The Three Rites Canons

Name: Instructor: Institution: Date: THE THREE RITES CANONS Introduction One feature that distinguishes China from the rest of the world is how her activities are based on rituals. One source for the rituals are the “three rites canons” that explain the structures and behaviors of an ideal society. However, just like other canons, the three rites canons have contentious issues that need clarification. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to give a summary of the three rites canons and raise a point of contention. Summary The three rites canons are made up of the; Yili, Liji, and Zhouli which describe more than three hundred major rules and three thousand minor rules. The Yili asserts the importance of ceremonies such as marriage and passage from puberty to adulthood and explains how rituals should be done during such ceremonies. On the other hand, the Zhouli uses the reign of the Duke of Zhou...