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

Doctor knowledgeYANG CHU had a friend called Chi Liang, who fell ill.In seven days' time his illness had become very grave;medical aid was summoned, and his sons stood weepinground his bed. Chi Liang said to Yang Chu: “Such excessof emotion shows my children to be degenerate. Will youkindly sing them something which will enlighten theirminds? Yang Chu then chanted the following words:"How can men be aware of things outside God's ken?Over misfortune man has no control, and can look for nohelp from God. Have doctors and wizards thisknowledge that you and I have not?”The sons, however, did not understand, and finallycalled in three physicians, Dr Chiao, Dr Yü and Dr Lu.They all diagnosed his complaint; and Dr Chiaodelivered his opinion first: “The hot and cold elementsof your body," he said to Chi Liang, “are not inharmonious accord, and the impermeable andinfundibular parts are mutually disproportionate. Theorigin of your malady is traceable to disorderedappetites, and to the dissipation of your vital essencethrough worry and care. Neither God nor devil is toblame. Although the illness is grave, it is amenable totreatment."Chi Liang said: “You are only one of the common ruck,"and speedily got rid of him.