The Book of Filial Duty, by Ivan Chen, [1908], at sacred-texts.com
The Book of Filial Duty, by Ivan Chen, [1908], at sacred-texts.com
THE FILIAL DUTY OF HIGH OFFICERS
If we do not put on such dress as our good Emperors of old would forbid, if we do not speak such words as they would forbid, and if we do not behave ourselves in such a way as they would forbid, then we shall be always right in what we say and what we do. If so, then nobody
will be able to find fault with our words or with our deeds, and therefore we shall be able to keep our family from being visited with any serious misfortune, and to offer sacrifices to our ancestors for ever. This is the filial duty of a high officer.
In the Shih Ching it is thus written: "Be diligent every minute to attend upon the one person " (meaning the Emperor).