《礼记·杂记上》
吊者入门，主人从昨阶升堂，面向西；吊者从西昨升堂，面向东，表达来意说： 敝国国君听到贵国国君去世的噩耗，非常悲痛，特派我来表示他对此不幸的哀悼。 
吊者升自西阶，东面，致命曰： 寡君闻君之丧，寡君使某，如何不淑！ 
The mourner enters the door, the host ascends the hall from the east steps, faces west; the mourner ascends the hall from the west steps, faces east, and states his purpose: After hearing the tragic news of the passing of the king of your country, my king was very grieved, and specially dispatched me to express his condolences about this unfortunate event.