[24] China.
[25] A prerogative of the Duke of Lu.
[26] A disciple in the service of the Chi.
[27] The loser had to drink a cup of wine.
[28] Tzu-hsia.
[29] Chi was the homeland of the House of Hsia, Sung that of the House of Yin.
[30] Wang-sun Chia was minister of Wei, and had more influence than his master. The hearth-god ranks below the god of the home (the Roman lares), but since he sees all that goes on in the house, and ascends to heaven at the end of the year to report what has happened, it is well to be on good terms with him.
[31] The royal house of Chou, which was then ruling China.
[32] Tremble and chestnut have the same sound in Chinese.
[33] In old times men had been sacrificed at the earth-altars, and Tsai Wo's answer might seem to approve the practice.