SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Duke of Wei

  • The Analects – Chapter 13.3

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    Ana

    Zilu asked Confucius, “If the ruler of Wei were waiting for you to take charge of government, what would you do first?”The Master said, “Certainly, I would rectify the names!”Zilu replied, “Really? How impractical you are! What’s there to rectify?”The Master said, “How uncultivated you are, You! When a noble person does not understand…

  • The empty box and Xun Yu’s silent death [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    In Chapter 61 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the death of Xun Yu – Cao Cao’s chief strategist and moral compass – is portrayed with tragic symbolism.

  • The fall of a Confucian idealist – Kong Rong [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    Kong Rong (153–208 CE), the twentieth-generation descendant of Confucius, was born into a family steeped in scholarly and political prestige. His seventh-generation ancestor, Kong Ba, had served as tutor to Emperor Yuan of Han, and his father, Kong Zhou, held the post of Commandant of Taishan. Orphaned at thirteen, Kong Rong displayed exceptional moral…

  • The tragedy of Cui Yan [Three Kingdoms]

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    Juan

    After capturing Yecheng, Cao Cao promptly executed the highly meritorious Xu You to win the hearts of the people in Jizhou (Ji Province) and secure the support of the local gentry. Simultaneously, he began seeking out influential local talents to join his ranks, aiming to consolidate his rule over Ji Province.