[597] In the _Tao-te-King_ of Lao-Tse, a work which has held a high reputation among the numerous followers of this theosophist, one finds that the absolute, universal Being which he declares can neither be named, nor defined, is triple. “The first,” he said, “has engendered the second; the two have produced the third; and the three have made all things. That which the mind perceives and the eye cannot see is named _Y_, the absolute Unity, the central point; that which the heart understands and the ear cannot hear is named _Hi_, the universal Existence; that which the soul feels and the hand cannot touch is named _Ouei_, the individual Existence. Seek not to penetrate the depths of this Trinity; its incomprehensibility comes from its Unity. This Unity,” adds Lao-Tse, in another passage, “is named _Tao_, the Truth; _Tao_ is Life; _Tao_ is to itself both rule and model. It is so lofty that it cannot be attained; so profound that it cannot be fathomed; so great that it contains the Universe; when one looks on high one sees no beginning; when one follows it in its productions, one finds in it no end.” [598] One of the principal dogmas of Fo-Hi is the existence of one God in three persons, whose image is man. All his doctrine is limited to leading, by meditation and repression of the passions, the human ternary to its perfection. This ternary is composed, according to him, of _Ki_, _Tsing_, and _Chen_, that is to say, of the material, animistic, and spiritual principle. It is necessary that, being joined together, this ternary should make but One. Then its duration will have no limit and its faculties will be indestructible. _Voyez_ Duhalde, t. iii., _in fol._, p. 50. [599] This is noticeable particularly in Bayle. [600] Herod., _In Clio_, § 131; Strab., l. xv.; Boehm., _Mores Gentium._ [601] Pelloutier, _Hist. des Celtes_, t. v., c. 3. [602] Tacit., _De Morib. Germ._, c. 9; Lactant., _Præm._, p. 5. [603] August., _De Civit. Dei_, l. iv., c. 31; Clem. Alex., l. i., p. 304; _Strom._ [604] Plutar., _In Vitâ Numa_; ibid., _In Mar._; Pelloutier, _Hist. des Celt._, l. iv., c. i.; Lucan., _Phars._, l. iii., v. 412; Clem. Alex., _Cohort. ad Gent._, p. 57. [605] Euseb., _Prœp. Evang._, l. xiii., c. 12; Henric. Steph., _Poes. philosop._, p. 78. [606] Porphyr., _Sent._, no. 10, p. 221; Stanl., _In Pythag._, p. 775. [607] Stanley, _De Phil. chald._, p. 1123; Beausob., _Hist. du Manich._, t. ii., l. ix., c. 1, § 10. [608] Τρισμέγιστος, thrice greatest.