SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

  • The Analects – Chapter 17.20

    •

    Ana

    Confucius pretended to be sick to avoid Ru Bei, yet played and sang on the lute once the messenger left. This silent rebuke saved Ru Bei’s dignity while prompting self-reflection, showing his subtle, deed-based educational wisdom instead of harsh verbal criticism.

  • Lǘ Dǎ Gǔn (Rolling Donkey): Beijing’s Sweetest Snack With the Strangest Name

    •

    Ana

    This article introduces Lǘ Dǎ Gǔn, a chewy Beijing glutinous rice snack filled with red bean paste and dusted with soybean flour. It explains its whimsical name, Manchu imperial origin, festival custom and its appearance at the APEC state banquet.

  • Stir-Fried Hawthorn (Chao Hong Guo): A Tangy-Sweet Taste of Old Beijing

    •

    Ana

    This article introduces Chao Hong Guo, a classic imperial Beijing hawthorn snack simmered in syrup rather than stir-fried. It covers its royal origin, tangy sweet taste, digestive health benefits, delicate cooking skills and the well-known historic Liu Ji shop.

  • The Analects – Chapter 17.19

    •

    Ana

    Confucius tells Zigong he longs for silence, drawing an analogy to Heaven. Heaven says nothing yet governs seasons and nurtures all creation. He stresses genuine moral influence relies on deeds rather than empty verbal preaching, valuing silent self-cultivation over glib speech.

  • The Analects – Chapter 17.18

    •

    Ana

    Confucius lists three things he detests: purple replacing proper vermilion, frivolous Zheng tunes corrupting solemn ritual music, and glib manipulative orators ruining states, warning against fake substitutes that subvert orthodox rites and morality.

  • The Analects – Chapter 17.17

    •

    Ana

    Confucius states people with smooth, flattering words and artificial manners rarely possess genuine benevolence. He stresses sincere inner virtue over deliberate outward pretence, warning against hypocrisy that masks selfishness and distorts true morality.