SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Confucius

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 33.5

    •

    This Legalist excerpt from Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.5 warns against ministers’ extreme virtues and ruler’s unrestrained favors. It condemns factional cliques, urging rulers to manage officials via statecraft instead of personal moral judgment.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 33.9

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.9 Legalist excerpt collects diverse short tales. It stresses strict ritual‑political hierarchy between superiors and subordinates, warning against reversed noble‑base order which may bring political ruin.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 33.8

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 33.8 Legalist excerpt presents four historical tales. It advocates checks‑and‑balances and statecraft, warning rulers against blind personal trust in ministers, even the seemingly loyal ones.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 33.7

    •

    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.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 32.11

    •

    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 32.11 Legalist section presents assorted historical anecdotes. It admits a ruler’s personal example has influence yet insists governance must rely on law, merit‑based rewards rather than moral posturing.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 32.5

    •

    This Legalist passage from Han Feizi ‑ Chapter 32.5 critiques over‑reliance on a ruler’s personal example. It advocates institutional governance and clear division of duties instead of rulers handling subordinates’ work directly.

  • Fearing the Shadow, Hating the Footprints

    •

    From Zhuangzi ‑ Yu Fu, this parable tells of a man fleeing his shadow and footprints. Faster running only worsens his plight until he collapses. It teaches wu‑wei: stillness, not frantic striving, resolves self‑inflicted troubles.

  • Lin Hui Abandons the Jade

    •

    This commentary on Zhuangzi ‑ Shan Mu unpacks “Lin Hui abandons jade” parable. It contrasts profit‑driven ties and enduring natural bonds, expounding that genuine friendship is plain water like rather than sweet wine like.

  • The Hunchback Catching Cicadas

    •

    This interprets the hunchback catching cicadas parable from Zhuangzi ‑ Da Sheng chapter. Through disciplined pellet stacking practice, the hunchback gains supreme skill via undivided focus, showing how humble craft can evolve into alignment with the Dao.