问《律吕新书》。
先生曰：「学者当务为急，算得此数熟亦恐未有用，必须心中先具礼、乐之本，方可。且如其书说多用管以候气，然至冬至那一刻时，管灰之飞或有先后[1]，须臾之间，焉知那管正值冬至之刻？须自心中先晓得冬至之刻始得。此便有不通处。学者须先从礼、乐本原上用功。」
有人问《律吕新书》。
先生说：「学者应以当务之急为先，把这些音律之数算得再熟恐怕也没有用，必须心中先具备礼乐的根本才可以。况且那书说多用律管候气，可是到了冬至那一刻，管灰的飞扬或有先后，顷刻之间，怎么知道哪一根管正对着冬至之刻？必须自己心中先晓得冬至的时刻才行。这便有讲不通的地方。学者必须先从礼乐的本原上用功。」
Someone asked about the New Treatise on Pitch-pipes.
The Master said: 'Learners must set pressing duties first; calculating these numbers ever so skillfully may still be useless — one must first possess the root of rites and music in the heart. Moreover, the book's method waits on the breath with pipes, but at the very moment of the winter solstice the pipe ashes may fly sooner or later; within that instant, how do you know which pipe marks the solstice's exact point? One must first know the solstice moment in one's own mind. Here it breaks down. Learners must first work at the root-source of rites and music.'
- 古代以芦草薄膜之灰置于律管，以占气候。如冬至节，律中黄钟之宫，则黄钟管之芦灰飞动。