SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • The cricket and son

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    Ana

    “Cricket” is a short story from the collection Strange Tales from Liaozhai by the Qing Dynasty writer Pu Songling. Through a story about a cricket, it profoundly reflects the hardships of life and social injustice endured by the lower classes in feudal society.

  • The Cricket

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    Ana

    During the Xuande Reign period of the Ming Dynasty, cricket fighting became a popular amusement in the imperial palace. Every year, the insects were collected from localities across the country.

  • Gongsun Jiuniang

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    Ana

    Early in the Qing Dynasty, many people were incriminated in Yu Qi’s rebellion. People in Qixia and Laiyang counties suffered most. A few hundred people were captured each day and all of them were executed. Their blood painted the ground red and their skeletons were stacked in mountain-like piles. The authorities showed their leniency…

  • The wicked servant in “Tian Qilang”

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    Ana

    In Strange Tales from Liaozhai – Tian Qilang, Lin Er’s series of actions—from overstepping boundaries due to his special status to completely trampling on ethics and loyalty—form a complete portrait of a “wicked servant.” These actions not only escalate the conflicts in the story but also expose, in an extreme way, the dark side…

  • The cruel official-merchant struggle in “Tian Qilang”

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    Ana

    The conflict between Wu Chengxiu (representing “merchants” and the wealthy class) and the censor’s younger brother (representing “officials” and power networks) in Strange Tales from Liaozhai: Tian Qilang may seem to stem from a servant’s misconduct, but it actually tears away the cruel veil of “struggles between officials and merchants” in feudal society.

  • Are there any true friends in “Tian Qilang”?

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    Ana

    At the first beginning of the story “Tian Qilang”, Wu Chengxiu had a dream. He dreamed someone said to him: “You have made lots of friends across the land. But you make friends without discrimination. Now there is a man with whom you can share weal and woe. Why don’t you make him your…