OF THE TAO EXEMPLIFIED IN HISTORY 35 



the mind of the ancient kings that they didn't care to use 

 mere cleverness and schemes. Hence Sheng Tzti says, 



A WORKMAN KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A DOOR 

 BY HIS SKILL : BUT IT REQUIRES AN 

 ARCHITECT TO PLAN THE DOOR. 



(51) Personality must not be hampered. — Tien Chiu of 

 the sect of Mei Tzu followed the master's method. Desiring 

 to see Hui Wang of Ch'ing, he hung up the reins of his 

 line carnage, vainly waiting. He remained a whole year at 

 the court without getting an interview. Some one advised 

 him to go and see the King of Ts'u. This king received him 

 gladly and gave him credentials to go as minister to Ch'ing. 

 On arriving Hui Wang rinding that he was duly accredited 

 with a general's commission, received him willingly and gave 

 him an audience. In leaving the palace he signed deeply 

 saying to those around him : "I stayed for three years at 

 Ch'ing without an audience; never did I imagine I could" 

 get one via Ts'u." In business matters thus ''the near is 

 distant and the distant is near. ' ' Hence the ways of the 

 great man may not be gauged by any ordinary standard. 

 He arrives at his object in his own way and that is all about 

 it; as Kuan Tzti remarks : "In flying an owl its wings must 

 not be tied by a string." 



The great depths of the Feng waters do not keep any 

 dust and debris on their surface. Throw a needle in and 

 it is quite visible at the bottom. It isn't the depth, but 

 clearness that matters. Neither fish turtle nor dragon nor 

 snake care to appear within. For the same reason cereals 

 will not grow on a stone, nor do< deers and stags roam on the 

 bare hills since there is no shade to> give them hiding. 



(52) Generosity of Spirit. — Once on a time Chao Wen 

 Tzti asked Shu Hsiang 1 which of the six generals of Tsin 

 would die first. He replied that it would be Chih of the 

 centre army: "because," he said, "this man in administer- 

 ing, carried on his examination with harshness ; he informed 

 himself of vexatious details; he regarded loyalty to consist 

 in being stingy to his underlings and reckoned that merit lay 

 in gaining many good marks. Such a, person may be likened 

 to one stretching leather. Pull it and it can be made larger. 

 Nevertheless this is the way to tear it. Lao Tzti says : 



HE WHO ADMINISTERS IN A GENEROUS SPIRIT WILL 

 HAVE A SINCERE AND SIMPLE PEOPLE, HE WHO IS 

 PETTY-FOGGING AND VEXATIOUS, WILL HAVE A 

 PEOPLE OF MANY IMPERFECTIONS. 



*A clairvoyant. 



