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•'II[ l_"
The Analects.
YOLUME II.
BOOK II!.
THE EIGHT DANCERS.
CONCERNING MANNERS AND MUSIC.
CONTENTS OF THE BOOK. As the first Book
treats of Lear_dng and its fundamentals, and the second of
Right Principles of Government, the third proceeds to the
consideration of Ceremonies and Music, those adjuncts of
good government so dear to the heart of Confucius.
CHAPTER I.--USURPATION OF RITES LEADS
TO USURPATION OF RIGHTS. Date circ. 515 B.C.
The _ _ and =_ families were all descendants of Duke
Huan _ B.C. 71o, upon whom permission to use Imperial
rites had been bestowed ; but for a mere cadetAike Chi to
employ them amounted to an assumption of ducal powers,
just as an offering of the Imperial sacrifice to Heaven by
any one but the Emp. would to-day be tantamount to the
assumption of sovereignty. The Comm. say. If he could
bear to do this he could bear to anything ; even to murder
his parent or his prince. As to the ]'k _ there is a
difference of opinion in regard to the number of performers.
C. says some assert that an Emp. had 8 bands of 8 men, a
noble 6 of 6, a minister 4 of 4; and an officer 2 of 2 ;
others that every _ consisted of 8 men. The men waved
t_