SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Tag: Emperor Taizong of Tang

The Secret of Tang Sanzang’s Purple Gold Alms Bowl

In Journey to the West, the Purple Gold Alms Bowl was bestowed upon Tang Sanzang by Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin) before his pilgrimage. While providing attendants and a horse was practical, the emperor’s deliberate choice of this sacred vessel demands scrutiny.
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June 17, 2025
Pilgrimage to the Realm of Buddha

Over the past two months, we have explored the Chinese classic Journey to the West. Though a mythological narrative, it is rooted in historical events.
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April 22, 2025
[Journey to the West]The Sworn Brotherhood Between Emperor and Monk

As previously discussed, the traditional Chinese concept of “Sworn Brotherhood of Eight Bows” and its representation in Journey to the West reflect deep cultural values of loyalty and kinship. Today, we delve into the historical account of Xuanzang’s sworn brotherhood with a king and its profound influence on the novel’s narrative.
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April 10, 2025
The two Scholar-Hermits in Journey to the West

In Journey to the West, Zhang Shao and Li Ding are two distinctive yet minor characters. A fisherman and a woodcutter, respectively. Traditionally, these professions symbolized an idyllic life detached from worldly strife, embodying the Taoist ideal of reclusive simplicity.
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April 8, 2025