Book of Rites I read

Author: Lin Gongshun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The Book of Rites is named as such because it records matters of ritual propriety. However, what is ritual? It is the means to serve deities and seek blessings. The Book of Songs, the Book of Documents, the Book of Changes, and the Book of Rites all interpret "ritual" as "to act accordingly." Thus, when sacrificing to heaven, earth, and human spirits, one must rectify the mind and sincerely intend, dress in fine attire, and genuinely practice, only then can it be called having ritual. Opening the table of contents of the Book of Rites, the first chapter is "Etiquette of Curvature," which sets forth the fundamental principle that one should bow in curvaceous form as a mark of ritual. This is why ancient scholars wrote the character for "etiquette" () in a curved shape, resembling a person bowing in reverence. The next is "The Bow of Sandalwood," which refers to a bow made of sandalwood—a noble object used for warfare. The Bow of Sandalwood is praised for its mastery of ritual propriety, and Confucius considered it to understand ritual, hence naming it "Yang Ju." The following is "The Monthly Ordinances," which records the changes of yin and yang throughout the year, divided into four seasons and twelve months, serving as a guide for implementing proper orders. Traditional Chinese culture places the highest emphasis on "ritual," and the Book of Rites is a book that records all matters of ritual propriety. This book interprets several chapters, including "Upper Curvature Etiquette," "Lower Curvature Etiquette," "Upper Sandalwood Bow," "Lower Sandalwood Bow," the Doctrine of the Mean, and the Great Learning. Author Lin Gongshun, having inherited family learning from a young age, has dedicated decades to studying and practicing the classics, and his words often convey insights that others have not expressed.