Mencius. Book IV: Lî Lâu. Part I. Chapter XXVI.
Legge's summary: Shun's extraordinary way of contracting marriage justified by the motive.
1. Mencius said, 'There are three things which are unfilial, and to have no posterity is the greatest of them.
2. 'Shun married without informing his parents because of this,-- lest he should have no posterity. Superior men consider that his doing so was the same as if he had informed them.'
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Translated by
James Legge, published in 1861 and revised for publication in 1895. Prepared as etext by Stephen R. McIntyre. Noded by
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