SuaveG – The Gentle Path

Chinese mythology, folktales, and literature

governance

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 32.12

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    This Han Feizi ‑ Chapter32.12 Legalist excerpt presents multiple tales. It highlights political trustworthiness’ governance value and also covers investigation and surveillance techniques for handling litigation and official corruption.

  • The Sacred Turtle

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    This commentary covers the sacred‑turtle parable from Zhuangzi ‑ Autumn Floods. Declining Chu’s official offer, Zhuangzi chooses obscure, genuine freedom over courtly glory, preferring “dragging his tail in the mud” to honored lifeless preservation.

  • Chapter 31. The Fisherman (Yu Fu)

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    This page explores The Fisherman from Zhuangzi. A wise fisherman criticizes Confucius for exhausting himself pursuing ritual and righteousness. Advocating “valuing authenticity”, he stresses inner sincerity over hollow conventions, as Confucius humbly receives his Daoist teaching.

  • Chapter 30. Discoursing on Swords (Shuo Jian)

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    This page covers Discoursing on Swords from Zhuangzi. Dressed as a swordsman, Zhuangzi persuades sword‑obsessed King Wen of Zhao. His famous “three‑swords” allegory distinguishes true royal governance from trivial brute duels, urging rulers to focus on statecraft.

  • Why the Urge to Fix Everyone Might Be the Real Problem

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    This commentary on Zhuangzi ‑ Ma Ti uses Bo Le’s horse‑taming metaphor. It criticizes forced conformity by sages’ rituals‑virtues, and praises primitive simplicity where beings thrive freely without artificial reshaping.

  • Mozi – Chapter 48

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    This chapter records debates between Mozi and Confucian Gong Mengzi. Mozi refutes Confucian views on passive conduct, ancient robes, fatalism, elaborate funerals and empty music, denouncing four harmful Confucian doctrines while acknowledging Confucius’ valid ideas.

  • Mozi – Chapter 37

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    This final anti-fatalism chapter reaffirms Mozi’s three truth tests. It argues fate makes all groups idle, triggering poverty and chaos, citing ancient texts to prove fatalism is a false excuse invented by wicked rulers and lazy masses.

  • Mozi – Chapter 36

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    This chapter continues refuting fatalism with Mozi’s three criteria. No one witnesses fate; chaos or order hinges on rulers’ policies. Ancient texts label fatalism an excuse for tyrants and lazy folks, a harmful fallacy to reject.

  • Mozi – Chapter 35

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    This chapter refutes fatalism via Mozi’s Three Tests of truth. It argues fate excuses laziness and tyranny, citing sage kings’ virtuous rule and tyrants’ reckless ruin to prove human effort shapes fortune and order.