Book VII.
*24. Chap. I. Tao-hsü [OMITTED] (Taoist Untruths).
Man dies and can become immortal. The Taoist stories of
Huang Ti and Huai Nan Tse's ascension to heaven, of the flying
genius met by Lu Ao, and of Hsiang Man Tse's travel to the moon
are inventions. The magicians do not possess the powers ascribed
to them. The Taoist theory of prolonging life by quietism and
dispassionateness, by regulating one's breath, and using medicines
is untenable.
*25. Chap. II. Yü-tsêng [OMITTED] (Exaggerations).
Wang Ch`ung points out a number of historical exaggerations
e. g. that the embonpoint of Chieh and Chou was over a foot, that
Chou had a wine-lake, from which 3,000 persons sucked like cattle,
that Wên Wang could drink 3,000 bumpers of wine, and Confucius
100 gallons, and some mis-statements concerning the simplicity of
Yao and Shun, and the cruelty of Shih Huang Ti, and tries to reduce
them to the proper limits.
