SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • The Bitter Aftertaste of Victory: Rivalry and Reward after the Conquest of Wu [Jin & Southern-Northern Dynasties]

    •

    Juan

    Brief: This article recounts the rivalry and rewards after Jin conquered Wu. Emperor Wu honored late strategist Yang Hu, while Du Yu remained humble. A bitter dispute erupted between Wang Jun, who captured Jianye, and Wang Hun, a powerful court favorite. The emperor’s partial settlement sparked resentment, yet Wang Jun later found peace through…

  • Cai Yong

    •

    Juan

    Cai Yong (133–192 CE) was a renowned literary scholar, calligrapher, and musician of the Eastern Han dynasty, and the father of the famous poet and composer Cai Wenji. His courtesy name was Bojie, and he was a native of Yu in Chenliu Commandery (modern-day Qixian, Henan).

  • The Yellow Turban Rebellion and the Fall of the Han [Eastern Han]

    •

    Juan

    Brief: This article tells how the Yellow Turban Rebellion toppled the Eastern Han. Triggered by court corruption, famine, and sold official posts, Zhang Jiao’s Taiping Dao uprising swept China in 184 CE. Though crushed, it destroyed central authority, spawned warlords, and paved the way for the Three Kingdoms era.

  • Cai Lun

    •

    Juan

    Cai Lun (c. 62–121 CE) was a eunuch official of the Eastern Han dynasty and is traditionally credited with the invention of papermaking. His courtesy name was Jingzhong, and he was born in Guiyang (modern-day Leiyang, Hunan).

  • The Partisan Prohibitions: the Fall of the Han Scholar-Gentry [Eastern Han]

    •

    Juan

    Brief: This article explores Eastern Han’s Partisan Prohibitions. Eunuchs branded scholar‑gentry like Li Ying and Chen Fan as “partisans,” triggering two brutal purges. Many were killed, exiled, or banned for life. The crackdown destroyed honest officials, fatally weakening the Han and paving the way for its collapse.

  • The Five Eunuch Marquises: How Palace Slaves Became Masters of the Han Empire [Eastern Han]

    •

    Juan

    Brief: This article reveals how Emperor Huan of Eastern Han ennobled five powerful eunuchs as marquises, letting them dominate the court. Their corruption, tyranny, and abuse of power outraged scholars and students. Their ruthless rule weakened the Han Empire, laying the ground for its eventual collapse.