CHAPTER IV
1. Mencius said, "All things are already complete in us.
—Chaou K'e says there are three ways of speaking about the appointments or decrees of Heaven. Doing good and getting good is called 受命, "receiving what is appointed." Doing good and getting evil is called遭命, "encountering what is appointed." Doing evil and getting evil is called 随命, "following after what is appointed." It is only the first of these cases that is spoken of in the text. It must be borne in mind,however, that by 命 here Ch'aou understands death,and that only, and we should acquiesce in this, if there did not seem to be a connection between this chapter and the preceding.