SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

feudal lords

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 2.5

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    Li Si slanders Han Fei’s rhetoric as deceptive. He proposes detaining Han’s king, military intimidation, and gradual annexation to weaken rivals and unify China.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 2.3

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    Li Si refutes Han Fei, arguing Han is a hidden threat to Qin. Its submission is fake; attack it first, or it may ally with rivals and endanger Qin.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 2.2

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    Han Fei advises Qin: use diplomacy to win Chu/Wei, ally with Han, strike Zhao. War is risky; reckless moves isolate Qin and court disaster.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 2.1

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    Han Fei warns Qin: attacking loyal, weak Han is a mistake. Ignore Zhao’s threat, drain strength, empower rivals, and risk unification failure.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 1.6

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    Han Fei cites history: brute force fails without wisdom. Qin has unmatched strength; he risks death to offer strategies to break alliances and unify China.

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 1.5

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    Han Fei blames Qin’s ministers for three blunders: sparing collapsing Zhao, failing to take Handan, wasting strength. Now Qin is weak, rivals unite.

  • The Hongmen Banquet [Western Han]

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    This article depicts the pivotal Hongmen Banquet. Fearing Liu Bang’s ambition, Xiang Yu plotted to kill him. Saved by Xiang Bo’s intervention and Fan Kuai’s bold defense, Liu Bang escaped death. Xiang Yu’s hesitation let his rival live, sowing the seeds of Chu’s eventual defeat.

  • The Analects – Chapter 16.2

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    Confucius said, “When the world is governed by the Way, rites and music and decisions on military campaigns originate from the Son of Heaven. When the world lacks the Way, they originate from the feudal lords. When they come from the feudal lords, rarely does their rule last beyond ten generations; when they come…