去卫国寺斋戒三日
“that I should head to Weiguo Temple for a three-day fast.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
于是外臣就想
“Therefore, I was thinking”
去 卫国寺 斋戒三日
“that I should head to Weiguo Temple for a three-day fast.”
求得神佛之力
“I would like to beseech the divine”
Direct spoken expression in this communicative setting.
In imperial China, envoys and officials underwent strict physical and spiritual cleansing ('斋戒') before making petitions to deities or the state to demonstrate utter sincerity.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
fast and purify oneself for three days
A classical and formal collocation referring to ritual purification and abstention from meat/worldly distractions prior to a sacred ceremony.