"Yao handed over the empire to Shun," replied Tzŭ Kung; "and Shun to Yü. Yü employed labour, and T'ang employed troops. Wên Wang followed Chou Hsin and did not venture to oppose him. Wu Wang opposed him and would not follow. Therefore I said not uniform." "Come nearer, my son," said Lao Tzŭ, "and I will tell you about the Three Kings and the Five Rulers. "The Yellow Emperor's administration caused the affections of the people to be catholic. Nobody wept for the death of his parents, and nobody found fault. "The administration of Yao diverted the affections of the people into particular channels. If a man slew the slayer of his parents, nobody blamed him. "The administration of Shun brought a spirit of rivalry among the people. Children were born after ten months' gestation; when five months old, they could speak; and ere they were three years of age, could already tell one person from another. And so early death came into the world. "The administration of Yü wrought a change in the hearts of the people. Individuality prevailed, and force was called into play. Killing robbers was not accounted murder; and throughout the empire people became sub-divided into classes. There was great alarm on all sides, and the Confucianists and the Mihists arose. At first the relationships were duly observed; but what about the women of to-day?

In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers). In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next...