Of old, heaven and earth were considered great; and the Yellow Emperor and Yao and Shun all thought them perfection. Consequently, what did those do who ruled the empire of old? They did what heaven and earth do; no more.
When Confucius was going west to place his works in the Imperial library of the House of Chou, Tzŭ Lu
The most popular of all the disciples of Confucius. In the striking words of Mr. Watters, "He was equally ready to argue, fight, be silent, pray for his master, and die with him. So it is very unfair in Dr. Legge to call him a kind of Peter, meaning of course Simon Peter, a man who lacked faith, courage, and fidelity, and who moreover cursed and swore."—Guide to the Tablets in a Confucian Temple.
counselled him, saying, "I have heard that a certain librarian of the Chêng department, by name Lao Tan,
Or, as usually named in this work, Lao Tzŭ. "Chêng" appears to have been merely a distinctive name.
has resigned and retired into private life. Now as you, Sir, wish to deposit your works, it would be advisable to go and interview him."
"Certainly," said Confucius; and he thereupon went to see Lao Tzŭ. The latter would not hear of the proposal; so Confucius began to expound the doctrines of his twelve canons, in order to convince Lao Tzŭ.
These twelve have been variously enumerated as (1) the Book of Changes, Parts i and ii, with the ten Wings. (2) The twelve Dukes of the Spring and Autumn, etc.
"This is all nonsense," cried Lao Tzŭ, interrupting him. "Tell me what are your criteria."