Firstly, continuing the discussion between Liang Yang and King Xuan’s chief animal-person carer on why the animal-people are so calm around Liang Yang. Followed by more details on the understanding of animal-people and the people who can communicate with them. Finally ending with the discussion where Hui Yang tells the King of Song the secret benefits of being virtuous.
BOOK 2 The Yellow Emperor
Liang Yang and his understanding of animal-people
“Liang Yang said, ‘With regard to my method of feeding tigers, all I have to say is this: when yielded to, they are pleased; when opposed, they are angry. Such is the natural disposition of all living creatures. But neither their pleasure nor their anger is manifested without a cause. Both are really excited by opposition. Anger directly, pleasure indirectly, owing to the natural reaction when the opposition is overcome.
In feeding tigers, then, I avoid giving them either live animals or whole carcasses, lest in the former case the act of killing, in the latter the act of tearing them to pieces, should excite them to fury. Again, I time their periods of hunger and repletion, and I gain a full understanding of the causes of their anger. Tigers are of a different species from man, but, like him, they respond to those who coax them with food, and consequently, the act of killing their victims tends to provoke them. This being so, I should not think of opposing them and thus provoking their anger; neither do I humor them and thus cause them to feel pleased. For this feeling of pleasure will, in time, be succeeded by anger, just as anger must invariably be succeeded by pleasure. Neither of these states hits the proper mean. Hence, it is my aim to be neither antagonistic nor compliant, so that the animals regard me as one of themselves. Thus it happens that they walk about the park without regretting the tall forests and the broad marshes, and rest […] without yearning for the lonely mountains and the dark valleys. Such are the principles which have led to the results you see.’”
An example of the understanding of the animal-people.
“There was once a man, a sailor by profession, who was very fond of seagulls. Every morning he went into the sea and swam about in their midst, at which times a hundred gulls and more would constantly flock about him. ‘Creatures are not shy of those whom they feel to be in mental and bodily harmony with themselves.’ One day, his father said to him, ‘I am told that seagulls swim about with you in the water. I wish you would catch one or two for me to make pets of.’ On the following day, the sailor went down to the sea as usual, but lo! the gulls only wheeled about in the air and would not alight. ‘There was a disturbance in his mind, accompanied by a change in his outward demeanor; thus, the birds became conscious of the fact that he was a human being. How could their instinct be deceived?’ […]”
Humans who understand our animal friends.
“In remote antiquity, there were men of Divine enlightenment who were perfectly acquainted with the feelings and habits of all living things and thoroughly understood the languages of the various species. They brought them together, trained them, and admitted them to their society, exactly like human beings… These sages declared that, in mind and understanding, there was no wide gulf between any of the living species endowed with blood and breath. And therefore, knowing that this was so, they omitted nothing from their course of training and instruction.”
Hui Yang’s secret to the King of Song
“Hui Yang went to visit King Kang of the Song State. The King, however, stamped His foot, rasped His throat, and said angrily: ‘The things I like are courage and strength. I am not fond of your good and virtuous people. What can a stranger like you have to teach me? ‘I have a secret,’ replied Hui Yang, ‘whereby my opponent, however brave or strong, can be prevented from harming me either by thrust or by blow. Would not your Highness care to know that secret? ‘Capital!’ exclaimed Kang; ‘that is certainly something I should like to hear about.’ Hui Yang went on: ‘To render ineffectual the stabs and blows of one’s opponent is indeed to cover him with shame. But my secret is one which will make your opponent, however brave or strong, afraid to stab or to strike at all! His being afraid, however, does not always imply that he has not the will to do so. Now, my secret method operates so that even the will is absent. Not having the will to harm, however, does not necessarily connote the desire to love and to do good. But my secret is one whereby every man, woman, and child in the Empire shall be inspired with the friendly desire to love and do good to one another! This is something that transcends all social distinctions and is much better than the mere possession of courage and strength. Has your Highness no mind to acquire such a secret as this?’ ‘Nay,’ said the King, ‘I am anxious to learn it. What is the secret, pray?’ ‘Nothing else,’ replied Hui Yang, ‘than the teachings of Confucius and Mo Tzu. Neither of these two men possessed any land, and yet they were princes; they held no official rank, and yet they were leaders. All the inhabitants of the Empire, old and young, used to crane their necks and stand on tiptoe to catch a glimpse of them. For it was their object to bring peace and happiness to all. Now, your Highness is lord of ten thousand chariots. If you are sincere in your purpose, all the people within the four borders of your realm will reap the benefit, and the fame of your virtue will far exceed that of Confucius or of Mo Tzu.’ The King of Song found himself at loss for an answer, and Hui Yang quickly withdrew. Then the King turned to his courtiers and said: ‘A forcible argument! This stranger has carried me away by his eloquence.’”
