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PT. I. SECT. v.
THE WRITINGS OF KWANG-SZE.
223
BOOK V.
Part I. SECTION V. Teh Khung Fd, or 'The Seal of Virtue
Complete?' 1. In La? there was a Wang Thâis who had lost both his feet 4 ; while his disciples who followed and went about with him were as numerous as those of Kung-ni. Khang Kió asked Kung-ni about him, saying, “Though Wang Thâi is a cripple, the disciples who follow him about divide Lû equally with you, Master. When he stands, he does not teach them; when he sits, he does not discourse to them. But they go to him empty, and come back full. Is there indeed such a thing as instruction without words6 ? and while the body is imperfect, may the mind be complete ? What sort of man is he?'
Kung-nî replied, 'This master is a sage. I have
See pp. 133, 134. 2 The native state of Confucius, part of the present Shan-tung.
3 A Tâoist of complete virtue; but probably there was not really such a person. Our author fabricates him according to his fashion.
The character uh (JC) does not say that he had lost both his feet, but I suppose that such is the meaning, because of what is said of Toeless below that he walked on his heels to see Confucius.' The feet must have been amputated, or mutilated rather (justly or unjustly), as a punishment; but Kwang-jze wished to say nothing on that point.
o Perhaps a disciple of Confucius ;—not elsewhere mentioned as such.
6 See the Tâo Teh King, ch. 2.
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