The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

The Way of WinningThere may be similarity in understanding withoutsimilarity in outward form. There may also be similarityin form without similarity in understanding. The sageembraces similarity of understanding and pays no regardto similarity of form. The world in general is attracted bysimilarity of form, but remains indifferent to similarityof understanding. Those creatures that resemble them inshape they love and consort with; those that differ fromthem in shape they fear and keep at a distance. Thecreature that has a skeleton seven feet long, handsdifferently shaped from the feet, hair on its head, and aneven set of teeth in its jaws, and walks erect, is called aman [1] . But it does not follow that a man may not havethe mind of a brute. Even though this be the case, othermen will still recognize him as one of their own speciesin virtue of his outward form. Creatures which havewings on the back or horns on the head, serrated teeth orextensile talons, which fly overhead or run on all fours,are called birds and beasts. But it does not follow that abird or a beast may not have the mind of a man. Yet, evenif this be so, it is nevertheless assigned to another speciesbecause of the difference in form.P'ao Hsi, Nü Kua, Shên Nung and Hsia Hou hadserpents' bodies, human faces, ox-heads and tigers'snouts. Thus, their forms were not human, yet theirvirtue was of the saintliest. Chieh of the Hsia dynasty,