Sacred Books of the East Vol. 40 - Taoism Vol. 2

{fn. 3. Assigned variously. Probably the mount Yû in the 'Tribute of Yû,'-a hill in the present department of Tang-kâu, Shan-tung.} {fn. 4. The same phraseology occurs in Bk. XI, par. 5; and also in the Shih, II, vi, i, q. v.} {fn. 5. That is, abundant harvests. The {img 07400} of the common text should, probably, be {img 07401}.} {p. 75} unite in blessing him as the representative of our departed (whom we worship), and raise an altar to him as we do to the spirit of the grain{fr. 1}?' Käng-sang heard of it, kept his face indeed to the south{fr. 2} but was dissatisfied. His disciples thought it strange in him, but he said to them, 'Why, my disciples, should you think this strange in me? When the airs of spring come forth, all vegetation grows; and, when the autumn arrives, all the previous fruits of the earth are matured. Do spring and autumn have these effects without any adequate cause? The processes of the Great Tâo have been in operation. I have heard that the Perfect man dwells idly in his apartment within its surrounding walls{fr. 3}, and the people get wild and crazy, not knowing how they should repair to him. Now these small people of Wei-lêi in their opinionative way want to present their offerings to me, and place me among such men of ability and virtue. But am I a man to be set up as such a model? It is on this account that I am dissatisfied when I think of the words of Lâo Tan{fr. 4}.'