Page:Zhuang Zi - translation Giles 1889.djvu/230

196 into confusion. And to attempt to correct others while one's own virtue is clouded, is to set one's own virtue a task for which it is inadequate, the result being that the natural constitution of the object will suffer.

Primeval man enjoyed perfect tranquillity throughout life. In his day, the Positive and Negative principles were peacefully united; spiritual beings gave no trouble; the four seasons followed in due order; nothing suffered any injury; death was unknown; men had knowledge, but no occasion to use it. This may be called perfection of unity.


 * All things, all conditions, were.

At that period, nothing was ever made so; but everything was so.

By and by, virtue declined. Sui Jen


 * The Prometheus of China.

and Fu Hsi


 * See ch. vi.

ruled the empire. There was still natural adaptation,


 * Of man to his surroundings.

but the unity was gone.


 * The tide of coercion had set in.

A further decline in virtue. Shên Nung


 * The inventor of agriculture.

and Huang Ti


 * The Yellow Emperor. See ch. vi.