent me, so-and-so; hearing that you have guests, he sends me to offer these dishes.

貧者不以貨財為禮，老者不以筋力為禮。

The poor do not use goods and wealth for ritual, and the old do not use physical strength for ritual.

名子者，不以國，不以日月，不以隱疾，不以山川。

In naming a son, do not use the name of a state, do not use the sun or moon, do not use a hidden ailment, and do not use mountains or rivers.

男女異長，男子二十，冠而字。父前子名，君前臣名。女子許嫁，笄而字。

Men and women are ranked by age separately. At twenty a man undergoes the capping ceremony and takes a courtesy name. In front of his father a son uses his own name, and in front of the ruler a minister uses his own name. When a woman is promised in marriage, she undergoes the hairpin ceremony and takes a courtesy name.

凡進食之禮，左殽右胾。食居人之左，羹居人之右。膾炙處外，醯醬處內，蔥渿處末，酒漿處右。以脯修置者，左朐右末。客若降等，執食興辭，主人興辭於客，然後客坐。主人延客祭，祭食，祭所先進，殽之序，遍祭之，三飯，主人延客食胾，然後辯殽，主人未辯，客不虛口。

In the ritual of any meal, on the left is meat on the bone, and on the right is sliced meat. Rice is on a person's left and soup on his right. Minced and roasted meats are placed on the outside, vinegar and sauces on the inside, scallions and garlic at the end, and wine and drinks on the right. In setting out dried meat, the bent part is on the left and the tip is on the right. If the guest is of lower rank, he stands holding the food to decline, the host stands to decline the guest in turn, and then the guest sits. The host invites the guest to offer, and the food is offered in the order served, beginning with what came first, going through the meat on the bone in order, offering to all. After three mouthfuls of rice, the host invites the guest to eat the sliced meat, and then he eats the meat on the bone all around. Until the host has finished eating all around, the guest does not rinse his mouth.

侍食於長者，主人親饋，則拜而食，主人不親饋，則不拜而食。

When attending an elder at a meal, if the host serves personally, bow and eat; if the host does not serve personally, eat without bowing.

共食不飽，共飯不澤手。毋摶飯，毋放飯，毋流歠，毋吒食，毋齧骨，毋反魚肉，毋投與狗骨，毋固獲，毋揚飯。飯黍毋以箸，毋嚃羹，毋絮羹，毋刺齒，毋歠醢。客絮羹，主人辭不能亨。客歠醢，主人辭以窶。濡肉齒決，乾肉不齒決，毋嘬炙。卒食，客自前跪，徹飯齊，以授相者。主人興辭於客，然後客坐。

When eating with others, do not eat to fullness; when eating rice together, do not rub your hands. Do not roll the rice into balls, do not put back into the vessel rice you have handled, do not gulp down drink without stopping, do not chew noisily, do not gnaw bones, do not put fish meat back into the vessel, do not throw bones to the dog, do not take only one dish, and do not fan the rice to cool it. When eating millet do not use chopsticks, do not swallow soup without chewing, do not season the soup, do not pick your teeth, and do not drink the sauce. If the guest seasons the soup, the host says he cannot cook well; if the guest drinks the sauce, the host says his household is poor. Moist meat is bitten through with the teeth, dried meat is not bitten through with the teeth, and do not gulp down roasted meat. When finished, the guest kneels in front of the mat, clears the rice and sauce, and hands them to the attendant. The host stands to decline the guest, and then the guest sits.

侍飲於長者，酒進則起。拜受於尊所，長者辭，少者反席而飲，長者舉未釂，少者不敢飲。長者賜，少者賤者不敢辭。

When attending an elder at wine, rise when wine is brought. At the place of the wine vessel, bow to receive it; if the elder declines, the younger returns to his mat and drinks. If the elder has raised his cup but not finished drinking, the younger does not dare drink. When the elder bestows a drink, a younger or lowly person does not dare decline.

賜果於君前，其有核者懷其核。御食於君，君賜餘，器之溉者不寫，其餘皆寫。

When fruit is bestowed in the ruler's presence, tuck the pits into your bosom if the fruit has pits. When attending the ruler at a meal, if the ruler bestows the leftovers, do not pour out those in vessels that can be washed; pour out the rest.