Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature
This chapter rejects lavish burials and long mourning. It argues they drain wealth, cut population and breed chaos, cites sage kings’ simple tombs, and advocates minimalist funerals to benefit both the living and deceased.
This article explains why pragmatic statesman Yan Ying blocked Duke Jing of Qi’s appointment of Confucius. He criticized Confucian complex rituals, costly lavish burials, impractical scholars, and abstract theories, clashing ideal Confucian ritual governance with Qi’s frugal, down-to-earth ruling demands.