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THE TEXTS OF TÂOISM.
APP. II.
i To explain the Way of Heaven,' Li Hsî-yüeh adduces the last sentence of the T. T. K., ch. 9, When the work is done, and one's name has become distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the Way of Heaven.'
? To explain the doings of Heaven,' he adduces the first paragraph of the symbolism of the first hexagram of the Yi, 'Heaven in its motion gives the idea of strength. In accordance with this, the superior man nerves himself to ceaseless activity.
2. To Heaven there belong the five (mutual) foes', and he who sees them (and understands their operation) apprehends how they produce prosperity. The same five foes are in the mind of man, and when he can set them in action after the manner of Heaven, all space and time are at his disposal, and all things receive their transformations from his persona . The startling name thieves (= foes, robbers) here is understood to mean the 'five elements, which pervade and indeed make up the whole realm of nature, the heaven of the text including also earth, the other term in the binomial combination of heaven and earth.' According to the Taoist teaching, the element of Earth generates Metal, and overcomes Water; Metal generates Water, and overcomes Wood; Water generates Wood, and overcomes Fire; Wood generates Fire, and overcomes Earth. These elements fight and strive together, now overcoming, now overcome, till by such interaction a harmony of their influences arises, and production goes on with vigour and beauty.
2 It is more difficult to give an account of the operation of the five elements in the mind of man, though I have seen them distributed among the five viscera, and the five virtues of Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Knowledge, and Faith. Granting, however, their presence and operation in the mind, what shall be said on the two concluding members of the paragraph ? There underlies them
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