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CH. II.
INTRODUCTION.
leading from China to the west. There he was recognised by the warden of the pass, Yin Hsî (often called Kwan Yin), himself a well-known Tâoist, who insisted on his leaving him a writing before he went into seclusion. Lâo-zze then wrote his views on 'The Tâo and its Characteristics,' in two parts or sections, containing more than 5000 characters, gave the manuscript to the warden, and went his way l; 'nor is it known where he died. This account is strange enough, and we need not wonder that it was by and by embellished with many marvels. It contains, however, the definite statements that Lâo-jze wrote the Tâo Teh King in two parts, and consisting of more than 5000 characters. And that Khien was himself well acquainted with the treatise is apparent from his quotations from it, with, in almost every case, the specification of the author. He thus adduces part of the first chapter, and a large portion of the last chapter but one. His brief references also to Lâo-jze and his writings are numerous.
3. But between Lâo-zze and Sze-mâ Khien there were many Tâoist writers whose works remain. I may specify
of them Lieh-zze (assuming that his chapters, Lieh-zze, Han Fei- ze, and though not composed in their present form by other Tâoist him, may yet be accepted as fair specimens authors.
* of his teaching); Kwang-zze (of the fourth century B.C. We find him refusing to accept high office from king Wei of Khû, B.C. 339–299); Han Fei, a voluminous author, who died by his own hand in B.C. 230; and Liû An, a scion of the Imperial House of Han, king of Hwâi-nan, and better known to us as Hwâi-nan Zze, who also died by his own hand in B.C. 122. In the books of all these men we find quotations of many passages that are in our treatise. They are expressly said to be, many of them, quotations from Lào-zze; Han Fei several times all but
1 In an ordinary Student's Manual I find a note with reference to this incident to which it may be worth while to give a place here : The warden, it is said, set before Lâo-zze a dish of tea; and this was the origin of the custom of teadrinking between host and guest (see the ch. 7, on Food and Drink).
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