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BOOK XIV. TA KHÂN
OR THE GREAT TREATISE 1. 1. According to the rules, only the king offered the united sacrifice to all ancestors. The chief place was then given to him from whom the founder of the line sprang, and that founder had the place of assessor to him?
The sacrifices of the princes of states reached to their highest ancestor. Great officers and other officers, who had performed great services, when these were examined (and approved) by the ruler, were able to carry their sacrifices up to their high ancestor.
2. The field of Mo-yeh was the great achievement of king Wû. When he withdrew after the victory, he reared a burning pile to God; prayed at the altar of the earth; and set forth his offerings in the house of Mûs. He then led all the princes of the kingdom, bearing his offerings in their various stands, and hurrying about, and carried the title of king back to Thâi who was Than-fû, Kl-li, and king Wăn who was Khang ;-he would not approach his honourable ancestors with their former humbler titles.
See the introductory notice, vol. xxvii, pages 30, 31. ? See the last Book, I, paragraphs 9, 17, et al.
: I suppose that all which is here described was done by king Wa after his victory at Mů, under the advice of his brother, known to us as the duke of Kâu; see the Kung Yung, paragraphs 54, 55. * The house of MQ' would be a building converted for the occasion into a temple.
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