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BOOK XXII. KĨ THUNG
OR
A SUMMARY ACCOUNT OF SACRIFICES !.
1. Of all the methods for the good ordering of men, there is none more urgent than the use of ceremonies. Ceremonies are of five kinds, and there is none of them more important than sacrifices. | Sacrifice is not a thing coming to a man from without; it issues from within him, and has its birth in his heart. When the heart is deeply moved, expression is given to it by ceremonies; and hence, only men of ability and virtue can give complete exhibition to the idea of sacrifice.
2. The sacrifices of such men have their own blessing ;—not indeed what the world calls blessing Blessing here means perfection ;—it is the name given to the complete and natural discharge of all duties. When nothing is left incomplete or improperly discharged ;-this is what we call perfection, implying the doing everything that should be done in one's internal self, and externally the performance of everything according to the proper method. There is a fundamental agreement between a loyal subject in his service of his ruler and a filial son in
· See the introduction, vol. xxvii, pp. 37, 38. .
• The five kinds of ceremonies are the Auspicious ( including all acts of religious worship); the Mourning (XI); those of Hospitality (*); the Military (U); and the Festive ( ).
• Success, longevity, the protection of spiritual Beings.
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