- Sahng-jeh-nim’s Ancestral Offerings
- 1 At Hyung-yul’s house, when Sahng-jeh-nim offered ancestral memorial rites on Chu-suk and the Lunar New Year, He prepared a food table on the wooden floor outside the room rather than in the yard.
- 2 On those festive days, Hyung-yul’s household busily prepared two offerings.
- 3 Once, thinking it was strange that Sahng-jeh-nim’s offering was made outside the room, Ho-yun said, “Why do You, who can use heaven and earth’s power of creative change, do this? Oh, I know why.”
- 4 “If you know why, tell Me,” said Sahng-jeh-nim.
- 5 “You are not offering ancestral memorial rites at Your own house, and You cannot do it in a room of someone else’s house.”
- 6 “That sounds reasonable,” Sahng-jeh-nim said. “How could one person’s ancestors come and eat at another person’s house without being acquainted with the guardian spirits of that house? Though you are young, you know the reasons behind things.”
- 7 He added, “If I were in My own house, I would make an offering inside a room; but in My work, I travel around the world. How can I pay proper homage to My ancestors?”
- (JSD Dojeon 9,38)