Han Yu

  • On Horses

    by Han Yu (Tang Dynasty) In the world, only after there is a Bo Le can there be a “thousand-li horse” (a steed capable of running a thousand li in a day, see the story to pay thousand gold for a deed horse). Such exceptional horses are always present – but true judges like…

  • Late Spring [Tang Poems]

    — Han Yu The trees and grass know that soon spring will go away; Of red blooms and green leaves they make gorgeous display. But willow catkins and elm pods are so unwise, They wish to be flying snow darkening the skies.

  • Spring Snow [Tang Poems]

    — Han Yu On vernal day no flowers were in bloom, alas! In second moon I’m glad to see the budding grass. But white snow dislikes the late coming vernal breeze, It plays the parting flowers flying through the trees.

  • Mencius – Chapter 8.24 Teacher’s moral duty

    Pang Meng studied archery under Yi and mastered all of Yi’s techniques. He then thought, “In the whole world, only Yi surpasses me. If I don’t eliminate him, I’ll never be supreme.” So he killed Yi.

  • Mencius – Chapter 8.22 Five generations and the thread breaks

    Mencius said: “The influence of a noble person lasts for five generations and then ends; the legacy of a petty person also ends after five generations. I never had the chance to be Confucius’s direct disciple, but I learned his Dao by privately admiring and studying through his later followers.”

  • Mencius – Chapter 3.2 The Unmoved Heart

    Gongsun Chou asked Mencius: “If you should be the prime minister in Qi and be able to put your principles into practice, it would be no wonder that Qi achieve the hegemony or even true kingship. In such a momentous situation, would your mind be stirred?”