SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

Duke Zhao of Lu

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 31.10

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    This is Explanation Two from Han Feizi: Inner Congested Sayings. With over ten cases covering households, courts and state relations, it illustrates the structural conflicts between ministers’ private interests and national interests.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 31.3

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    This excerpt comes from “Canon Two: Conflicting Interests” in Han Feizi · Inner Congeries Part II‑Six Subtleties. One of Han Fei’s most radical propositions, it rejects Confucian moral narratives of loyal ministers and reduces the ruler‑minister bond to a cold‑blooded interest formula: when ministers gain benefit, the sovereign’s interest perishes.

  • The making of a sage: Confucius [Spring & Autumn]

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    This article traces the formative years of Confucius, detailing his journey from a humble birth to a renowned sage. It recounts his early tragedies, including the loss of his father at age three and his mother at seventeen, which instilled a deep devotion to filial piety. The narrative highlights his resilience against social rejection,…

  • The Analects – Chapter 179 (7.31). Between truth and loyalty: Confucius’ ethical dilemma

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    7.31 The Minister of Crime in Chen asked whether Duke Zhao of Lu knew the rites.