I will keep my room neat, my walls uncluttered and clean, my desk tidy and my brush28 and inkstone29 properly placed. If my ink block30 is ground unevenly, it shows I have a poor state of mind. When words are written carelessly, showing no respect, this shows my state of mind has not been well. My books31 should be classified, placed on the bookshelves, and in their proper places. After I finish reading a book, I will put it back where it belongs.
28 “Brush” here means Chinese writing brush.
29 “Inkstone” is a stone stand used for preparing the ink used in Chinese brush calligraphy.
30 “Ink block” is a solid ink piece. A person grinds it with water against the inkstone to make ink for writing Chinese brush calligraphy.
31 Here the term “books” refers to books on laws, constitutions, and the organizational systems of a nation.