The Outline asked the Shadow, ‘A few minutes ago you were looking down, now you are looking up; a few minutes ago your hair was piled up, now it is hanging down; a few minutes ago you were sitting down, now you are standing up; a few minutes ago you were walking, now you are standing still. Why?’
Shadow said, ‘Petty! Petty! Why do you ask me about all this? This is all true to me but I haven’t a clue why I do it. I am like the shell of a cicada or the shed skin of a snake: something which seems real but is not. In the sunlight I appear, in darkness I disappear. However, do you think I arise from these? For they are themselves dependent upon others. When it comes, I come also. When it goes, I go with it. If they arise from the mighty yang, so do I. However, there is no point in asking about the mighty yang!’
Yang Tzu Chu travelled south to Pei, Lao Tzu went west to Chin but Yang asked him to go to the border at Liang where they met. Lao Tzu stood in the middle of the road, gazed up to Heaven and said with a sigh, ‘At first I thought you could be taught, but now I know it is not possible.’
Yang Tzu Chu said nothing. Later they arrived at the inn and he went to fetch water in order to wash his teacher, and a towel and a comb. Removing his shoes outside the door, he crawled across the floor and said, ‘Earlier, Master, your follower wanted to ask you about what you said, but you were busy and I did not dare to. Now, it seems an appropriate time, so I would like to ask what I’ve done wrong.’
Lao Tzu said, ‘Such pride and arrogance, such elevation and certainty; who could bear being with you? The greatest purity is soiled, overflowing virtue is not enough.’
Yang Tzu Chu, when he first arrived at the inn, was greeted by the people there. The innkeeper brought out a mat, his wife brought towels and a comb. Others in the inn respectfully moved aside from their mats. However, when he came back, everyone tried to shove him off his very own mat!
CHAPTER 28
Abdication
Yao wanted to abdicate the country to Hsu Yu, but Hsu Yu would not accept. He then offered it to Tzu Chou Chih Fu. Tzu Chou Chih Fu said, ‘You wish me to be the Son of Heaven, which is fine. But unfortunately I suffer from a deep-rooted and painful disease which I am currently trying to overcome. As I need to use all my energy to deal with this, I am unable to rule the country.’
The country is of course of tremendous significance, yet he would not put his life at risk, so why do so for even less important things? Someone who doesn’t wish to rule the country is exactly the person to ask to do so.
Shun wanted to abdicate the country to Tzu Chou Chih Po, but Tzu Chou Chih Po said, ‘At this time I have an unpleasant and disturbing illness and I am using all my energy to deal with it, which means I have no time to rule the country.’
It is said that the country is the greatest of ventures, but he would not risk his life for it, which shows how those who have the Tao are very different from the ordinary person.
Shun tried to abdicate in favour of Shan Chuan, but Shan Chuan said, ‘Here I am in the midst of space and time. During the winter I wear skins and furs, in summer I wear vine leaves and linen. In the spring I plough and plant and my body is exercised by this. In the autumn I harvest and pile up and then I rest and eat. When the sun rises I wake up and work, while at sunset I rest. I journey where I will between Heaven and Earth to my heart’s desire. So why would I want to rule the country? Alas, Sire, you do not understand!’ So he said no and went away, deep into the mountains, and no one knew where he went.
Shun wanted to abdicate the country to his friend the farmer of Shih Hu. The farmer of Shih Hu said, ‘But you have such strength and endurance, my Lord!’ Realizing that Shun’s Virtue would not be enough, he collected his wife, took hold of his son’s hand and went off into the islands of the coast. He never ever came back.102
The great king Tan Fu103 lived in Pin, and the Ti peoples invaded. He tried to pay them off with skins and silks but this did not satisfy them. He tried to appease them with dogs and horses, but they didn’t like that. He offered them pearls and jade but they didn’t like that, for the Ti peoples were only interested in his lands.
Great King Tan Fu said, ‘To live here with the older brothers, to despatch the younger brothers to death, to live amongst the fathers and despatch the sons to death – I cannot do it! My children, stay here! Does it really matter whether I rule you or the Ti people do? I have heard people say that you should not use that by which you care for the people, to harm the people.’ Then he picked up his staff and riding crop, and left. However, the people came after him, all following one another, and soon they founded a new country under Chi Mountain.104
The great King Tan Fu knew how to care for life. Those who honour life, even if they are rich and powerful, misuse what should nourish, and so cause injury to themselves. Likewise, even if they are poor and lowly, they will endanger themselves for the sake of profit. The people of this
