The Four Chinese Classics by Lao Tzu

Author:Lao Tzu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pandora's Box
Published: 2018-11-20T00:00:00+00:00

7: Tzu-kung seeing Lao Tzu

Tzu-kung said,

‘So then, can (this) man indeed sit still as a representative of the dead, and then appear as the dragon? Can his voice resound as thunder, when he is profoundly still? Can he exhibit himself in his movements like heaven and earth? May I, Zhze, also get to see him?’

Accordingly with a message from Confucius he went to see Lao Tan.

Lao Tan was then about to answer (his salutation) haughtily in the hall, but he said in a low voice,

‘My years have rolled on and are passing away, what do you, Sir, wish to admonish me about?’

Tzu-kung replied,

‘The Three Kings and Five Tis ruled the world not in the same way, but the fame that has accrued to them is the same. How is it that you alone consider that they were not sages?’

‘Come forward a little, my son. Why do you say that (their government) was not the same?’

‘Yao,’ was the reply, ‘gave the kingdom to Shun, and Shun gave it to Yü. Yü had recourse to his strength, and Tang to the force of arms. King Wän was obedient to Kâu (-hsin), and did not dare to rebel; king Wu rebelled against Kâu, and would not submit to him. And I say that their methods were not the same.’

Lao Tan said,

‘Come a little more forward, my son, and I will tell you how the Three Hwangs and the Five Tis ruled the world. Hwang-Ti ruled it, so as to make the minds of the people all conformed to the One (simplicity). If the parents of one of them died, and he did not wail, no one blamed him. Yao ruled it so as to cause the hearts of the people to cherish relative affection. If any, however, made the observances on the death of other members of their kindred less than those for their parents, no one blamed them. Shun ruled it, so as to produce a feeling of rivalry in the minds of the people. Their wives gave birth to their children in the tenth month of their pregnancy, but those children could speak at five months; and before they were three years old, they began to call people by their surnames and names. Then it was that men began to die prematurely. Yü ruled it, so as to cause the minds of the people to become changed. Men’s minds became scheming, and they used their weapons as if they might legitimately do so, (saying that they were) killing thieves and not killing other men. The people formed themselves into different combinations; — so it was throughout the kingdom. Everywhere there was great consternation, and then arose the Literati and (the followers of) Mo (Ti). From them came first the doctrine of the relationships (of society); and what can be said of the now prevailing customs (in the marrying of) wives and daughters? I tell you that the rule of the Three Kings and Five Tis may be called by that name, but nothing can be greater than the disorder which it produced.

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