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BOOK XLIII. SHÊ I
OR
THE MEANING OF THE CEREMONY OF ARCHERY".
1. Anciently it was the rule for the feudal lords, when they would practise archery, first to celebrate the ceremony of the Banquet, and for the Great officers and ordinary officers, when they would shoot, first to celebrate the ceremony of the Drinking in the country districts. The ceremony of the Banquet served to illustrate the relation between ruler and subject; that of the District-drinking, to illustrate the distinction between seniors and juniors.
2. The archers, in advancing, retiring, and all their movements, were required to observe the rules. With minds correct, and straight carriage of the body, they were to hold their bows and arrows skilfully and firmly; and when they did so, they might be expected to hit the mark. In this way (from their archery) their characters could be seen!
3. To regulate (the discharging of the arrows), there was,-in the case of the son of Heaven, the playing of the Zàu-yü; in the case of the feudal lords, that of the Li-shâu; in the case of the dignitaries, the Great officers, that of the Zhai-pin; and in the case of officers, that of the Zhài-fan.
1 See introductory notice, vol. xxvii, pages 56, 57.
* Each archer discharged four arrows at the target. According to the account of the duties of the superintendent of archery in
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