"A very round answer," says Lin Hsi Chung, "to a very square question." * * * * * Tang, a high official of Sung, asked Chuang Tzŭ about charity. Chuang Tzŭ said, "Tigers and wolves have it." "How so?" asked Tang. "The natural love between parents and offspring," replied Chuang Tzŭ,--"is not that charity?" Tang then inquired about perfect charity. "Perfect charity," said Chuang Tzŭ, "does not admit of love for the individual." It embraces all men equally. To love one person would imply at least the possibility of hating another. See also p. 167, where Lao Tzŭ refutes the doctrine of universal love. "Without such love," replied Tang, "it appears to me there would be no such thing as affection, and without affection no filial piety. Does perfect charity not admit of filial piety?" "Not so," said Chuang Tzŭ. "Perfect charity is the more extensive term. Consequently, it was unnecessary to mention filial piety. It was not that filial piety was omitted. It was merely not particularised. "A man who travels southwards to Ying, Capital of the Ch'u State. cannot see Mount Ming in the north. Why? Because he is too far off. "Therefore it has been said that it is easy to be respectfully filial, but difficult to be affectionately filial. The artificial is easier than the natural. But even that is easier than to become unconscious of one's natural obligations, which is in turn easier than to cause others to be unconscious of the operations thereof. _I.e._ to be filial without letting others be conscious of the fact. Similarly, this is easier than to become altogether unconscious of the world, which again is easier than to cause the world to be unconscious of one's influence upon it. Such is perfect charity, which operates without letting its operation be known. "True virtue does nothing, yet it leaves Yao and Shun far behind. Its good influence extends to ten thousand generations, yet no man knoweth it to exist. What boots it then to sigh after charity and duty to one's neighbour? "Filial piety, fraternal love, charity, duty to one's neighbour, loyalty, truth, chastity, and honesty,--these are all studied efforts, designed to aid the development of virtue. They are only parts of a whole. "Therefore it has been said, 'Perfect honour includes all the honour a country can give. Perfect wealth includes all the wealth a country can give. Perfect ambition includes all the reputation one can desire.' And by parity of reasoning, TAO does not admit of sub-division." * * * * * Pei Mên Ch'êng Of whom nothing is recorded. said to the Yellow Emperor, "When your Majesty played the _Han-ch'ih_ Name of a piece of music, the meaning of which is not known. in the wilds of Tung-t'ing, the first time I heard it I was afraid, the second time I was amazed, and the last time I was confused, speechless, overwhelmed."