三教平心論 2.9

2.9

In his 'Stele for the Confucius Temple in Chuzhou', he states: 'The altars to the Soil and Grain are not enclosed by walls and roof, so how could they compare to Confucius's imposing presence presiding over his seat?' Yet he did not reflect that the Soil and Grain are used to communicate the vital energies of Heaven and Earth; it is precisely because they are not roofed over that their open altars are revered. It was only the Soil altar of a conquered state that was roofed, to show that yang was cut off and yin was communicated, which was in fact its disgrace. Yet Yu took the fact that the Soil and Grain have no roof as being inferior to the glory of Confucius possessing a roof; is this not extremely contrary to principle? Yu's ignorance of the classics is like this.