The Questions on the Three-Year Mourning

The system of three years of mourning—on what basis was it established? The answer is: it was established according to feelings of grief and sorrow to formulate ritual forms, thereby distinguishing the gradations of closeness and distance, nobility and baseness. This cannot be arbitrarily increased or decreased. Therefore it is said: this is an unchangeable principle. The greater the wound, the longer the recovery; the deeper the grief, the slower the process of pacification. The three-year mourning period is precisely based on feelings of grief and sorrow to formulate ritual forms, thereby expressing the utmost sorrow. Wearing coarse hemp mourning garments, leaning on a bamboo staff, dwelling in a thatched hut, drinking thin gruel, sleeping on a straw mat, and pillowing on a clod of earth—these are all ritual adornments used to express the utmost sorrow. The three-year mourning period actually ends after twenty-five months. Although grief has not yet completely subsided and longing has not yet been forgotten, the mourning system draws a boundary here. Does this not indicate that seeing off the deceased has a point of termination, and returning to life has a proper measure? All living creatures with blood and breath that exist between heaven and earth certainly have consciousness; creatures with consciousness certainly love their own kind. Now, consider large birds and beasts: if they lose their companion, after a month or a season, they are sure to return and circle about, passing by the old place, hovering and flying, crying and wailing, lingering and not moving on, and only then do they depart. Even down to swallows and sparrows, there will still be a spell of chirping, and only then do they depart. Therefore, among creatures with blood and breath, none is more intelligent than humans. Hence, for their own kin, humans never cease to long for them even unto death. If one were to follow the foolish and evil people, they might bury their parents in the morning and forget them by evening—if they were allowed to do so, they would be inferior even to birds and beasts. How then could they dwell together in community without chaos? If one were to follow the ritual-observing noble man, then the three-year mourning period ends after twenty-five months, the time passing as swiftly as a carriage glimpsed through a crack. But if they were allowed to prolong it, there would be no end. Therefore, the former kings established a moderate standard, unifying the mourning rituals so that they are sufficient to form a proper ritual form, and then brought them to a close.

Yet why is there a system of one year of mourning? The answer is: for those who are closest, one year is the limit. Why is this so? The answer is: heaven and earth have already changed, the four seasons have already turned, and all things between heaven and earth begin anew. Therefore one year is used to symbolize this change. Then why is there a system of three years of mourning? The answer is: that is to make the expression of grief more solemn, therefore the mourning period is doubled, and thus it is set at two full years. Why are there mourning periods of nine months and below? The answer is: that is to indicate that the expression of grief does not extend that far. Therefore, the three-year mourning period represents solemnity; the si and xiao gong mourning periods represent reduction; the one-year and nine-month periods represent what lies between solemnity and reduction. Above, it takes its model from heaven; below, it takes its model from earth; in the middle, it takes its model from humans. The principle by which people are able to dwell together in harmony is fully embodied herein. Therefore, the three-year mourning period is the most perfect ritual form within the Way of humanity—this is called the most solemn ritual system. This has been the same for all successive kings, consistent from ancient times to the present, and no one knows its origin. Confucius said: "A child is born, and only after three years does it leave the embrace of its parents." Therefore, the three-year mourning period is the universal mourning rite under heaven.