SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • The Legend of Shi Yan and the Birth of Decadent Music

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    Rob

    This legend records musician Shi Yan forced by tyrant King Zhou of Shang to create decadent licentious tunes. Blamed for the dynasty’s fall, he drowned himself by Pu River. Centuries later, ghostly melodies of his music were heard there, recorded in ancient historical texts.

  • Tian Ji and the Horse Race

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    Juan

    This story tells how strategist Sun Bin helped General Tian Ji beat King Wei in horse races. By rearranging horse tiers to sacrifice one round for two wins, it illustrates strategic trade-offs and instrumental rationality echoing Sun Tzu’s deceptive warfare thought.

  • Warfare as Instrumental Rationality: Sun Tzu’s “Deceptive Tactics”

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    Juan

    This article interprets Sun Tzu’s “war relies on deception” via Weber’s instrumental rationality. It contrasts his pragmatic trickery with moralistic warfare, citing historical battles to prove deception minimizes losses and secures survival.

  • The Night Raid on Dingxiang: Sun Tzu’s wisdom through the legendary campaign of General Li Jing

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    Juan

    Sun Wu said in his book The Art of War: March where the enemy cannot rush to defend; advance where he least expects you.To travel a thousand li without fatigue, move through unguarded lands.

  • Mǐ Mǐ Zhī Yīn (靡靡之音)

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    Ana

    Basic Information Chinese Idiom: 靡靡之音Pinyin: mǐ mǐ zhī yīnLiteral Meaning: Weak and dispiriting tunesFigurative Meaning: Soft, decadent and demoralizing music that indulges sensual pleasures and weakens people’s will. Cultural Background This idiom first appeared in the Warring States period, in the chapter ‘Ten Faults’ of Han Fei’s work Hanfeizi as to be specified below.…

  • Art of War Chapter – 6.2

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    Juan

    March where the enemy cannot rush to defend; advance where he least expects you.To travel a thousand li without fatigue, move through unguarded lands.To conquer every target you attack, strike places the enemy fails to defend.To hold an impregnable defense, guard positions the enemy will not assault.