SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • The Analects – Chapter 18.2

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    Ana

    Liu Xia Hui was repeatedly dismissed as judge for upholding upright principles. He refused to flee his homeland: compromising morality would make leaving pointless, while sticking to integrity brings setbacks everywhere. The passage praises his unyielding moral integrity and devotion to his native state.

  • The Analects – Chapter 18.1

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    Ana

    Confucius names Weizi, Jizi and Bigan the three benevolent men of the Shang. Though they took vastly different paths—fleeing, feigning madness, dying in remonstrance—all acted out of loyal care for their state, showing benevolence allows flexible expedient choices.

  • Mencius – Chapter 10.9

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    Ana

    Mencius distinguishes royal kinsmen ministers from unrelated ones. Kinsmen may replace a repeatedly unrepentant ruler after remonstrance, while outsider ministers resign if their earnest advice fails, stressing different political duties tied to blood bonds.

  • Mencius – Chapter 10.8

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    Ana

    Mencius describes expanding friendship from local to global virtuous scholars, then “befriending ancient sages” spiritually. He puts forward the literary critical principle: readers must grasp writers’ lives and their eras to fully understand their poems and books.

  • Mencius – Chapter 10.7

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    Ana

    Mencius argues unserving scholars should not answer lords’ summons. Rulers must respect worthy men with proper rites instead of commanding them. He cites a gamekeeper refusing improper summons and clarifies Confucius hurried only when summoned in official capacity.

  • Mencius – Chapter 10.6

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    Ana

    Mencius argues scholars must not attach to lords as dependents. They may accept ruler’s relief but not unearned personal gifts. True respect for worthies means steady material support plus official power, not frequent trivial favors that humiliate virtuous men like Zisi.