Friday, November 1, 2013

Yang Zhu, Chapter 12, Part 2

SELF-SACRIFICE AND SELF-AGGRANDIZEMENT

Thereupon Ch’in-Tse told Meng-sun-Yang, who replied:

"I will explain the Master's meaning.

"Supposing for tearing off a piece of your skin you were offered ten thousand gold pieces, would you do it?"

Ch’in-Tse said:

"I would."

Meng-sun-Yang again asked:

"Supposing for cutting off one of your limbs you were to get a kingdom, would you do it?"

Ch’in-Tse was silent.

"See now," said Meng-sun-Yang. "A hair is unimportant compared with the skin, and the skin also is unimportant compared with a limb.

"However, many hairs put together form skin, and many skins form a limb. Therefore, though a hair is but one among the many molecules composing the body, it is not to be disregarded."

Ch’in-Tse replied:

"I do not know how to answer you. If I were to ask Lao-tse and Kuan-Yin, your opinion would be found right, and so also if I were to consult great Yü and Me-ti."

Meng-sun-Yang upon this turned round to his disciples, and spoke of something else.
Translator of Yang Zhu's Garden of Pleasure is Anton Forke. If you missed any posts in this series, please utilize the Yang Zhu label below.

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