Chuang Tzu 6.7

This is the Tâo—there is in It emotion and sincerity, but It does nothing and has no bodily form. It may be handed down by the teacher, but may not be received by his scholars. It may be apprehended by the mind, but It cannot be seen. 

It has Its root and ground of existence in Itself. Before there were heaven and earth, from of old, there It was, securely existing. From It came the mysterious existences of spirits, from It the mysterious existence of God. 

It produced heaven; It produced earth. It was before the Thâi-kì, and yet could not be considered high; It was below all space, and yet could not be considered deep. It was produced before heaven and earth, and yet could not be considered to have existed long; It was older than the highest antiquity, and yet could not be considered old. 

Shih-wei got It, and by It adjusted heaven and earth. Fû-hsì got It, and by It penetrated to the mystery of the maternity of the primary matter. The Wei-tâu got It, and from all antiquity has made no eccentric movement. 

The Sun and Moon got It, and from all antiquity have not intermitted their bright shining. Khan-pei got It, and by It became lord of Khwan-lun. Fang-ì got It, and by It enjoyed himself in the Great River. 

Kien Wû got It, and by It dwelt on mount Thâi. Hwang-Tì got It, and by It ascended the cloudy sky. Kwan-hsü got It, and by It dwelt in the Dark Palace. Yü-khiang got It, and by It was set on the North Pole. Hsì Wang-mû got It, and by It had her seat in the palace of Shâo-kwang. 

No one knows Its beginning; no one knows Its end. Phang Tsû got It, and lived on from the time of the lord of Yü to that of the Five Chiefs. Fû Yüeh got It, and by It became chief minister to Wû-ting, who thus in a trice became master of the kingdom. After his death, Fû Yüeh mounted to the eastern portion of the Milky Way, where, riding on Sagittarius and Scorpio, he took his place among the stars.