鐔津文集 10.14

10.14

So-and-so, holding the official rank [stated above], respectfully presents this letter to Vice Director Ganzhi: The other day you wished to visit my residence to talk about your new garden, saying its site was exceptionally fine and that you would place your late father's grave within it. Having discussed this with Duke Tianxiu, he was pleased as well. At that time, in our haste, I did not learn the details of your conversation, and I waited for evening to see you again; but as it happened, business prevented our meeting. Although I had heard these words before, I suspected they were merely casual remarks on your part, Ganzhi. Only after hearing it from that high official did I believe that you were truly doing so, Ganzhi, and I was alarmed and surprised, unable to find peace of mind for several days. Alas, Ganzhi, you are renowned for your loyalty and filial piety; for what reason have you suddenly departed from what you have maintained like this? Formerly, you told me that when your late father was on the verge of death, he instructed that his bones be returned to his native place to be buried alongside your worthy mother. At that time, you were earnestly and constantly afraid of violating his final instructions; I thought that your way of serving your father would remain unchanged for your entire life. Yet how could your worthy late father's intention not have been because he had grown up in Feng, and had begotten you and your brothers as southern men, straightforward and lovable? Regarding Feng as his ancestral land was also his wish. The wish to return for burial was to make his descendants cherish the past and not forget their origins. Alas, your worthy father's intention was indeed far-reaching! Even if the spiritual energies of the land in another region were pure and auspicious, able to make one's descendants become generals and ministers the day after burial, how could a filial descendant bear to violate his parents' instructions just to scheme for his descendants? What is more, there is not the slightest chance of such an effect. Ganzhi, you read books without forgetting the Way and righteousness; could you fail to reflect that the Book of Changes speaks of burial merely to take the meaning of generous coverage? Mencius said that a filial son buries his parents simply because he cannot bear to look upon their bodies lying exposed. Coming to the Three Dynasties, they only feared that high and low would usurp ranks, or luxury and frugality would lose their proper place; therefore they created the ritual classics, wishing people to conduct funerals and burials with moderation. I have never heard of seeking mountain and river topography to bury one's parents so as to use it as a means for wealth and nobility. Those who maintain such theories are merely the masters of yin and yang who recklessly fabricate fortune and misfortune to stir up the vulgar world; and the vulgar world, eagerly pursuing wealth and nobility, pays no heed to cultivating virtue, but pell-mell delights in following their doctrines, hoping to fulfill their wishes—is this not delusion? If you, Ganzhi, are worthy and discerning, you ought to stand out and take the sages and worthies of antiquity as your model; how could you drift along with the vulgar? This is what I cannot approve of in you. I have heard that in antiquity there was the Duke of Zhou; as a descendant, he possessed sagely virtue and great achievements, assisting the world without equal for ten thousand generations, which truly resulted from the accumulated virtues of his ancestors over successive generations. Now, if you are scheming for your descendants, Ganzhi, you ought to be mindful of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness; if there is any area where you have not attained them, strive to attain them. Why pay any attention to those trivial theories of the masters of yin and yang? In my heart, I have always marveled at your fine moral integrity and generous nobility, which bear the spirit of the ancients; at this juncture, I greatly fear there may be some flaw in it, and therefore I dare not remain silent on whether it is permissible. It is all the more proper that you reconsider it. If you consider yourself to possess an exceptional view and indeed carry out your intention, that is not something this humble person would dare to know. I await our next meeting to discuss it further. I do not elaborate further.