維摩經略疏垂裕記 4.112

4.112

Sixteenth, manifesting among palace attendants. Regarding 'palace women': if following the standards of this land, as the Rites of Zhou states: 'The Queen of the Son of Heaven establishes six palaces: three ladies, nine concubines, twenty-seven hereditary wives, and eighty-one concubine-consorts.' Zheng's Commentary states: 'One palace in front, and five palaces in the rear. The five are: one palace for the Queen, one palace for the three ladies, one palace for the nine concubines, one palace for the twenty-seven hereditary wives, and one palace for the eighty-one concubine-consorts. The Queen occupies the rightful position in the inner chambers, her status matching the Heavenly King. The ladies sit and discuss women's ritual deportment, the nine concubines manage instruction in the four virtues, the hereditary wives attend to mourning, sacrifices, and guests, and the concubine-consorts arrange the royal bedchamber. The Han system had fourteen ranks of the rear palace in all: namely, zhaoyi, jieyu, xing'e, ronghua, meiren, bazi, chongyi, qizi, liangren, changshi, shaoshi, wuguan, shunchang, and wujuan; these are the fourteen ranks.' Ban Gu's "Rhapsody on the Western Capital" states: 'The titles of the rear palace numbered fourteen ranks.' This is precisely what is meant. 'Internally giving rise to depraved thoughts': Sengzhao states: 'Alluring bewitchment and depraved adornment are the disposition of women; hence he instructed them with rectitude.' 'The four eightfold paths' refers to the eightfold noble paths of the four teachings.