The Three Scrolls of the Dao

I look upon the heavens and earth in all directions: that is space. From ancient times to the present: that is time. Heaven, earth, gods, humans, and ghosts make the five immortals; scale-covered, feathered, furred, winged, and shelled creatures make the five kinds of beings. Sages, immortals, and mortals are the three classes; past, present, and future are the three lives; you, me, and them are the three. All that came before and all that will come after, the countless myriad things: no matter what means you employ or what treasures you possess, all you seek is that single thread of life. Of the Three Thousand Great Daos, I have glimpsed but the tiniest fragments, and my joy knows no bounds. I have written this book on the Dao with my own hand, hoping foolishly to leave a humble name behind. It is divided into three volumes, upper, middle, and lower, hence the name: The Three Volumes of the Dao...