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Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Outer Chapters -> Correcting the Nature -> 2.2

This condition (of excellence) deteriorated and decayed,
燧人伏羲天下 till Sui-ren and Fu-xi arose and commenced their administration of the world;
on which came a compliance (with their methods), but the state of unity was lost.
The condition going on to deteriorate and decay,
神農黃帝天下Shen Nong and Huang-Di arose, and took the administration of the world,
on which (the people) rested (in their methods), but did not themselves comply with them.
Still the deterioration and decay continued
天下 till the lords of Tang and Yu began to administer the world.
These introduced the method of governing by transformation, resorting to the stream (instead of to the spring),
thus vitiating the purity and destroying the simplicity (of the nature).
They left the Dao, and substituted the Good for it,
and pursued the course of Haphazard Virtue.
After this they forsook their nature and followed (the promptings of) their minds.
天下One mind and another associated their knowledge, but were unable to give rest to the world.
Then they added to this knowledge (external and) elegant forms,
and went on to make these more and more numerous.
The forms extinguished the (primal) simplicity,
till the mind was drowned by their multiplicity.
After this the people began to be perplexed and disordered,
and had no way by which they might return to their true nature, and bring back their original condition.


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