SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.4

    •

    Ana

    Confucius said, “There are three kinds of beneficial friends and three kinds of harmful friends. Friendship with the upright, friendship with the trustworthy, and friendship with the well-informed – these are beneficial. Friendship with the fawning, friendship with the insincerely agreeable, and friendship with the glibly eloquent – these are harmful.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.3

    •

    Ana

    Confucius said, “The stipends and authority have been removed from the ducal house for five generations; political power has rested with the high ministers for four generations. Therefore, the descendants of the Three Huan families are now in decline.”

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.2

    •

    Ana

    Confucius said, “When the world is governed by the Way, rites and music and decisions on military campaigns originate from the Son of Heaven. When the world lacks the Way, they originate from the feudal lords. When they come from the feudal lords, rarely does their rule last beyond ten generations; when they come…

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.1

    •

    Ana

    The Ji family (a powerful ministerial clan in Lu) planned to attack Zhuanyu, a small state subordinate to Lu. Ran You and Zilu went to see Confucius and said, “The Ji family is about to take military action against Zhuanyu.”

  • The Cold Food Poem Scroll [Chinese calligraphy]

    •

    Juan

    Su Shi (1037–1101 CE), also known by his courtesy name Su Dongpo, was a towering literary figure, statesman, painter, and calligrapher of the Northern Song Dynasty, and one of the “Four Masters of the Song.” His calligraphy is celebrated for its naturalness, emotional depth, and bold individuality.

  • Pavilion of Pine Breeze [Chinese calligraphy]

    •

    Juan

    Huang Tingjian (1045–1105 CE) was a leading poet, calligrapher, and scholar of the Northern Song Dynasty, and one of the “Four Masters of the Song.” He developed a highly distinctive calligraphic style known for its rhythmic tension, angular brushstrokes, and dynamic composition.