The 13th time in A Dream of Red Mansions, Qin Keqing, the most mysterious character in the book, died. Grandfather Jia Zhen lost his son and was buried for his scenery. The four kings and eight lords all came to sacrifice, and the king of Beijing personally came to sacrifice after the court. Jia Zhen and others heard the news and came to meet each other with national courtesy. King Jing of Beijing asked Jia Zheng if he was born with jade. It's complicated to want to see you several times. I think I'm here today, so why not come for a while?

Hearing this, Jia Zheng hurried back, ordered Baoyu to take off his mourning clothes and brought him to see him.

In the funeral system we know today, nobles and elders don't have to wear mourning clothes for the dead. Then, as Qin Keqing's uncle, why did Jia Baoyu wear mourning clothes for his niece? Some people infer from this detail that Qin Keqing is a princess, so Jia Baoyu must wear mourning clothes. So, is this really the case?

This will start with the funeral system in ancient China.

In China's funeral system, it can be divided into five types: Cui, Dagong, and Hippo, with different mourning periods and different thickness.

Close relatives, such as wives and concubines, should serve their husbands, sons and daughters-in-law should serve their parents and in-laws, and unmarried women should serve their parents. Husband to wife, nephew to uncle, married woman to parents, and so on. Should serve Cui Zi; Jia Baoyu made a third-class contribution to the funeral system in Qin Keqing. So Ss listed the funeral system of Dagong in detail.

Dagong is made of coarse cloth and is worn by the following relatives:

1. Cousins and unmarried cousins.

2. For married aunts.

3. For married sisters and younger sisters.

4. Parents treat their daughters-in-law.

5. Grandparents versus grandchildren.

6. Give it to your brother's daughter-in-law.

Qin Keqing is the daughter-in-law of Jia Baoyu's brother Jia Zhen. Therefore, Jia Baoyu should be wearing very accomplished mourning clothes at this time. This has nothing to do with whether Qin Keqing is a princess.

The simplification of the funeral system in China is a sign of the progress of the times. However, if we want to learn ancient works to a certain extent, it is best to have a certain understanding of these ancient systems.