SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • Why Zengzi slaughtered the pig

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    Ana

    Zeng Shen (505–435 BC), also known as Zengzi, was a prominent disciple of Confucius and one of the key figures in Confucianism.

  • Ivory chopsticks

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    Ana

    When King Zhou ordered chopsticks made of ivory, Ji Zi was most perturbed. He reasoned: “Ivory chopsticks demand rhino horn cups; rhino cups demand exotic delicacies; delicacies demand silk robes and palace halls. This insatiable chain will end in tyranny and ruin.”

  • The wise son, the suspect neighbor: When bias builds walls

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    Ana

    There was once a rich man in the state of Song. After a downpour of rain his wall began to crumble.

  • Easiest to paint ghosts

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    Ana

    There was an artist who worked for the prince of Qi.

  • Punishing the horse

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    Ana

    Because his horse refused to advance, a traveller in the state of Song drove it into a stream, then mounted to set off again. Still the horse refused to go, and he punished it once more in the same way. This happened three times in all.

  • The bell thief who covered his ears

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    Ana

    After the fall of the house of Fan, a man got hold of a bronze bell. It was too big to carry away on his back, and when he tried to break it with a hammer it made such a din that he feared others might hear and take it away from him. So…