」傳曰：「天王何以不書葬？
The deaths only and not the burials of Sons of Heaven are recorded because the timing of the burial never varied.
天子記崩，不記葬，必其時也。
As for regional lords, both their deaths (zu 卒) and their burials (zang 葬) were recorded because, as long as the Son of Heaven remained alive, the time of burial was not fixed.” What were the fixed periods of time?
諸侯記卒，記葬，有天子在，不必其時也。
A Son of Heaven lay in a temporary coffin for seven days and after seven months was buried.
」必其時奈何？
A regional lord lay in a temporary coffin for five days and after five months was buried.
天子七日而殯，七月而葬。
A court officer lay in a temporary coffin for three days and after three months was buried.
諸侯五日而殯，五月而葬。
Menof-service and commoners lay in a temporary coffin for two days and after two months were buried.
大夫三日而殯，三月而葬。
What was the reason for all this?
士庶人二日而殯，二月而葬。
The answer is this: The rites do not anticipate inauspicious events; only after a person has died are his burial clothes made.
皆何以然？
Only after the clothes have been put on the corpse, the inner and outer layers of the coffin have been prepared, and the pit in which it is to be placed has been dug are the ritual preparations complete.
曰：禮不豫凶事，死而後治凶服。
All branches of the family then assemble for the burial so that the feelings of filial sons and loyal ministers may in some measure be fulfilled.
衣衰飾，脩棺槨，作穿窆宅兆，然後喪文成，外親畢至，葬墳集。
Thus, when Sons of Heaven were buried after seven months, all those who used the same axle widths64 would come.
孝子忠臣之恩厚備盡矣。
When regional lords were buried after five months, all those belonging to the same alliance as the deceased would come.
故天子七月而葬，同軌畢至；諸侯五月而葬，同會畢至；大夫三月而葬，同朝畢至；士庶人二月而葬，外姻畢至也。
When court officers were buried after three months, all their court colleagues would come.
When men-of-service and commoners were buried after two months, all their relations by marriage would come.