to it. Thus men can be made vicious; but it is by no means their nature."
This curious dialogue shews at the same time the sentiments of the Confucian school, and their inconclusive mode of reasoning. From this we see also, that similes are not arguments; for here is a man employing the very same simile to prove men virtuous, which has been frequently used in the west to illustrate their vicious tendencies.
The next of the three sects, into which the Chinese are divided, is called Taou. This word means, originally, a way or path, a principle, and the principle from which heaven, earth, man, and nature emanate. Le is the latent principle, and Taou is the principle in action. It also means a word, to speak, and to say; and is very like the Logos, or the "eternal reason" of the Greeks. The founder of this sect was Laou-tan, commonly called Laou-tsze, who was cotemporary with Confucius; but the Taou, or Reason itself, they say, is uncreated and underived. Some idea of it may be gained from the following stanza:—
"How luminous is Eternal Reason!
"Uncreated and self-derived:
"The beginning and end of all the kalpas;[1]
"Before heaven and before earth;
"United brilliancy splendidly illuminated,
"For endless kalpas without interruption.
"On the east it instructed Father Confucius,
"On the west it renovated the golden Buddha:
"Hundreds of kings have received this law,
"The host of sages have followed this master:
"It is the first of all religions,
"Majestic beyond all majesty."
- ↑ Kalpa is a Hindoo term for time, denoting about one thousand ages.
