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moon, the trunk of his body with hands and feet the four carnival
points of the world and the five peaks, 1 his blood the rivers, his muscles and nerves
the earth's crust, his flesh the soil, his beard and the hairs on his head the stars, his skin and
the hairs on it herbs and trees, his teeth and bones metals and rocks, his brains pearls and
precious stones, his perspiration the rain; the worms on his body under the influence of the wind
changed into men. 2
This legend of the way in which men and the world were produced is very similar to the story of
Purusha among the Hindus. Similar tales are found elsewhere also. The ancestors of the people of
Norway and Sweden had almost the same story when they were heathens, and Mani taught something very
similar in Persia. 3 But what is said of Yang and Yin is accepted by Chinese
philosophers, as for instance by Lao-Tsze, who founded what is known as the Tao system of
philosophy. He was born in the year 604 B.C. He adopted and sanctioned most of the beliefs and
superstitions of the people, though introducing certain philosophic ideas of his own, He taught that
the universe is one large organism of powers and influences, a living machine. The heart of this
machine is the great ultimate principle, which comprises the Yang and
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Yin, regarded as two cosmic breaths or souls. These souls are deposited more especially in heaven
and earth respectively. They produce the four seasons and the phenomena of nature. It is they too
which produce and animate the five elements, which are the constituents of the material and
immaterial world. L This religious or philosophical system is called Ta'o
(ياؤ), which
means 'method' or 'path,' because it deals with the way, course or movement of the universe and its
processes. The universe is everywhere filled with spirits, which animate everything that exists and
which regulate the method of nature and its phenomena. The oldest of the books of the Ta'oist sect
is called the Yih King (Book of Changes), though they have many others, such as the Ta'o
teh King (Book of the Way and of Virtue.) In this system there are many inferior gods and
a great number of demons, but the supreme principle Ta'o is not a personal, living God, but is
merely a 'method,' being destitute of action, thought, judgement and intelligence. 2 In
this sense Ta'o bears some resemblance to the brahman of Indian philosophy; from it
everything proceeds and to it everything returns. Some of the maxims of this religion are very lofty
and noble, yet at the present time Ta'oism in China has become so corrupt that its followers believe
in magic
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