《礼记·曾子问》
曾子间道： 大夫的宗庙之祭，各种祭品都已准备妥当，但却不能进行到底，以至中途而废，导致这种情况出现的原因有哪些？ 孔子答道： 原因有九。 
曾子问曰： 大夫之祭，鼎俎既陈，笾豆既设，不得成礼，废者几？ 孔子曰： 九。 
Zisi asked: The Zongmiao (ancestral temple) sacrifice of a Lord was provided with a full set of ritual instruments, yet it could not be completed but was abandoned halfway. What are the reasons for such a situation? Confucius replied: There are nine reasons.