SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Bo Yi

  • 百世之师 (Bǎi shì zhī shī)

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    This entry explains Chinese idiom 百世之师(bǎi shì zhī shī) from *Mencius*. It honors sages as timeless moral‑intellectual models for countless generations, covering its lesson and relevant English equivalents.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 44

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 44 classifies five minister‑types and five treacherous court tricks. It stresses rulers must master official‑assessment techniques, curb power‑usurping rivalry, rather than merely relying on personal virtue or frugality.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.10

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    This Legalist Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.10 uses multiple anecdotes. It warns against corrupt middle‑level officials and contradictory governance, urging rulers to adopt consistent policies and proper techniques for effective administration.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 35.5

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    This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi‑Chapter 35.5 states sound statecraft brings effortless success. Through carriage‑related parables, it warns of corruption when tax officials act arbitrarily, causing empty treasuries and public hardship.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 34.6

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 34.6 Legalist passage uses “fierce‑dog” and “altar‑rat” metaphors. It illustrates that credible laws must apply even to nobles and favorites, to block corrupt insiders and consolidate royal authority.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 33.7

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.7 Legalist passage presents several tales. It stresses fair legal judgments and matching rewards strictly to merit, exemplified by Zi Gao’s case and Shao Shizhou’s recommendation.

  • The River God Meets the Ocean

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    This interprets the well‑known fable from Zhuangzi ‑ Autumn Floods. The conceited River God meets the vast North‑Sea‑Ruo, learns his own smallness, illustrating perspective limits, humility and the relativity of great and small.

  • Value Your Life Above Kingship, Wealth and Power

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    This commentary on Zhuangzi ‑ Rang Wang gathers fables stressing valuing innate life above kingship and wealth. It also notes textual tensions: some tales celebrate moral suicide, conflicting with its core cherish‑life theme.

  • 不食周粟 (Bù shí Zhōu sù)

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    This entry explains idiom “Bu shi zhou su”, originating from Records of the Grand Historian. Based on Bo Yi and Shu Qi’s story, it symbolizes moral integrity: refusing benefits from a regime deemed unjust, with nuanced positive‑critical readings.